McNamara shines in fog as Perth side win
THE eyes of the world were elsewhere but those who swapped the complexities of American politics for McDiarmird Park were treated to a contest no less stubborn.
The fight to lead the free world this was not and instead at the final whistle the two candidates, Alex Dyer and Callum Davidson, simply turned to one another, awkwardly bumped fists and headed down the tunnel with only minor qualms about the direction of the points.
Having hit the bar and had a handball shout waved away, Killie could well have called for a recount but conceded before the evening was out when Danny McNamara smashed home his first Saints goal to break their two- month home win duck.
“I always knew it was going to be a test,” said St Johnstone manager Davidson. “In the first- half I thought we got into some good areas but the quality let us down.
“It was nice he [ McNamara] hit the target for once! I am really pleased for him and he’s been one of our best players this season so far.”
This was a match which only looked like going one way inside the opening period and, despite the best efforts of Aaron Tshibloa and Alan Power, Killie just
couldn’t stem the blue wave, Craig Conway and David Wotherspoon arrowing early efforts just wide.
Sometimes, it feels like the Kilmarnock script is already written and they didn’t depart from type in the Perthshire fog, tossing aside a slow start to gradually settle and then exert their own pressure on the game.
Their improvement was nearly rewarded when Broadfoot crashed a header against the bar from Burke’s corner in the 25th minute. They weren’t done yet and in the dying seconds of the half were twice denied by McNamara on the line, Greg Kiltie and Nicke Kabamba left to rue the game’s fine margins. The latter effort was met with cries for handball but Gavin Duncan was having none of it.
As the game wore on, the fog’s menacing presence grew and it became increasingly difficult for either to wade their way through the mist towards their opponents’ goal. On the rare occasion one did, Saints were denied the opener by the assistant’s flag – Wotherspoon judged to have strayed offside – and Killie struggled to find a way past the impressive back three of the hosts.
A draw would have been a fair result and the match seemed to be drifting towards just that when Conway crossed, Killie failed to clear, and McNamara rifled home to end St Johnstone’s home hoodoo.
“We were flat,” said Dyer. “I think they were as well - it was always going to be 1- 0 or a mistake and unfortunately it went to them.”