The St Mirren U20s let a half-time lead slip away in a four minute period early in the second half as they went down 4-1 this evening to Celtic in a SPFL Development League match-up at The Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Saints started the match brightly with David Clarkson firing the first shot on goal in 2 minutes but his effort went narrowly wide of Conor Hazard's post.

Clarkson came close again on the 20 minute mark but his header came rattling off the crossbar, then ten minutes later he came close again as he pulled his shot just wide of the target.

St Mirren got their just rewards five minutes later when Kyle McAllister fired the ball past Hazard to open the scoring.

Saints went into the break deservedly with the lead but within ten minutes of the restart they were left reeling as well as trailing the Glasgow side. Jack Aitchison pulled Celtic level on 49 minutes when he took advantage of slack defending by Saints before going past Willison and slipping the ball into the back of the net.

Two minutes later Saints were stunned as Celtic took the lead as Aitchison scored again, this time with a header. Another two minutes after that and the game was all but lost for Saints as Michael Johnston went on a run before firing the ball past Willison to make it 3-1 for Celtic.

Celtic put the finishing touch to their second half performance with a fourth goal on 90 minutes as Daniel Higgins fired a shot into the top corner.

Next up for Saints in the Development League is a trip to the Highlands on 1st November to face Ross County.

St Mirren U20: Willison, McNaughton, McDonald, Magennis, Whyte, Gordon, Gallagher, McLear, Shankland (O’Keefe 70), Clarkson (MacPherson 70), McAllister (Flanagan 76).
Subs: McKendry, Johnston, Fawkes, Henry (GK)

Match pictures by John Millar – © John Millar.

SAINTS got the Jack Ross era off to a hugely frustrating start as despite creating a plethora of chances they drew a blank as Dundee United left with all three points.  Missing chances and giving away soft goals is a deadly combination and the areas of improvement for the new managerial team is clear to see.

On the positive it was a massively better performance in most areas than we have witnessed thus far with a slightly altered shape allowing our better players to get on the ball in more advance areas which is a huge step in the right direction as was the increased work rate.  On another more clinical day we could have very probably taken something against a United team destined to be there or thereabouts come the business end of the season.

Saints started brighter taking the game to a United team still looking for the expected levels of consistency under Ray McKinnon.  John Sutton was assigned to lead the line with Lewis Morgan and Ryan Hardie either side with Stevie Mallan in close contact in one of the noticeable tactical tweaks made by the new management team.

The physical presence of Sutton was causing United all sorts of grief and Ryan Hardie really ought to have profited from the crumbs.  The Scotland Under-21 striker dragged one chance wide then rammed a shot down the throat of Cammy Bell in the United goal.

United were offering little against a Saints team anchored by Rocco Quinn and a far more lively than previously seen Kyle Hutton.  This being the case it continued to be Saints who threatened with Bell needing two attempts to field a well-struck and slightly deflected drive from Lewis Morgan.

At this stage Saints were well on top with United unable to get out.  Problem was Saints didn’t take the chances when they were coming and United went on to punish them late in the half as they grew more and more into proceedings.

Tope Obadeyi robbed Gary Irvine and as United broke Saints struggled to get set defensively and were ultimately undone by a quick exchange of passes and a final pass from Tony Andreu showing why Norwich paid over a million pounds for him as he set Scott Fraser through to open the scoring.

It was a cruel blow for Saints, but by the interval they were happy to get in just a solitary goal behind.  United hit Saints with another purposeful and pacy counter and only a good last ditch intervention kept them out. This, and a final wild swipe by Obadeyi when he had a chance to work Jamie Langfield.

Half-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Dundee United

When the second half got underway it was United who came out the traps quicker.  Gary Irvine did well to get back and boot Tony Andreu’s effort off the line as Fraser and Charlie Telfer in the visiting midfield started to pop passes about.

Saints eventually weathered the storm and started to once again cause problems.  Morgan should have done better than shoot straight at Bell when he had evaded his marker and then Bell made a super stop to keep out substitute Lawrence Shankland.

Again though without being able to add a finishing touch to the good work Saints were to be landed with another counter punch.  Langfield denied Simon Murray, but the ball bobbled to Andreu who cleverly and clinically clipped the ball over the head of Langfield into the vacant net.

Two goals down but Saints kept going, but also kept missing chances.  Shankland shot wide, Clarkson missed a glorious opening having done well to wheel away from his defender, Morgan again hit Bell with a shot and Shankland saw a header booted off the line.

