Saturday, May 23, 2009

St Mirren survive despite defeat

Simon Mensing
Simon Mensing celebrates putting Hamilton into the lead

St Mirren secured top-flight football next season despite suffering a narrow defeat to Hamilton.

Simon Mensing headed the visitors into the lead from a corner in the 27th minute to put St Mirren under pressure.

Garry Brady came close for the Buddies with a succession of first-half chances, and David Barron was influential throughout the match.

The home fans breathed easy at the final whistle after results confirmed that Inverness had been relegated.

St Mirren needed to avoid defeat to guarantee top-flight football next season, while Hamilton secured their SPL status last week thanks to results elsewhere.

The home side forced a succession of corners in the opening minutes, with Brady delivering a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area that was deflected out for a goal-kick.

Less than 10 minutes later Brady almost caught Hamilton keeper Sean Murdoch off-guard with a cross-cum-shot that looped in from the left and inched over the bar.

It was 20 minutes before Hamilton threatened the St Mirren goal when Derek Lyle tried an ambitious effort from 25 yards out that sailed over Mark Howard's bar.

The match took a subtle twist in the 27th minute when Mensing headed in a Brian Easton corner to put the Saints under pressure.

The single goal advantage for Hamilton meant St Mirren had to avoid leaking further goals to remain a Scottish Premier League team next season.

James McArthur drove into the St Mirren penalty area with 10 minutes of the first half left to play and delivered a looping cross, but the danger was cleared.

With three minutes to go before the interval, Brady cut in from the left-hand side and drilled in a low shot that skimmed wide of Murdoch's left-hand post.

Immediately after the restart, Joel Thomas was lucky to escape a red card for a for a nasty challenge on Saints keeper Mark Howard.

Barron latched on to a square ball on the edge of the Hamilton penalty are with 10 minutes of the second half played, but ballooned his right-footed effort over the bar.

Brady sclaffed a good chance wide in the 68th minute as St Mirren built up some second-half momentum.

Howard denied Thomas at the other end when the Frenchman fired in from close range.

Murdoch parried Billy Mehmet's side-footed volley out for a corner, but the Buddies were unable to capitalise on the set-piece.

Thomas wasted an opportunity to put Hamilton clear with a long-range free-kick 10 minutes from time, but blasted it embarrassingly wide of the mark.

Signing target James McCarthy had a shot saved near the end before being substituted, then Saint's sub Stephen O'Donnell delivered a right-footed shot into the Hamilton goal that drifted wide.

No comments: