Another three in the bag for Saints
WITH FOOTBALL IN COLD STORAGE WE TAKE A LOOK AT OLD ST
Craig Ritchie
Star Saint:
Lewis Morgan
The midfielder was the focal point of the St Mirren attack. Done well to pick out Mallan for the opener and was then the one fouled for the penalty. Not a vintage performance but good enough to earn Saints the win.
Not to be outdone, Dobbie chanced his luck from distance moments later but his strike flew over the bar – much to the delight of Billy O’Brien in the Paisley goal.
The woodwork would come back and save the Buddies again inside 20 minutes.
This time it was all Saints’ own doing as Adam Eckersley’s attempt at a headed clearance came back off the post before he managed to regroup and clear the danger on his own accord.
Thomas then had another opportunity as Gary MacKenzie struggled to clear his lines but O’Brien was on hand to palm the ball over the bar from his rising strike.
An a rare furrow forward, some trickery from Cammy Smith on the right flank caught out Andy Dowie on the Queens backline. He cut back for Lewis Morgan but the winger was unable to generate enough power on the strike as Dowie recovered to block .
But with the seconds ticking down on ref Andrew Dallas’ watch, Saints managed to draw first blood through Mallan.
Morgan, on the left, crossed back across the face of goal but missed Loy.
However, Mallan was on hand to take a touch before darting an effort into the bottom corner.
Saints came out in the second half looking to put the game beyond doubt, and they did their chances no harm as Loy converted from the penalty spot after Morgan was fouled by Dowie on the byline in 54 minutes to make it 2-0.
The confidence was now clearly flowing through the Saints side, and it was no more evident than Mallan trying his luck from inside his own half by attempting to catch out Jim Atkinson with an audacious lob in 57 minutes.
Match Facts
Score - Queen of the South 0 St Mirren 2 Scorers - Mallan, Loy
Bookings - No-one
Red Carded - No-one
Referee - Andrew Dallas Attendance - 1728
Teams: Queen of the South:
The Buddies were on a high and were continuing to pile forward at every opportunity.
MacKenzie had two chances from Mallan corners as the towering defender headed wide, and then over, as St Mirren looked to put the game beyond any doubt.
With Ayr United, Raith Rovers and Dumbarton all leading on the hour mark, it was looking like it could transpire to be another frustrating afternoon for the Saints, despite the scoreline.
But that failed to curb the enthusiasm of the visiting St Mirren support, who were again in fine voice at the back of the stand.
And they almost had something else to cheer in 69 minutes as a driving run forward from Kyle Magennis resulted in a snapshot from the edge of the box which was well saved by Atkinson.
Dobbie had an opportunity to reduce the deficit at the other end as the game headed towards the final 15 minutes but O’Brien got down well to block after the striker had pounced on a slack clearance from Baird.
Sutton was introduced with 10 minutes remaining as a replacement for Loy as the Buddies looked to freshen things up in the closing stages.
However, Queens substitute Derek Lyle thought he had got a goal back for the home side in 85 minutes but he was adjudged to have been offside by the linesman on the far side.
In short, it was the most comfortable second half that St Mirren have enjoyed this season.
Results elsewhere may not have went the way the Buddies would have hoped for but five points is now all that separates the Paisley side and sixth spot.