AY AND MIGHTY
Robbo tips Jonah to have whale of a time with Buddies
Stephen Robinson reckons Jonah Ayunga is ready to tear up the league after taking his tally to four in four games.
The former Morecambe hitman struck a double as the Buddies ended a dismal group campaign on a high.
That set them up for next weekend’s curtain raiser against Motherwell.
And with Ayunga in hot form the Buddies boss reckons his side are in good shape.
Robinson said: “When Jonah applies himself right he’s a real handful.
“He can be anything he wants. He will score a lot for us if he keeps pushing himself and we can make a lot of money off him.
“He is one of the most talented boys I have worked with. He’s 6ft 3in and he has every attribute. It’s up to him what he decides to do with it.”
Robinson will be without Eamonn
Brophy for the Well clash after the frontman missed out through injury.
The gaffer said: “Eamonn wasn’t quite right. We couldn’t risk it with his injury history. It’s very unlikely he will feature next week.”
The Buddies’ Premier Sports Cup fate was already sealed, after dismal defeats to Arbroath and Airdrie, which was reflected in the 1047 attendance.
But this victory lifted spirits with Ayunga striking a double after a Mark O’Hara penalty had opened the scoring.
Robinson is now preparing for the visit of his old club Well and said: “I watched them on Thursday. I got a better reception than I expect to get on Sunday! I’m looking forward to it and we’re ready. “The cup is false in the early stages and now this is the real stuff. For 60 minutes we were excellent.”
Saints opened the scoring from the spot in the eighth minute after Ayunga was tripped by Robbie McIntyre. O’Hara rolled the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards to open his Buddies account and set Saints on easy street.
Ryan Strain’s pace on the right was causing Kieran MacDonald a headache and from his cross Ayunga headed home only for the offside flag to deny the former Morecambe man. But he only had to wait until the 25th minute to bag his first of the day as he tapped home Keanu Baccus’ low cross to finish a fine move started by Ethan Erhahon.
Teen star Dylan Reid was introduced at half-time for his first appearance since rejecting Celtic’s approaches.
Before he’d even touched the ball Ayunga made it 3- 0 when he headed home Richard Tait’s cross.
Out of the blue Edinburgh pulled one back through Danny Handling when he beat the offside trap and slammed past Peter Urminsky.
Saints remained on top though and subs Toyosi Olusanya and Fraser Taylor both saw efforts fly over.
Then City keeper Sam Ramsbottom brilliantly saved Alex Greive’s drive from a Reid cutback and Taylor struck the post direct from a corner.
Edinburgh boss Alan Maybury said: “Without the ball we were beat too easily and gave away soft goals.”