Wyness nets in draw with Dons reserves

May 6 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

STRIKER Dennis Wyness was on the scoresheet for St Mirren’s reserves yesterday afternoon as they ended their competitive season with a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen’s second string at Glebe Park in Brechin.

Wyness put the Saints in the driving seat after 70 minutes with the opener but then midfielder Hallur Hansson notched the equaliser for the Dons with just five minutes remaining.

But Buddies manager Gus MacPherson was handed a major lift from yesterday’s match as two of his players marked their comebacks from injury.

Left-back Franco Miranda, who has been sidelined for more than three months with a cartilage problem in his left knee, made a return to action with some valuable minutes on the park.

And midfield ace Stephen O’Donnell also ended his injury hell.

O’Donnell, 25, had been out of action since he underwent an operation in late January to repair a torn ligament in his right knee.

He had started the first three games of the season for the Buddies first team but hasn’t kicked a ball in anger in the SPL since coming on as a late substitute in the 1-0 defeat against Aberdeen at Love Street at the end of August.

Since then, O’Donnell’s initial injury, which was sustained in training, progressively got worse.

This prompted him to go under the knife earlier this year.

But he is now well on the way to a full recovery.

MacPherson said: “The purpose of the reserves is for our younger players to learn their trade.

“It also allows the more experienced ones to use it as a fitness exercise.”