IT’S HIGH FIVE FOR SAINTS
WITH FOOTBALL IN COLD STORAGE WE TAKE A LOOK AT OLD ST
Betfred Cup, July 29, 2017
St Mirren.................5 Airdrie.....................0
St Mirren rounded off their League Cup campaign in style with a well- earned win over Airdrie.
Under the watchful eye of former Buddies midfielder Billy Davies, the Saints simply blew away their opponents on a miserable afternoon for the Diamonds.
St Mirren manager Jack Ross elected to make three changes to the side that fell to defeat to Partick Thistle the previous weekend.
In came keeper Craig Samson, Stelios and John Sutton, with Ross Stewart, Darren Whyte and Jordan Kirkpatrick all dropping out of the starting XI.
On an afternoon that meant very little to either side, it was St Mirren who got the game started in positive fashion.
Some nice build-up play kept the opposition from getting near their hosts inside the opening eight minutes, with the Buddies taking a deserved lead nine minutes in.
Some forward thinking from Stelios on the right flank saw the Cypriot swing in an inviting cross towards the back post.
Cammy Smith attacked the ball but the final touch appeared to come off Airdrie defender Kieron MacDonald, diverting the ball into the bottom corner as he attempted to clear the ball to safety.
Gavin Reilly and Smith both came close to extending Saints’ lead inside 15 minutes, but Gary MacKenzie came closest with a bullet header from an Ian McShane corner zipping wide of goal.
Rumoured St Mirren target Andy Ryan would come close to levelling the scores against the run of play, dispossessing Jack Baird after the centre back was needlessly put under pressure from a poor ball from keeper Craig Samson.
Ryan scampered clear of the defence before firing on the angle but Samson blocked the striker’s effort.
Of course, St Mirren’s play is all relative to their opposition, with Airdrie ailing and without a manager.
But the manner of the side’s performance in the first half was a joy to behold at times, with Lewis Morgan and Stephen McGinn dictating the pace and play of the opening half an hour.
And all their play and possession was rewarded again in 31 minutes as another fine passage of play resulted in the Buddies extending their lead.
A lofted ball into the box from McGinn found the head of the reinstated Sutton, who used all his experience and vision to head into the path of Reilly to fire into the roof of the net from close range.
Smith really should have made it 3-0 shortly before the break but couldn’t hit the target despite being unmarked 10 yards from goal, firing into the stand with the goal at his mercy.
The visitors came out in the second half looking to get themselves back into the tie and looked to be handed a route back into the game with a penalty five minutes into the half.
Referee Craig Napier pointed to the spot after MacKenzie appeared to haul down Dean Cairns at an Airdrie corner.
MacKenzie was booked for his complaining in the aftermath, and the delay appeared to unsettle Ryan, with the striker blazing wide from 12 yards much to the relief of the home support.
And from there the hosts looked to settle back into the performance that they showed in the first half, with Lewis Morgan forcing a save out of Rohan Ferguson from a quick free-kick.
Dean Cairns gave away a penalty in 66 minutes but Reilly’s attempt was saved, although the sinning Saint would make up for his miss three minutes later by hitting his side’s third of the afternoon, heading home a Morgan cross.
A late flurry of chances saw Airdrie pile on the pressure, but it was left to Morgan to have the final say, smashing home a stunning volley.
But there was still time for Smith to smash home a fifth off the post to complete a successful afternoon for the side.