Saints within touching distance of SPL safety

May 18 2009 Paisley Daily Express

FALKIRK 0 ST MIRREN 2

BRILLIANT Billy Mehmet and ‘Handy’ Andy Dorman struck in either half to haul a hungry looking St Mirren side off the foot of the SPL table and to within touching distance of safety.

Mehmet’s composed first half finish put Gus MacPherson’s side one goal ahead, before the goalscorer became goalmaker when he played in Dorman to wrap up the victory.

Falkirk’s Steven Pressley was dismissed with two minutes to go for an elbowing offence on Mehmet, but Saints saw out the game comfortably in what was a cracking afternoon for the vast visiting support.

There were two changes to the St Mirren starting 11 with captain John Potter forced to sit out for fit again right-back Jack Ross, while Garry Brady came back at the expense of Dennis Wyness.

After two minutes Dorman forced a corner off Tam Scobbie but when the midfielder’s cross came in, it was Scobbie who managed to get it clear.

There was a scare for Saints when former player Burton O’Brien sent a long ball upfield for Michael Higdon to chase, but thankfully Will Haining, brilliant all day, was on hand to knock it away.

Then Ross produced a great save from Dani Mallo as he struck a half volley straight on target – but the keeper touched it over.

And from Brady’s resultant corner, Haining’s header from 10 yards drifted agonisingly over.

After 12 minutes Brady’s trickery on the left found Gary Mason 22 yards out and the midfielder’s right foot drive was tipped behind by Mallo.

Saints dominated the opening stages and a powerful first time drive from Dorman in the box ricocheted off Scobbie – just when it looked as if it was heading for the top corner.

After 15 minutes a Haining free-kick in his own half found Mehmet, who combined with Hugh Murray. Mehmet picked up the return pass and found Ross, whose fizzing drive from the edge of the box struck the right hand post with Kello beaten.

Kello then had to punch clear a Dorman pass for Thomson to chase on the six yard box as Saints tightened their grip on the game.

After 26 minutes Brady won a free-kick 30 yards out on the left at the expense of Scott Arfield, but Dorman’s cross glanced off Mehmet and bounced away. Buddies star Haining had to concede a Falkirk corner on the right after 27 minutes as the home side threatened, but the rearguard dealt with it.

The Bairns forced another set piece moments later but when Neil McCann sent it into the box Howard got a fist to it.

Towards the half hour mark Murray skipped past a couple of challenges after a return pass from Mehmet, but his shot at goal was desperately blocked.

Dorman cut inside Pressley after Brady prodded through a pass but his shot at goal was wayward.

After 37 minutes Saints deservedly took the lead when Pressley attempted a woeful headed pass to Scobbie. Murray intercepted and the Buddies ace headed it on for Mehmet.

The striker had plenty to do 35 yards out but eased off the backtracking Pressley and showed composure to slot the ball beyond Kello from inside the box.

Before the break McCann raced on to a Higdon pass into the box but the former Rangers player’s effort was too tame to trouble Howard in goal.

Early in the second 45 Brady side-stepped Arfield on the left and sent a cross zipping across the face of goal with no takers on the end of it.

At the other end Higdon saw an ambitious shot from distance head miles wide of target.

The heavens then opened and it must have been hellish for the players as they knocked the ball around in monsoon conditions.

As Falkirk chased an equaliser Higdon connected with a Lee Bullen cross from the right, but the header was never going to trouble Howard from such a distance. O’Brien saw a shot squirm wide of the right hand post from the edge of the box as the Bairns continued to press, before Mehmet passed up a gilt-edged opportunity, heading a Ross cross into the arms of Kello following good build-up play by Murray and Dorman.

Then Steve Lovell brought out an important block from Howard as he ghosted into a shooting position but the Saints keeper was ever alert to the danger.

Mehmet forced a save from Kello when the keeper tipped his effort away from the line. But Dorman made it 2-0 after 72 minutes when he started the move that saw Mehmet work his way down the left.

The striker cut inside, squared it to Dorman and the midfielder had the simplest of tasks by slotting it into the back of the net from 10 yards.

Minutes later an important Haining header in front of goal stopped Lovell from connecting in a good position, before a Gerard Aafjes effort from distance left Howard totally untroubled. A Darren Barr effort was also nowhere near its target and you could sense the stuffing had been knocked out of the Bairns.

With two minutes remaining Pressley was red carded with a flying elbow on Mehmet that left the striker motionless over on the far side.

Thankfully, though, Mehmet walked off to rapturous applause and was replaced by Dennis Wyness as Saints coasted to three vital SPL points.