Saints off on the Wright foot with win over Glens
80 Sunday Mail
St Johnstone got their pre-season build-up off to a winning start with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Glentoran at The Oval in Belfast.
The Northern I r ish Premiership side, managed by former Saints star Alan Kernaghan, gave Tommy Wright’s men a good test of their early-season fitness.
Saints took the lead through Steven MacLean after just two minutes but Glens levelled it through a 20-yard effort from Chris Lavery after 22 minutes.
The Perth men left it late to clinch victory against the Irish side, who made a raft of substitutions at half-time, when sub Chris Kane fired home the winner from 16 yards in the 81st minute.
Falkirk made the trip to Cliftonhill to face Albion Rovers and looked to be in the mood with a 4-2 win.
They cruised into a 2- 0 half- time lead through a Will Vaulks piledriver in the eighth minute and a 35thminute Bob McHugh header from a Lewis Kidd cross.
However, Rovers sub Cal lum Ferguson hit a quick-fire double just after the hour-mark to level it. He slotted home his first on 61 minutes and 60 seconds later netted after a scramble in the visitors’ box.
The Bairns stepped up a gear and Vaulks thumped home his second from a John Baird knock- down and new recruit Nathan Austin headed the fourth.
Falkirk manager Peter Houston said: “We showed a good attitude to losing a couple of goals and while the result wasn’t important, our positive reaction to losing two goals was.”
Rovers player/manager Darren Young said: “I’m pleased with the character and belief of my players.”
Forfar boss Gary Bollan was pleased with his side as they saw off Inverurie Locos 1- 0 at Station Park.
The hosts dominated and their goal came from trialist Jordan Moore who slotted home from close-range in the 32nd minute.
Bollan said: “Pre-season is all about getting boys fit, getting up to speed and forming the right habits.”
Locos boss Scott Buchan said: “I was chuffed to bits with our boys and we might even have sneaked a goal.”
Airdrie won 3-2 at Annan with Iain Russel l the Diamonds’ hat-trick hero.
The hitman netted three times in 12 minutes against a home side for whom Dutch striker Kevin Schmidt boosted his hopes of a deal with a brilliant double.
Annan took the lead in 67 minutes with Schmidt on target but Airdrie responded immediately with Russell’s effort going in off the bar.
The Diamonds ace then nodded home from sub Conor McLaughlin’s cross before pouncing on a mix-up in the home defence to make it 3-1.
Schmidt then lit up Galabank when he fired into the top corner after a superb run from the halfway line.
Airdrie head coach Kevin McBride said: “The result wasn’t important, it was all about how we performed.”
Annan boss Jim Chapman said: “There were some very pleasing aspects about the quality of our play.”