St Peter’s win third straight Paisley derby
St Peter’s picked up yet another victory over their local rivals
St Peter’s boss Paul McTaggart was delighted to see his side keep up their 100 per cent record against their local rivals with a hard-fought win against Glenvale.
The two Paisley sides clashed for the third time this season, having both just joined the West of Scotland League set-up, at New Western Park.
A Scott Lewis brace was enough to see the Glenburn-based side seal the bragging rights once again, with Kamil Leszczynski bagging what turned out to be a consolation strike for Glenvale who had a man sent off in the first half for raising his hand to a St Peter’s player.
McTaggart was over the moon to pick up all three points and maintain their early dominance over their Paisley neighbours.
He told Express Sport: “It was a hardfought battle but we knew they’d make it tough for us.
“We were always in control of the game and played some lovely stuff throughout.
“Scott Lewis fired in a free-kick under the wall to open the scoring and then they got a boy sent off for a silly red card.
“Our boy has accidentally stood on his toe and he’s thrown an arm out and slapped him. You can’t ever raise your hand so it was a deserved straight red.
“The red killed the impetus for us and them, and I felt we were taking things far too slow at the start of the second half thinking the job was done.
“Scott fired us two ahead and we should have killed it after that. Their keeper has made four or five good saves but we should have put the game to bed.
“Even when we went to 2-1 though I didn’t feel under pressure. It was thoroughly-deserved and it’s always nice to win your local derby.
“The players were celebrating afterwards which was great. They deserved it after sticking to what we said beforehand which was to take the emotion out the game.
“We’ve won three of three against them know and that’s a great record for any team to have against their rivals.”
McTaggart heaped praise on his three young under-20’s players who stepped up and held their own in the sometimes fiesty derby clash.
He said: “Sean Fitzpatrick deserved a chance and he came into midfield in the second half and did a brilliant job.
“Kyle Dalziel played the whole game at centre back and was solid, with Luke Gillies coming on at left midfield in the second half and impressing as well.
“None of them looked out of place and they showed the future is bright for young here at St Peter’s. I always say if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
“I’m sure Glenvale’s boss John (Kelly) will be hurting, because I know he’s as competitive as me and I would be if the shoe was on the other foot.
“They’ve got a very good team though and you can see they’re progressing with some of the impressive results they’ve pulled off recently.”