St Mirren 2-1 Saints

Callum Hendry gave Saints a deserved lead from the spot as he calmly despatched his retaken penalty low in the right-hand corner of the net.

The Buddies though were back on level terms just before half time courtesy of a Connor Ronan penalty. Then 4 minutes into the second half St Mirren completed the turnaround as Alex Greive turned a Greg Kiltie cross home from close range.

This evenings result coupled with Dundee winning at Hearts sees Saints slip to the bottom of the league. Saints will now be looking to bounce back when they head to Aberdeen for a rearranged league game on Tuesday next week, kick off 7:45pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were back on the road for another midweek trip this evening as they headed west to Paisley to take on St Mirren at The SMiSA Stadium. Ten-man Saints drew 0-0 with Dundee United on Saturday and Callum Davidson made five changes to his starting eleven this evening. Tony Gallacher, Tom Sang, who was making his first start for the club, Murray Davidson, Cammy MacPherson and Glenn Middleton came in to replace Callum Booth, James Brown, Jacob Butterfield and Stevie May, whilst Melker Hallberg missed out due to suspension. St Mirren defeated Hibs 1-0 at Easter Road at the weekend and manager Jim Goodwin made one change as Alex Gogić came in to replace Jay Henderson.

Murray Davidson got the match underway for Saints but it was the Paisley side who created the first couple of opportunities of the match. On 4 minutes Alex Greive saw his strike deflected behind for a corner by Dan Cleary and then a minute later Greg Kiltie dragged a low effort wide.

St Mirren started the match the brighter of the two teams and on 9 minutes a deep Kiltie cross from the right broke to Jordan Jones but Zander Clark, who was making his 200th appearance for Saints this evening, made a save to turn the curling effort behind for a corner.

The hosts then came within inches of taking the lead on 14 minutes as Jones floated a ball into the Saints box which Kiltie got on the end of however, the header from the midfielder went narrowly wide of Clark’s right-hand post.

PHOTO: Cammy MacPherson is closed down by Alex Gogić

Then suddenly Saints came alive as a minute later Ali Crawford brilliantly won possession from Alan Power in midfield before playing a neat one-two with Callum Hendry. The Saints midfielder then hit a shot from distance which Jak Alnwick tipped over for a corner.

Cammy MacPherson was next to test Alnwick on 20 minutes as the St Mirren number one got down well to save the midfielder’s strike from just outside the box.

Saints were now looking dangerous going forward and on 27 minutes they were awarded a penalty after Glenn Middleton was hauled down in the box by Marcus Fraser. Hendry stepped up to take the penalty and he sent Alnwick the wrong way as he slotted the ball into the left-hand corner of the net. However, the forward was made to retake the penalty as the referee had spotted that the ball had moved just before Hendry had hit it. Hendry however, showed great composure as he this time slotted the ball low in the right-hand corner of the net despite Alnwick guessing the correct way.

PHOTO: Callum Hendry scores from the spot

On 37 minutes after a good move by Saints saw Crawford play the ball into the feet of MacPherson and the former Buddies midfielder unleashed another effort at goal which Alnwick pushed behind for a corner.

Saints were now in control however, with 4 minutes of the first half remaining St Mirren were awarded a penalty after Jamie McCart was deemed to have fouled Alex Greive in the box. Connor Ronan stepped up to take the spot kick and he sent Clark the wrong way to level the match.

The Paisley side completed the turnaround 4 minutes into the second half as they took the lead. A deep cross from the right by Kiltie fell perfectly to the unmarked Greive who slotted ball home from close range at the far post.

Just before the hour mark Saints made a triple substitution as Tom Sang, Jamie McCart and Murray Davidson came off and they were replaced by James Brown, Jacob Butterfield and Theo Bair, who was making his debut after joining from MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps last month.

Saints were then forced into another change as Charlie Gilmour came on to replace the injured Cammy MacPherson.  

PHOTO: Cammy MacPherson holds his injured arm as he is replaced by Charlie Gilmour

A good flowing move by Saints on 73 minutes saw Crawford play in Hendry however, the Saints forward couldn’t direct his effort on target. Then 3 minutes later Middleton laid the ball back to Gilmour but he dragged his 20 yard effort wide.

Saints then made another change with Stevie May coming on to replace Tony Gallacher. With 2 minutes remaining Hendry won Saints a free kick after he had been fouled by Charles Dunne. Crawford took the free kick and his ball into the box broke to Hendry and the forward sent over another delivery deep into the Buddies box and Bair got up well to head the ball however, the Canadian internationalist couldn’t trouble Alnwick as his glancing header went wide of the target.

PHOTO: Theo Bair loses out to Joe Shaughnessy

The final chance of the match came for the hosts as a quick break deep into stoppage time saw Kiltie played in by Greive however the former Kilmarnock winger was unable to test Clark as he sent his effort wide of the target.

St Mirren: Alnwick, Tait (Flynn 73), Shaughnessy, Power, Jones, Kiltie, Gogić, Dunne, Greive, Fraser, Ronan

Unused Substitutes: Lyness (GK), Urminsky (GK), McCarthy, Henderson, Erhahon, Erwin, Millar

Booked: Fraser, Greive

Scorers: Ronan (42 pen), Greive (49)

Saints: Clark, Gallacher (May 86), McCart (Butterfield 59), Cleary, Gordon, Davidson (Bair 59), Middleton, MacPherson (Gilmour 65), Crawford, Hendry, Sang (Brown 59)

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Craig, Northcott, Hector-Ingram

Booked: Davidson, Hendry, Gordon

Scorer: Hendry (28 pen)

Referee: David Dickinson

Attendance: 4,286

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Murray Davidson is closed down by Connor Ronan and Alan Power