That was worth the long wait
MIRREN MATCHES AS THEY WERE REPORTED AT THE TIME
Star Saint:
Kenny McLean
Once again, the Scotland
Under-21 internationalist was a key figure for Saints, pulling the strings in midfield and keeping a cool head to level the score from the penalty spot 12 yards out.
Paul McGowan then had to be replaced at the mid- way point by Wylde after picking up a hamstring strain.
And Saints’ day got even worse when Motherwell doubled their lead after Keith Lasley squared the ball for Sutton to guide home his header from close range.
It was a bad goal to lose and Saints could have found themselves three down when they were carved open again as
Ainsworth raced down the right to play in a low cross which Sutton side-footed wide.
But an unlikely and startling comeback was just about get under way.
With just three minutes until halftime, Saints pulled it back to 2-1 when a McLean corner on the right was headed on by McGregor and Thompson was on hand to thump a downward shot into the net from inside the six-yard box.
The timely strike gave St Mirren the
Match Facts
Score- St Mirren 3 Motherwell 2
Scorers - Anier (17), Sutton (27), Thompson (42, 87), McLean (86 pen)
Bookings- Goodwin (68)
Red Carded- No-one
Referee - Euan Norris (Iain Brines 45)
Attendance- 4,377
Teams: St Mirren (4-1-3-2): Dilo, McLean, McAusland, Newton (Magennis 54), Kelly, Naismith, McGregor, McGinn, Thompson, Goodwin (Teale 74), McGowan (Wylde 22). Subs not used – Mathers, van Zanten, Djemba-Djemba, Campbell Motherwell (4-4-2): Nielson, Reid, Hammell, McManus, Sutton, Vigurs, Lasley, Kerr, Anier (Moore 71), Ainsworth (Francis-Angol 80), Leitch. Subs not used – Stewart, Erwin, Murray, Thomas, Cadden. momentum in the second half – now being refereed by Iain Brines after Euan Norris picked up an injury – with McLean, Naismith and Thompson all testing the Motherwell keeper as the chances kept coming for the home side.
Just when it looked like the Steelmen would hold firm, the match turned on its head four minutes from time when McManus was adjudged to have handled in the box.
Up stepped McLean to coolly slot a
left-foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner.
And, just a minute later, the home support were in dreamland. McGinn got away from his marker towards the byline and his pass to Kelly ricocheted off Reid and landed in the path of Thompson, who turned and swept the ball into the net from the near post.
The stands erupted in ecstasy as the Saints fans celebrated what could prove to be a crucial three points.