Battling saints widen the gap

Apr 14 2009 Paisley Daily Express

ST MIRREN 1 - 1 HIBERNIAN

SAINTS moved four points clear of SPL basement boys Falkirk with this score draw at home to Hibs last night.

But it could have been so much more if Gus MacPherson’s side had killed off Mixu Paatelainen’s team when they were on top.

Andy Dorman fired Saints into the lead with a superb volley after 28 minutes, but Steven Fletcher capitalised on some slack defending to score the equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

Saints boss Gus MacPherson made one change to his starting 11 with Hugh Murray making a welcome return to midfield actionfollowing his three-match suspension.

‘Shuggie’ came in at the expense of Gary Mason.

After a minute on the clock Billy Mehmet saw a first-time glancing effort drift over the crossbar after good build-up play from Dorman and the resultant cross from Jack Ross.

Then Saints striker Craig Dargo got away from Hibs centre half Chris Hogg on the left and swung in a dangerous cross to the back post.

Goalkeeper Gregorz Szamotulski flapped at it, but Derek Riordan hoofed it clear before Dorman could pounce.

After 10 minutes Ross forced St Mirren’s first corner of the match off the body of Hibs skipper Rob Jones and Dorman was on hand to deliver the cross but Englishman Jones headed it clear.

But Saints won possession back and a driven cross from Dorman on the right was diverted wide of the right-hand post by Dargo.

Saints created another half chance when Mehmet flicked on Howard’s long punt but Dargo drove his 20-yard shot off the body of Jones.

After 15 minutes Mehmet forced another corner on the right and once again it was Dorman to send in the cross but this time Steven Thomson’s header sailed out for a throw-in.

Then Dorman and Mehmet combined to find Ross on the right but from the resultant cross Stephen McGinn could not get enough on it to divert it goalward.

Souleymane Bamba picked up a caution after 24 minutes for hauling McGinn to the ground and Saints won a free-kick 35 yards out but Dorman’s effort struck the Hibs wall.

Then Dargo was agonisingly close to a shooting opportunity when he picked up a long ball into the box but Bamba got back in time to nick possession from his feet. Dargo forced another corner moments later but Jones was on hand to head it clear.

But Saints were not to be denied and Dorman made it 1-0 after 28 minutes when he found McGinn’s pass and sent a sweetly struck right-foot angled shot beyond the outstretched hand of Szamotulski from 12 yards.

That man Dorman swung it in from the right but again Jones headed the danger clear.

After 42 minutes Riordan saw an effort drift wide from 18 yards as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

And Hibs did just that seconds before the break when Riordan picked out an unmarked Fletcher on the right with a lovely crossfield pass and the Scotland internationalist smashed the ball low and beyond Howard from 16 yards.

Saints had a decent shout for a spot-kick after 49 minutes when Mehmet went to ground from a Rob Jones challenge as they raced to get a Dargo flick but referee Iain Brines wasn’t interested.

Dorman squanderd a good chance to regain the lead moments later when Szamotulski failed to collect a cross but the effort zipped wide.

Jim Hamilton replaced Mehmet as the hour mark approached, before Hibs’ first change saw O’Brien leave the field for Jonathan Johansson.

Murray smashed a Hamilton cross into the net after 63 minutes but it was from an offside position so the goal didn’t stand.

Dorman’s cross-cum-shot deflected off Denes Rosa and almost deceived Szamotulski at his near post after 68 minutes, before McGinn took a tumble in the box but again, nothing was given by Brines.

Then Hamilton picked up Dorman’s cross, sent it into the danger zone but Dargo’s slight touch took it wide from six yards.

There was a caution for Nish with 17 minutes remaining before Howard produced a world class save, tipping Hogg’s header over the crossbar when connected with John Rankin’s cross.

Both teams chased a late winner and Hamilton fired a left-foot effort wide of the left-hand post.

Garry Brady replaced McGinn with nine minutes to go and the midfielder hit the side netting during a bout of Saints pressure.

Dargo sent a glancing header agonisingly wide of the far post when he connected with a Ross cross.

Brady won a Saints corner on the left after 84 minutes but the Hibs rearguard managed to head it clear.

Nish scuffed a left foot shot into the grateful arms of Howard with two minutes to go before sub Ross Chisholm picked up a caution for taking Dorman to ground.

St Mirren (4-4-2): Howard, Ross, Potter, H. Murray, Dorman, Mehmet (Hamilton 56), Dargo, McGinn (Brady 81), Camara, Cuthbert, Thomson. Subs not used – Mathers, Mason, Haining, McAusland, Barron.

Hibernian (4-4-2): Szamotulski, Hogg, Jones, Fletcher (I Murray (72), Nish, O’Brien Johansson (60), Stevenson, Rankin, Bamba, Rosa (Chisholm 87), Riordan. Subs not used – Ma-Kalambay, van Zanten, Keenan, Thicot.

Star Saint – Andy Dorman.

Attendance – 5151.