Match Report - By Steven Mew

Report by Steven Mew

A converted penalty from Cammy Smith midway through the second half was the difference yesterday afternoon as the high flying Buddies left Glebe Park with all three points.

In a similar fashion to the reverse fixture at St Mirren Park back in September, City were left to curse their luck in front of goal and ponder how they didn’t manage to gain at least a share of the spoils.

Manager Darren Dods made several changes to the side that lost heavily at Cappielow last weekend. Willie Dyer returned to the side following injury and there was also starting places for Gary Fusco and Jordan Sinclair, with the latter coming in for the suspended James Dale.

It took a while for the game to spark to life and the visitors opened the scoring with the first real chance of the game after 20 minutes. A long ball from Stephen McGinn skidded under the foot of Sean Crighton which sent GAVIN REILLY clean through on goal – the striker confidently dispatched the ball past Smith and into the far corner of the net.

City fought back however. Five minutes later Isaac Layne had a powerful goal bound shot deflected into the path of Kalvin Orsi with his shot also deflected by the Saints defence for a corner.

That duo were not to be denied after 28 minutes. A ball forward from Orsi sent ISAAC LAYNE through on goal and the in-form striker flicked the ball past the advancing Craig Samson and into the net for his 5th goal of the season.

The goal gave City an air of confidence and they were unlucky not to take the lead going into the break. Isaac Layne got the better of his marker before stinging the gloves of Samson who pushed the ball wide. From the resulting corner, Sean Crighton rose highest and his header produced another excellent save from the keeper.

City continued this pressure early in the second half – Layne advanced with the ball before releasing the ball to Orsi, but the ex-Saints man screwed his shot just inches wide of the post.

The visitors started to come into the game again as Cammy Smith scooped his shot over the bar from the edge of the box and just a minute later, Saints came even closer. Adam Eckersley played in Lewis Morgan who advanced into the box, his effort beat Graeme Smith but Gary Fusco was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

The visitors were awarded a soft free kick 25 yards from goal which was struck straight at ‘Buzz’, whilst at the other end Jordan Sinclair played a clever through ball for Layne who could only prod the ball wide under pressure.

With 65 minutes on the clock, St Mirren were awarded a penalty when Graeme Smith was adjudged to have brought down CAMMY SMITH in the box. Smith dusted himself down to take the spot kick himself and he confidently dispatched the ball into the corner, sending Smith the wrong way.

City went on to have the better of the remaining 25 minutes and continued to conjure up chances with regularity as Darren Dods’ men pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

Euan Smith, who later picked up the sponsors man of the match award played a clever ball through for Euan Spark but his effort was straight at Craig Samson. Ten minutes later, Spark again was involved when his low cross reached Layne, who turned his marker but his strike was straight at the keeper.

Deep into stoppage time, City fans had their heads in their hands. The ball fell kindly in the box for substitute Andy Jackson who evaded the despairing dive of Samson at his feet, but his shot from a difficult angle cannoned off the outside the post.

It was yet another game where City were punished for individual mistakes and failure to convert a vast array of chances. Next up is a trip to face a struggling Falkirk side next weekend.

Other Results - Ladbrokes Championship

Dunfermline Athletic 2 Queen of the South 5

A surprise thumping win for the Doonhamers at East End Park.

Morton 0 Dundee United 2

United remain at the top of the league after win at Cappielow.