In amongst all this United stopper, Mark Durnan, was dismissed for a second bookable offence.  Despite the numerical advantage, albeit for the very late stages, Saints were unable to get the goal they merited as United held on for the win.

Full-Time: St Mirren 0-2 Dundee United

St Mirren: Langfield, Naismith, Irvine, MacKenzie (Clarkson 75), Quinn, Sutton, Mallan (Shankland 59), Hutton, Baird, Morgan, Hardie (Walsh 71).
Subs Not Used: Gallagher, McLear, Stewart, Gallacher (GK).

Dundee United: Bell, Dixon, Durnan, Fraser, Obadeyi (Spittal 69), Telfer, Edjenguele, Flood, Andreu (Donaldson 86), van der Struijk, van der Velden (Murray 69).
Subs Not Used: Dillon, Smith, Coote, Zwick (GK).

Referee: Nick Walsh.
Assistant Referee: Willie Conquer.
Assistant Referee: Jordan Curran.

Attendance: 3,612.

Star Saint: Have to agree with the fans’ vote as Gary Irvine was exemplary throughout in appetite, leadership and general play.

Match report and gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography.

The Under-20 version of the 'Battle of the Saints' ended in a 1-1 draw this evening at The Paisley 2021 Stadium.

The SPFL Development League fixture didn't heat up until the second half when substitute Robbie Polson put the Perth Saints into the lead on 63 minutes.

Fifteen minutes later St Mirren substitute Nathan Flanagan scored to pull the Paisley Saints level again.

As the game headed towards stoppage time St Johnstone keeper Ben McKenzie denied Saints as he did well to block Kalvin Orsi's header then seconds later Darren's Whyte's effort was cleared from the goalmouth.

St Mirren U20: Willison, McNaughton, Stewart, Magennis, Whyte, McDonald, Gallagher (McAllister 56), McLear, Shankland (Flanagan 56), Orsi, O’Keefe.
Unused Subs: MacPherson, Johnston, McKendry, Barclay, Henry (GK).

Match pictures by John Millar – © John Millar.

St Mirren booked their place in the IRN-BRU Cup quarter final after a 2-1 win away to Hibs in caretaker Allan McManus' final game in charge. Jack Ross was appointed as new manager earlier this week but it was McManus who took Saints one final time and the Head of Youth Development at the Buddies signed off in perfect fashion with St Mirren into the hat for the next round of the cup. 

Hibs started the game on top with an early offside flag foiling James Keatings before Andrew Shinnie went close with just two minutes on the clock when he cut in from the left but dragged his shot wide of Langfield's near post. However, St Mirren grew into the game and had a great opportunity to open the scoring when Tom Walsh robbed Jordan Forster in the final third and burst in on goal but the effort from a tight angle was tame and nestled into the arms of Marciano.

A foul by Walsh on Martin Boyle yielded a free kick for Hibs from which Keatings flashed a teasing ball across the box but nobody could get on the end of it with Hibees captain David Gray coming close as he ghosted in at the back post.

It was a drab encounter with very little in the way of goalmouth action. Shinnie had a shot blocked for the hosts whilst Stephen Mallan put a long range shot straight into the arms of Marciano.

Hibs took the lead with less than 10 minutes until half-time through Alex Harris. The winger cut in from the left and got away from Kyle Hutton - who slipped - before dispatching the ball beyond Langfield. There was nothing the goalkeeper could do and it looked like Hibs would be going into the break ahead.

But St Mirren were back on level terms following a stunning free kick from Mallan after Rocco Quinn was fouled 25 yards outside the box by Dylan McGeouch. It was Mallan territory as the 20 year-old stepped up and dispatched the free kick beyond the reach of Marciano to the delight of the travelling Saints fans. It was Mallan's second of the season after scoring in the previous round of the IRN-BRU Cup against Albion Rovers and was reminiscent of his goal against Hibs at Easter Road in January.

Half Time: Hibernian 1-1 St Mirren

Saints came out in the second half buoyed by Mallan's goal and had an early penalty shout denied when John Sutton looked to have been pulled back in the box but Willie Collum was unmoved.

Hibs took control in the second half though and there was a huge let off for the Buddies on 50 minutes when Keatings ballooned a shot over the bar. David Gray's low cross along the box found the striker in loads of space but, with the goal gaping, he fired it over the bar. Had he hit the target it was sure to have gone in and the Hibees man will have been disappointed that he failed to do so.

