| Greg Cameron, Steven Anderson and David Weatherston were the players dropping out of the starting line up for today’s trip to Greenock and their places went to Paul Sheerin, Allan McManus and Steven Milne respectively.
On a blustery day Saints opened brightly and in the 3rd minute Steven Milne managed to get in the way of goalkeeper Robinson’s attempted clearance but could only watch in frustration as the ball rolled wide of the post.
The recalled striker perhaps should have done better moments later when he got on the end of a raking Liam Craig cross but opted to try and bring the ball under control rather than hit it on the volley and as Saints continued to threaten to snatch an early goal Andy Jackson got around the back of the Morton defence to volley a Gary Irvine free kick but Robinson clutched the ball well.
With new manager Davie Irons urging them on Morton tried to get into the game and Alan Main had to be alert to gather a McGuffie drive but he was helpless to prevent the home side opening the scoring in 16 minutes. Jim McAlister made the goal with a run past Gary Irvine down the left wing and when he sent in the cross Peter Weatherson got on the end of it to send a looping header over the Saints keeper and into the net.
Kevin Rutkiewicz and Rocco Quinn were both booked in the space of two minutes and then Main had to come to the rescue to prevent a second Morton goal when he stopped Brian Wake at point blank range.
Saints were far from out of it though and got the goal their opening period of play merited. It was a real untidy affair but that didn’t matter to the travelling support. Gary Irvine atoned for his part in the Morton goal when he produced a surging run through the middle of the park towards the home goal and although he was fouled, referee McKendrick gave the advantage to Saints as the ball had rolled to Liam Craig and when the midfielder’s shot struck the post the ball fell to Steven Milne who knocked it over the line from close range.
Five minutes before the break Saints turned the game around with a second goal and if the first goal had been a scrappy affair, the second was the complete opposite – a beautifully worked affair. Goran Stanic provided a great pass from the back which Andy Jackson got on the end of and he knocked it into the path of Steven Milne whose volley from 20 yards ripped past Robinson and into the net.
The latter stages of the half-time break saw the unusual sight of Morton coming out for a warm-up session and they made the first chance of the second half when McGuffie tried his luck from long range. At the other end, Milne tried to complete his hat trick with a low drive which Robinson kept out with a one-handed save and he saved his side again six minutes later when he tipped over a spectacular Rocco Quinn volley.
Saints were creating plenty of chances but had to make a change at the back in 68 minutes when Kevin James replaced Kevin Rutkiewicz who seemed to have picked up a groin injury and Daniel McBreen made an unexpected appearance when he replaced Peter MacDonald. Within minutes the big striker had nearly grabbed a goal when he charged down a clearance but he was denied by a last-gasp tackle.
As the game moved to its conclusion the home side tried to get an equaliser. Substitute Russell just failed to get a touch on a long ball forward before Alan Main produced a tremendous save to prevent a deflected shot from passing him.
A good display from Saints who got over the disappointment of going behind against the run of play to bounce back and look relatively comfortable for long stretches of the match.
Website Man of the Match: Liam Craig and Goran Stanic caught the eye today but PAUL SHEERIN was at his influential best with a tremendous display in the middle of the park.
SAINTS: Main, Irvine, Stanic, Mcmanus, Rutkiewicz (James), Craig, Quinn (Moon), MacDonald (McBreen), Jackson, Milne, Sheerin.
Subs not used: Weatherston, Cuthbert
MORTON: Robinson, Smith (McGregor), McLaughlin, Harding, Gracen, McGuffie (Stevenson), Finlayson, Jenkins, Weatherson, Wake (Russell), McAllister.
Subs not used: McAnespie, McGurn
Urged on by warming up sub Daniel McBreen, Steven Milne turns home the equaliser |
Daniel McBreen in the thick of the action after coming on late in the game |
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