Hendry hat-trick as Saints cruise

DUNDEE 0 ST JOHNSTONE 5

Callum Hendry grabbed a hattrick as St Johnstone thrashed Dundee at Links Park, Montrose, last night.

The Saints hit-man scored three times in a first half that saw Kyle McLean also find the net. Scott Struthers completed the rout late on.

Dundee started brightly, with a Randy Wolters shot being deflected behind for a corner, before Matty Henvey brought a save out of Ross Sinclair.

Saints opened the scoring after seven minutes when Hendry jinked his way into the Dundee box before firing a low shot across Kyle Gourlay into the corner of the net.

Hendry doubled the Perth side’s advantage after 20 minutes. Ian Smith was robbed by Kyle McLean in midfield, and he picked out Hendry who cut away from the defender, and curled the ball into the far corner.

Dundee were offering little in an attacking sense, while Saints looked like scoring every time they went forward. Sean Struthers flashed a shot narrowly wide before Jamie Docherty was denied by Gourlay.

Hendry continued to torment the Dundee defence and grabbed his third three minutes before the break. The striker beat two defenders with a clever flick, before driving into the box and slotting past Gourlay.

There was still enough time in the first 45 for Saints to add a fourth, thanks to McLean’s volley from the edge of the box.

In the second half both sides battled it out in the middle of the park, meaning clear-cut chances were few and far between. Liam Gordon headed over from a corner as Saints looked for a fifth.

St Johnstone did get it with nine minutes remaining when Struthers intercepted on the edge of the Dundee box and beat Gourlay from a tight angle to complete the scoring.

Callum Hendry: hat-trick.