The hosts almost got themselves back in front with a long range fizzer from Dylan McGeouch. McGeouch was pulling the strings in the Hibees midfield and he was unlucky to see his effort crack off the post but it was another let-off for the Buddies.

Allan McManus responded by changing shape from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-1-1 with the introduction of David Clarkson, coming on for Rocco Quinn but it was still Hibs who were having the better of the game and less than a minute after the sub they could've been 2-1 ahead when Alex Harris got on the end of Fyvie's long pass but Langfield was equal to his deft touch, denying him a second goal.

Lawrence Shankland was Saints final substitution and it was a sub that paid dividends almost immediately as he linked up with David Clarkson to set up St Mirren's second goal. The striker brilliantly picked out Clarkson who had burst into the box and he slid in to poke the ball beyond Marciano. Hibs were furious as they felt Shankland had got a touch on the ball from an offside position after Clarkson hit the shot but that wasn't the case and the goal stood.

There were a few heart in mouth moments for Saints before the contest was over with a fantastic last ditch challenge from Baird denying Jason Cummings before Marvin Bartley put a header straight into Langfield's arms right at the death. However, this was to be St Mirren's day and they march on in the IRN-BRU Cup.

FULL TIME: Hibernian 1-2 St Mirren

St Mirren: Langfield, Naismith, MacKenzie, Baird, Irvine, Hutton, Quinn (Clarkson 63), Mallan, Walsh (Gallagher 74), Morgan, Sutton (Shankland 82)
Subs not used: Willison, McDonald, Whyte, O'Keefe

Hibernian: Marciano, Gray, McGregor, Forster, Hanlon, Fyvie, McGeouch, Shinnie (Bartley 69), Boyle (Cummings 69), Harris (Holt 84) , Keatings
Subs not used: Laidlaw, Stevenson, Eardley, Graham

Referee: William Collum
Assistant Referee: Brian Templeton
Assistant Referee: Gordon Crawford

Attendance: 4,392

Match report and gallery pictures by John Millar – © John Millar.

A late goal from Tom Walsh earned St Mirren a share of the points with Falkirk in Saturday's Ladbrokes Championship match at The Paisley 2021 Stadium.

The Bairns took a first half lead thanks to a wicked deflection from Craig Sibbald's free-kick which sent the ball spinning past Saints' keeper Jamie Langfield.

Saints battled back in the second half and got a deserved equaliser with three minutes remaining as Tom Walsh surged forward before rifling his shot into the bottom corner to earn Saints a much needed point.

Paisley Panda had a busy day on Saturday with the half-time competition 'Bung a Baw' selling out for the first time. The Panda said: "It was really busy on Saturday as we sold out so to avoid disappointment at the next home game against Dundee United get in early and buy your ball to take part in 'Bung a Baw'."

Official Website photographer, Allan Picken was at The Paisley 2021 Stadium to capture all the action.

© Allan Picken Photography.

Saints picked up their first home point since the opening day of the season thanks to some late drama at the Paisley 2021 Stadium this evening.

It looked as if visitors Falkirk would leave with the victory thanks to Craig Sibbald's early free-kick, which took a huge deflection that gave Jamie Langfield no hope of keeping it out of the net.

However, with just a few minutes remaining sub Tom Walsh strode up and sent a tremendous shot into the bottom corner to salvage a draw for the Buddies. It meant the fans left in a far cheerier mood than had looked likely, however with Saints still two points adrift of Dumbarton whoever the new manager is has their work cut out for them.

Langfield was back in the team at the expense of Scott Gallacher, who dropped to the bench. Andy Webster had been set to take over from Jack Baird in defence but picked up an injury in the warm-up meaning the young defender started after all. Namesake and former Buddie John led the Falkirk attack.

Some Saints corners in the glorious sunshine provided some early hope for the home fans that was quickly extinguished as a few spots of rain began to fall. After Lewis Kidd dragged an early shot wide, Craig Sibbald was fouled at the edge of the box. The midfielder took the free-kick that followed and it took a huge deflection off the wall before spinning beyond the reach of Langfield into the bottom corner.

Saints weren't playing badly but they weren't creating a great deal either, Stephen Mallan turning and shooting well wide from 25 yards all they had to show for their efforts in the opening quarter. They had managed to restrict the Bairns relatively well until some nice passing play created an opening for John Baird, however he shot wide from the edge of the box.

