The sun shone... but Saints didn’t
MIRREN MATCHES AS THEY WERE REPORTED AT THE TIME
St Mirren donned their new chequered away shirt for the first time on Saturday but failed to race away from their rivals on a disappointing afternoon of action.
Saints’ final friendly of the summer struggled to live up to the billing, with both sides clearly just going through the motions prior to the real action getting under way in the League Cup next weekend.
It was something of a manager lovein at a sunny Recreation Park as Alloa boss Jim Goodwin and former Wasps gaffer Jack Ross took their bows in front of their former fans.
St Mirren legend Goodwin received a more than warm welcome from the travelling band of Buddies who made their way to Clackmannanshire to see their side in action.
Awaiting them was a much-changed side from the one that fell to Dundee in midweek, with Ross electing to make seven changes to the starting line-up.
All who remained from the Tuesday night match were Stelios, Gary MacKenzie, Stephen McGinn and Dale Hilson.
Coming into the side was a mix of untried talent and youth, with the two Ross Stewarts given starting berths alongside the likes of Cammy MacPherson and Jordan Kirkpatrick.
Kirkpatrick, also playing against his former side having switched Alloa for Paisley in the summer, got the Buddies started in positive fashion as he won the visitors a corner inside the opening few minutes.
The former Dumbarton midfielder took the resulting set piece himself but no-one was on hand to find the touch which may have handed the side an early opener.
Saints continued to put on some early pressure, winning a handful of corners in the process, but were unable to capitalise on any of their dominance as Alloa started to work themselves back in to the game by the 20th minute.
Nonetheless, Kirkpatrick was looking like he could become a useful weapon in the St Mirren arsenal this season, and this time a free-kick into the box caused the opposing backline some issues but Gregor Buchanan couldn’t get his header on target with 15 minutes of the half remaining.
Saints continued to crank up the pressure before the half was out and finished the opening 45 minutes with a flurry of chances that on another day could have put them up at least two goals to the good.
Kirkpatrick was unfortunate to find himself faced with a stubborn Alloa defence after being fed through by new striker Ross Stewart. Gary MacKenzie then almost found the net with a trademark header from another corner, but the Saints favourite headed just wide of the target.
Josh Todd and Stewart were next to go close, forcing opposition stopper Craig McDowall into an impressive double save to ensure that scores remained level at Alan Muir’s halftime whistle.
But Saints’ half was to end on a sour note, with Lewis Morgan having to come on to replace winger Dale Hilson who had pulled up with a knock.
The second half began in the same fashion, with Gary Irvine this time having to be replaced. Experienced midfielder Rocco Quinn did the honours, making his own comeback following an extended spell on the sidelines.
The second half struggled to be one for the purists, with neither side really looking likely to find the back of the net as they seemed content to pass the ball around.
Ross started to ring the changes around the hour mark as Gavin Reilly and John Sutton both came on at the expense of Ross Stewart and Josh Todd, but it was fellow sub Morgan who was next to try his luck – but his effort was deflected over the bar.
McDowall then did well to get down to deny Reilly, blocking behind for yet another corner.
However, despite Saints’ pressure, Alloa should have fired themselves in front with just under 20 minutes of the match remaining.
The Buddies defence was caught out as a ball to the back post found former Celtic kid Kevin Cawley lying in wait.
Cawley took one touch before firing but his strike was well blocked by keeper Ross Stewart, who was intent on producing an impressive performance prior to the season starting.
Elsewhere, Morgan was continuing to impress on the flanks, following another eye-catching display against Dundee. Some clever work out wide won the Buddies yet another corner, but he appeared to be St Mirren’s main threat throughout the second half.
The 20- year- old had another opportunity late on but was unable to capitalise as both sides saw out the closing stages with relative ease to bring an end to the pre-season workout.
St Mirren: Stewart (Gk), Irvine (Quinn 53), Stelios (McDonald 74), Buchanan, MacKenzie (Baird 68), McGinn (O’Keefe 74), MacPherson (Horne 81), Hilson (Morgan 43), Kirkpatrick (Smith 60), Todd (Sutton 61), Stewart (For) (Reilly 61).
Subs not used: Samson, Whyte