Scrappers after stopping streak

been forgiven for adopting a cautious approach but the visitors took just 90 seconds to seize the initiative.

David Turnbull’s teasing corner evaded a posse of players in the sixyard box but alert English defender Aldred stole in at the back post to stretch and prod home the opener.

The notoriously f rugal Perth defence was far from secure as Motherwell punished them again in the 17th minute.

Turnbull completely miscued Liam Grimshaw’s cross with the target at his mercy but it rolled kindly to Danny Johnson and the striker instinctively hoisted a close-range finish into the roof of the net.

Saints were gifted a 25th-minute opportunity to trim the deficit when Charles Dunne handled a Kennedy cross but the winger was denied by a superb stretching save from keeper Mark Gillespie, with home fans reflecting ruefully on four misses in their last five attempts from the spot.

A timely David Wotherspoon block on the line prevented Curtis Main glancing home another troublesome Turnbull corner and at the other end Mark Kerr’s powerful 30-yard drive clipped Aldred’s head and veered inches wide.

Before the interval, Gillespie was called upon to grip a David McMillan header before dropping to divert a raking Kennedy shot around the post.

Saints manager Wright rated it a good save from Gillespie rather than a weak effort from his player, saying: “I am getting fed up with the misses but Matty took the last one and scored. It was right in the corner.”

Former Dundalk striker McMillan wasted a chance to make inroads near the hour-mark when he volleyed Kennedy’s tempting cross high over the target.

With seven minutes remaining Kerr crashed home a thundering header f rom another Kennedy delivery and Motherwell survived a late penalty claim when Perth substitute Danny Swanson was bundled over by Dunne, with referee Alan Muir unmoved.