There was concern 10 minutes before the break when John Rankin's thundering shot hit Gary Irvine directly in the face. The stand-in Buddies captain was in a spot of bother, struggling to get to his feet before a doctor was called to make sure he was okay. Fortunately he was and the leftback continued. Saints hadn't created much of note but could have been level just before the break, a deep free-kick only being cleared as far as Hardie who smashed the ball over from 12 yards out when he should have hit the target at least. In stoppage time Falkirk almost extended their advantage, Langfield's legs blocking a Falkirk shot, creating a bit of a stramash before he smothered the ball.

Half-Time: St Mirren 0-1 Falkirk

There was a lucky escape for Saints early in the second half as Falkirk thought they'd doubled their lead. John Baird's shot deflected kindly for Bob McHugh and the striker slotted the ball home, however the celebrations were cut short by the offside flag. McHugh was beginning to cause problems, getting the better of MacKenzie before losing his balance, meaning his shot was no trouble for Langfield.

That was something Rocco Quinn could empathise with just after the hour mark. Hardie's ball into the box was knocked on by Sutton but as the midfielder stretched to shoot he stumbled. He was replaced by Tom Walsh soon after before McHugh had another shot saved, this time his attempt taking a deflection before being grabbed by Langfield. Soon after he was replaced by Lee Miller, James Craigen replacing Tom Taiwo at the same time.

Saints finally registered an attempt on target 15 minutes from the end, Hardie miscontrolling the ball before recomposing himself enough to turn and shoot, however his effort was straight at keeper Rogers. Falkirk made their final change as Sibbald was replaced by Hippolyte, whose first involvement was to curl a free-kick straight into Langfield's arms. Kyle Hutton picked up a cheap booking a few minutes later for complaining about a free-kick given against Irvine for his challenge on Craigen.

The Bairns were looking the more likely of the two to grab a goal, Langfield blocking Craigen's header with his legs after a great Baird cross. David Clarkson was introduced five minutes from the end at the expense of Hutton and just two minutes later Saints snatched a point. Walsh collected the ball midway inside the Falkirk half and ran forward before unleashing a tremendous shot that left Rogers grasping at air as it flew into the bottom corner.

Suddenly the Saints players and fans could sniff an unlikely first win of the season and it almost arrived in the dying moments. Mallan had a curling shot deflected behind before Lewis Morgan worked himself some space on the left and drilled a ball that flew across goal with no takers when the slightest touch off anyone would have sent it into the net. Pushing for a winner left the Buddies slightly exposed at the back and in the final minute of injury time Falkirk managed to force a corner that thankfully came to nothing, meaning the points were shared.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Falkirk

St Mirren: Langfield, Naismith, Irvine, Baird, MacKenzie, Quinn (Walsh 62), Sutton, Mallan, Hutton (Clarkson 85), Morgan, Hardie.
Subs Not Used: Webster, Shankland, McDonald, Whyte, Gallacher (GK).

Falkirk: Rogers, Kidd, Leahy, McCracken, Rankin, Taiwo (Craigen 64), Kerr, Baird, Sibbald (Hippolyte 76), Gasparotto, McHugh (Miller 64).
Subs Not Used: Austin, Shepherd, Watson, Deniz (GK).

Referee: John Beaton.
Assistant Referee: Douglas Ross.
Assistant Referee: Calum Spence.
4th Official: Gavin Ross.

Attendance: 2,344.

Match report and gallery pictures by John Millar and Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography and © John Millar.

The Under-20 side went down 3-1 on Tuesday evening in a SPFL Development League match against Hamilton Accies at The Paisley 2021 Stadium.

Accies forged themselves a three goal lead with strikes from Ross Cunningham, Ryan Tierney and Rakish Bingham. But Saints gave themselves a lifeline with ten minutes remaining when Conor O'Keefe pulled a goal back. Two minutes later Saints were awarded a penalty-kick but Kalvin Orsi's spot-kick attempt was saved ending any real chance of pulling the game back.

Photographer John Millar was at The Paisley 2021 Stadium to capture all the action.

St Mirren U20s were left disappointed as they fell to defeat at home in the SPFL Development League. Visitors Hamilton went into a 3-0 lead in less than an hour and, despite a late goal from Conor O'Keefe and chance from the penalty spot from Kalvin Orsi, Saints couldn't get their way back into the match. 

Hamilton dominated the first half but it was Saints who began the game in bright fashion. O'Keefe whipped in a good free kick from the left that met the head of Lewis McLear but the effort went over the bar. O'Keefe then believed he'd have the chance to open the scoring a minute later as he got on the end of a ball through from Kalvin Orsi, leaving him one-on-one with Darren Jamieson in the Hamilton goal but was to be denied by the linesman's flag. 

