Baird opener spurs Saints into action as Watt
faorfar athletic 1 st johnstone 3
St Johnstone sealed top spot in Betfred Group B with, in the end, a comfortable win over Forfar.
But it took a hugely improved second half showing from Tommy Wright’s side to see off the League 1 side.
Dale Hilson created the first chance for Forfar after 14 minutes when he skipped across the face of the box, but his angled shot lacked power.
Soon after, Forfar carved Saints open to take the lead, Jamie Bain’s cutback thumped into the net off the underside of the bar by John Baird.
St. Johnstone were denied a quick equaliser by a brilliant onehanded stop from Marc Mccallum to thwart Matthew Kennedy.
Mccallum then pulled off another instinctive save to deny Tony Watt.
St Johnstone levelled three minutes from the interval when Scott Tanser sent over an inviting cross from the left and Watt deftly steered his header into the corner of the net.
Clark had to look lively at the start of the second period to palm away a stinging drive from Thomas Reilly.
Saints took the lead in the 50th minute. Liam Gordon found David Mcmillan with a lovely pass and he drilled the ball home from 16 yards on the angle.
On 61 minutes, it was 3-1 as Kennedy hammered home a brilliant strike from 23 yards.
east fife 1 falkirk 2
Falkirk started well and Dylan Mackin pulled a decent early stop out of Brett Long.
East Fife’s Scott Mcbride will feel he could have done better from close range after meeting a Scott Agnew free-kick.
Striker Kevin Smith was twice afforded a sight on goal by the visiting defence, who were leading a charmed life.
It was little surprise when the Fifers nabbed the lead – and in some style. Young striker Anton Dowds picked up the ball 30 yards out and, with the Falkirk defence backing off, lashed an unstoppable effort into the top corner.
It didn’t take long after the re-start for Falkirk to level as Mackin managed to pull off his marker and powered his header beyond Long.
The goal gave the visitors a real shot in the arm and, shortly after making a triple substitution, they raced ahead, with Mackin getting his second of the game.
alloa athletic 0 ross county 2
The match kick off was delayed for 15 minutes after the referee was called away to a family emergency and a replacement had to be found – local Grade 4 referee Stewart Johnstone stepping in to run the line.
The visitors dominated the early play, with Andy Graham in the middle of the home defence