Buddies throw away chance to move up

Nov 23 2009 Paisley Daily Express

ST MIRREN ....................... 1

HIBERNIAN ...................... 1

SAINTS blew a great opportunity to leap back into the top six after passing up a hatful of chances in this gripping SPL encounter.

Gus MacPhersons side completely dominated the visitors from Edinburgh in the first-half exchanges but it was the Hibees who opened the scoring with a Derek Riordan thunderbolt on the half hour.

However, Chris Innes rescued a point for Saints with a well-executed header from a Jack Ross free kick on the stroke of half-time.

Lee Mair came back after suspension and surprisingly, there was no John Potter, who was left out of the St Mirren squad completely.

David Barron tried his luck after seven minutes when his powerful right-foot drive from distance flew wide of Graham Stacks right-hand post after he picked up Ian Murrays clearance.

Then Andy Dorman won a free-kick 25 yards out on the left after Chris Hogg brought him to the ground.

The Saints midfield ace took the cross himself and although Stack was able to punch it clear, referee Willie Collum spotted an infringement.

Steven Thomsons prodded shot after 12 minutes was desperately scrambled clear by the leg of Stack after Ross and Billy Mehmet combined on the left, before the Hibs goalkeeper was at full stretch to block Stephen McGinns 20-yard effort when Thomson played him in.

From Dormans corner on the right, Hugh Murray diverted it wide at the near post.

Defender Innes had to shepherd possession away from Abdessalam Benjelloun after 15 minutes at the expense of a corner but the visitors were unable to capitalise.

Saints midfielder Murray saw another effort from 12 yards zip wide before Hibs midfielder John Rankin was introduced after 17 minutes for McBride.

Home fans screamed for a penalty when Michael Higdon challenged Ian Murray in the box and the Hibs centre-back appeared to use an arm but the referee wasnt interested.

At the other end Anthony Stokess miss-hit pass from 20 yards trundled wide of Paul Gallachers right-hand post as the visitors threatened against the run of play.

Back came Saints and forward Higdon lofted an effort high over target as the home domination continued.

Saints forced a corner on the left after Barron and Dorman combined and when it came in for Mehmet, his turn and shot from 10 yards flew over.

Towards the half hour Dorman missed a gilt-edged opportunity when he flew beyond the Hibs back four and closed in on goal but his right-foot shot drifted a yard wide of the right-hand post.

Hibs took a dramatic lead after 30 minutes when Riordan picked up Liam Miller crossfield pass and from all of 30 yards out he fired an unstoppable right-foot shot high and beyond Gallacher.

Seconds later Rankin combined with Riordan 18 yards out but this time the latters shot was too tame to trouble Gallacher.

The Saints fans were simply stunned that their team was now chasing the game after dominating much of the first half.

Then Benji weaved beyond Mair before firing a shot from the edge of the box that Gallacher could only parry with his upper body.

Saints had a great chance to level proceedings when Murray picked up a slide rule pass and fired it across the face of goal for Higdon but the former Bairns forward diverted it wide from around six yards.

McGinn saw a first-time effort before the break zip over the bar following Dormans cutback as Saints searched for an equaliser.

Into time added on and Thomson burst into the box with Rankin closing him down and once again, the home support saw a handball, but again the appeals fell on deaf ears.

But Saints pulled level on the stroke of half-time when a Ross angled free-kick into the box was nodded expertly home by Innes from 12 yards. It was the least Saints deserved for such a gutsy and determined first-half performance.

In the first real shot of the second half Riordan saw a free-kick from 30 yards sail over the target.

Moments later, Ross took Riordan out of the play over near the left corner flag but when the former Celtic star swung in the cross, it was headed clear.

Higdon went to ground under a Sol Bamba challenge as he positioned himself for a cross from the right but, once again, no penalty was awarded.

Hugh Murray drilled one wide of the far post from 20 yards after a great move down the right with Thomson combining with Ross.

Thomson found Ross on the overlap and the Buddies right-back played it to Higdon. The Buddies man teed up Shuggie but the low drive flew marginally wide.

Once again Thomson was at the centre of the action when a Barron cross was only partially cleared and the one time Brighton star cracked a decent shot over target from 18 yards.

Craig Dargo replaced Higdon with 12 minutes remaining as the home team searched for a winner.

After 83 minutes a careless high boot from Innes caught Benji and the Moroccan needed medical treatment but the Saints centre half escaped a booking.

Allan Johnston came on for Murray with five minutes remaining, before Riordan sent an angled low drive wide of the mark.