Hamilton went closest to opening the scoring with a little over five minutes on the clock when Rakish Bingham's goalbound effort was deflected narrowly beyond the post Darren Whyte. The visitors had a couple of corners in quick succession and were having the best of the pressure which paid off just before the 20 minute mark with Ross Cunningham opening the scoring. The midfielder was there to tap the ball into the net after Reece Willison had pushed away Daniel Redmond's initial attempt. It was a disappointment for Saints but Hamilton had been having more pressure and deserved the lead. 

Accies continued to have the best of the pressure with Cunnigham going close to getting a second five minutes after opening the scoring but his shot from outside the box was well held by Willison. Bingham had two opportunities for Hamilton; first ballooning a shot over the bar before sending a free kick from around 22 yards out over as well. 

Saints finished the half strongly and could've equalised twice through McLear. The striker forced a tremendous save from Jamieson as he leaped above the Hamiton defence to power a header towards the top corner but the Accies keeper tipped the ball over the bar. From the resultant corner, McLear found himself in space at the far post to get his head on to the deep corner but he couldn't direct goalward and the Saints went in at half time 1-0 behind. 

The hosts would've wanted to build on the strong finish to the first half but found themselves two behind just a few minutes after the break. Ryan Tierney broke into the box, cut inside before lashing the ball beyond Willison to double Accies lead. It was a fine finish and left Willison with no chance but it was a frustrating start to the second half for the young Saints.

Any hopes the Buddies would have of getting themselves back into the game looked to have been killed off less than 10 minutes later when Bingham put Hamilton 3-0 ahead. The big striker was in the right place at the right time to knock the ball into the net. There was no way he could've missed as he tapped in following Jack Breslin's run into the box and cutback and it put the gloss on a good night's work for the visitors.

The Saints U20s tried to get back into the game with McLear sending another header by the post and Calum Gallagher forcing a fine save out of Jamieson after stinging drive from a tight angle. Conor O'Keefe pulled a goal back with 10 minutes remaining, beautifully lifting the ball over the Accies keeper to reduce the deficit. Things were set to take an interesting twist two minutes later when McLear's cross was handled by a Hamilton defender and a penalty was awarded. Orsi stepped up to take the penalty but was left disappointed as Jamieson was equal to the attempt.

The young Buds couldn't find a way back into the game and Hamilton leave Paisley with the three points. 

St Mirren: Willison, McNaughton, Stewart, Magennis, Whyte, McDonald, Gallagher, McLear, Orsi, Flanagan, O'Keefe
Subs: Henry (GK), McKendry, Barclay, Johnston, Fawkes, Scally, MacPherson

St Mirren were left disappointed after being on the losing end of a seven goal thriller in the afternoon’s late kick off. It was a frustrating afternoon which saw the Saints take the lead twice in the first half through John Sutton before thinking they’d grabbed a point late on after a stunning goal from loanee Ryan Hardie. It wasn’t to be after Dunfermline scored a late winner to leave the Saints two points adrift at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Championship.

Caretaker manager Allan McManus made one change to the side that drew 1-1 with Dumbarton last week as the returning Rocco Quinn came in for Tom Walsh.

Saints began the early stages of the game in fairly bright fashion with Lewis Morgan flashing a shot from outside the box over the bar but Dunfermline took control with Joe Cardle having the first big opening of the match but failed to control the ball through from John Herron.

Cardle was a live-wire and was the recipient of a great cross from Nicky Clark that found the attacker unmarked in the Buddies box but he failed to get enough purchase on the header. Along with Cardle, Michael Paton was also having a good game and had a great chance from a free kick with 15 minutes on the clock. Clark was fouled by Gary Irvine just outside the box but Paton put the ball well over the bar when he should have at least tested Scott Gallacher.

After another good moment from Cardle, St Mirren started to grow into the game again and Stephen Mallan went close from long range, winning a corner for Saints. Just over a minute later St Mirren took the lead through John Sutton. It was the striker’s third goal of the season as he slid in to knock Lewis Morgan’s cutback beyond Sean Murdoch in the Dunfermline goal. It was the first time this season that the Buddies had taken the lead in a game in the league but it was to be short-lived when the hosts levelled the game 10 minutes later.

Nicky Clark headed home from a Jason Talbot cross to give the Pars what seemed to be a much needed boost before half time. But the home fans delight at being back on level terms wouldn’t last long as Sutton fired Saints back into the lead just before half time. A long ball from the right was scooped out of the air by Sutton who turned the defender and lashed a shot from the edge of the box low into the right hand corner of the net. It was a fantastic finish from the experienced striker to put Saints ahead for the second time of the match and give the side confidence going into the break.

