The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Stevie’s spot-on as Saints go through
Twelve group goals scored, only two conceded and a place in the next round of the Betfred Cup. That will do just nicely for St Johnstone.
One of the main hopes clubs have when starting these competitions is that success in them can enhance their season overall.
Such is the case with Saints who, just when they were struggling to find the back of the net, kicked off their cup campaign in style.
They had gone four league games without scoring, drawing blanks in clashes against Motherwell, Ross County, Livingston and Celtic, when they met Ke l t y He a r t s in their opening Group C tie and won 2-1.
The big scoreline was still to come, however, and suddenly the goals were flowing as Callum Davidson’s men hammered Brechin City 7- 0 on October 10.
It was a timely tonic for the whole team but especially for frontman Stevie May, who netted a hat-trick against the League Two side that day.
Fast forward to Saturday at Balmoor Stadium in Peterhead and May was enjoying himself again in the Betfred, scoring twice from the penalty spot to put Saints in command of a match that would decide who topped the group.
Mc D i a r m i d m a n a g e r Davidson was both relieved and happy to progress to the last 16.
He said: “It was a tough group we were in, so we are delighted to have come through it without getting beaten and now the next round is the most important thing for us.
“I thought Peterhead played really well and made it difficult.
“Once we got the first goal, though, the game opened up a little bit and then we took our chances and could possibly have had a few more.
“All credit to Peterhead because they kept trying to play and I’m just delighted to get three points and to top the group.
“It was good from Stevie as taking two penalties in the same game can sometimes be difficult but he showed good composure.”
There was also a nice wee bonus for Davidson, who got a look at striker Guy Melamed on his debut before the Israeli was replaced by sub Callum Hendry.
The Saints boss added: “I was pleased with Guy. It was a difficult place to play your first competitive game in Scotland and I thought he coped very well.
“It was good to be able to give him 60 minutes.”
Melamed’s introduction to the starting line-up was one of six changes to the side that drew 0- 0 with Dundee United the previous Tuesday.
Also included were Jamie McCart, Craig Conway, Murray Davidson, Michael O’Halloran and May.
The Premiership side just edged the first period but had no goal to show for it, their best effort being an angled free-kick from
Conway that, for a second, looked as if had gone into the net rather than behind it.
That changed just four minutes after the break when May blasted his spotkick down the middle after the home side’s Jason Brown had fouled the striker following a corner.
There was a near-thing for Saints when Peterhead player Scott Brown hit the post with a header on 54 minutes but they were 2-0 ahead on the hour, thanks to another penalty.
May was fouled again, this time by Kieran Freeman, and he was up again to fire home an almost identical kick.
Chris Kane, who had come on for May, made it three with a clean shot on the angle on 77 minutes after a pass from Callum Hendry.
However, Peterhead got one back just a minute later when Shaun Rooney bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from home sub Derek Lyle.
It was to be Saints’ day, though, and they go marching on.