Twenty’s plenty to give Buddies a break
LOOKING BACK AT AMAZING OLD ST MIRREN CLASHES
Paul Behan
Gavin Reilly’s 20th goal of the season was enough to hand St Mirren the slenderest of victories and send them six points clear at the top of the Championship.
Reilly pounced after 26 minutes in a game the home side should have seen out more comfortably.
Despite St Mirren’s dominance, they had goalkeeper Craig Samson to thank with an important block, while one Caley effort provoked a debate about whether the ball crossed the line or not.
And, late on, Caley’s George Oakley
Star Saint:
Stephen
McGinn The St
Mirren captain produced an assured display in the midfield engine room. His array of passing also helped spark numerous creative moves into Inverness territory. He proved a rock steady influence.
Match Facts
Score - St Mirren 1 Inverness Caley Thistle 0
Scorers - Reilly (26)
Bookings - McKay (39)
Red Carded - None
Referee - Willie Collum
Attendance - 4448
Teams: St Mirren Samson, Demetriou, McGinn, Magennis, Morgan, C Smith (Irvine 90) Baird, McShane (Mullen 72), Reilly, Davis, L Smith. Subs not used- Stewart, MacKenzie, Sutton, O’Keefe, Erhahon.
Inverness CT Ridgers, Raven, Tremarco, Chalmers, Warren, Polworth, Austin (Oakley 9), Baird (Bell 81), Doran (Mulraney 75), McKay, Trafford. Subs not used- Esson, Calder, Seedorf, Brown. off the post – with Samson scrambling back to keep it from trundling over the line.
Back came Saints, though, and Reilly collected a Morgan cut-back after 58 minutes but his shot was blocked.
Brad McKay headed straight into the arms of Samson from Polworth’s corner after 64 minutes, while Cammy Smith’s effort at the other end was saved at the expense of a corner.
Then Reilly picked up a forward pass and saw his eventual shot blocked for a corner, before Ian McShane’s effort zipped wide.
Mullen replaced McShane in midfield after 72 minutes before the Highlanders carved out a good chance when Oakley picked up a cutback from the left, but the best he could muster was a side-footed effort, easily collected by Samson.
After 79 minutes Saints thought they extended the lead when Ridgers spilled a corner and it was prodded home, but ref Collum spotted an infringement and it didn’t count.
Forward Reilly just failed to connect with a wicked cross to the back post as the chances continued for the home side.
Samson came to the rescue for the home side after Bell sent a near post effort in after connecting with Jake Mulraney’s cross but the Buddies goalkeeper was well positioned to make the block.
Oakley headed agonisingly wide of the far post after a well worked move for the visitors late on, before Gary Irvine replaced Cammy Smith as Saints closed the game out.