Half-Time: Dunfermline Athletic 1-2 St Mirren

That confidence was evident in the early period of the second half with the Buddies going close to adding a third through Jason Naismith and John Sutton. However, those chances came after two scares from Joe Cardle and Gavin Reilly who both had good opportunities to get Dunfermline level. The chances for Cardle and Reilly were both similar as they creeped into the Saints box on the right hand side but both saw their chances go just wide.

Naismith went agonisingly near to getting his first goal of the season when he broke into the Pars box and saw his shot across goal go mightily close to nestling into the back of the net. This buoyed the away support and the team and it was Sutton who almost nabbed himself a hat-trick a minute later when he headed just beyond the post. The Englishman rose above everyone in the box to get on the end of Mallan’s free kick but was left disappointed not to have given Saints a cushion.

Dunfermline equalised for the second time in the match just after the hour mark in bizarre fashion. Nicky Clark saw his effort saved well by Gallacher and then the rebounded attempt hit the post before coming off Andy Webster and ending up in the back of the St Mirren net. It was a disappointing blow after a good start from the Saints, however Dunfermline had grown back into the game in the couple of minutes before the goal.

Allan McManus made a change with just over 20 minutes to go when he brought Tom Walsh on for Lewis Morgan. The introduction looked promising when, having only been on the pitch for a few moments, Walsh put in a tantalising ball across the box which evaded Murdoch but there was nobody in the red of St Mirren to attack the ball.

There was a belief from the Saints that they could go on to win the game and Mallan saw an effort from outside the area go narrowly beyond the post, much to the relief of Murdoch. However, only 2 minutes later some slack St Mirren defending allowed Clark to grab his second of the match. The striker peeled away from the visiting defence to sweep home a Paton cross.

There was fight in this Buddies team though and less than five minutes after Clark had put Dunfermline in the lead for the first time in the match, St Mirren fought back to make it 3-3. Ryan Hardie picked up the ball on the right hand side and cut in before firing off a speculative effort that rocketed into the back of the Dunfermline net.

The game was far from over though and Saints were to be the masters of their own downfall when Kyle Hutton attempted to play the ball back to goalkeeper Gallacher. Dunfermline substitute Farid El Alagui nicked in to put the ball beyond the keeper and give Dunfermline a precious three points.

Full-Time: Dunfermline Athletic 4-3 St Mirren

Dunfermline Athletic: Murdoch, Talbot, Martin, Ashcroft, Fordyce (Williamson 46), Geggan, Cardle (McMullan 78), Reilly (El Alagui 73), Clark, Herron, Paton.
Subs Not Used: McCabe, Higginbotham, Moffat, Hutton (GK).

St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, Baird, MacKenzie (Webster 43), Irvine, Morgan (Walsh 67), Mallan, Hutton, Quinn, Hardie, Sutton.
Subs Not Used: McDonald, Whyte, Shankland, Clarkson, Langfield (GK).

Referee: Greg Aitken.
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart.
Assistant Referee: David Dunne.
4th Official: Scott Millar

Attendance: 2,732.

Match report and gallery pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography.

The St Mirren Under-20 side headed to Tannadice Park last night where they went down 4-1 to Dundee United in the SPFL Development League.

The home side took the lead on the 15 minute mark as Reece Willison saved Jordan Garden’s shot but the ball broke to Matty Smith who forced it home to open the scoring.

St Mirren continued to battle away and carved out some opportunities but couldn’t capitalise on them and went into the half-time break a goal down.

Allan McManus made a couple of changes to his side for the start of the second half bringing on Nathan Flanagan and Conor O’Keefe to replace Calum Gallagher and Kyle McAllister but they hardly had a chance to settle into the game as United stretched their lead on 51 minutes when Garden headed home a free-kick to put the home side 2-0 up.

Three minutes later Garden found the back of the net again to put United three-up and on the hour mark they sealed the three points as Aaron Murrell headed the ball past Willison for number four.

Saints pulled a goal back on 69 minutes when Andrew McDonald forced the ball home from close range but it was too little too late for Saints to make a comeback as they fell to their second defeat of the season.

St Mirren: Willison, McNaughton, Barclay, Magennis, McKendry, McDonald, Gallacher (Flanagan 46), Walker, Orsi, McLear, McAllister (O’Keefe 46).