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).

St Mirren had to battle back from a goal down on Saturday to get a share of the points in a 1-1 draw in the Ladbrokes Championship match against Dumbarton at The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium.

St Mirren started the early exchanges well but despite coming close on a couple of occasions they found themselves a goal down on 15 minutes when the home side caught Saints on the break and played the ball into the penalty-area which was swept past Scott Gallacher by Andy Stirling to open the scoring.

Saints battled their way back into the game and got a deserved equaliser four minutes before the half-time break when Tom Walsh’s cross picked out Ryan Hardie who headed the ball into the back of the net.

Both sides had chances to win the match in the second half but had to settle for a share of the points.

Official Website photographer, Allan Picken was at The Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium to capture all the action.

© Allan Picken Photography.

SAINTS came from behind to take a point from a hard fought encounter against Dumbarton. Both teams had chances to win it, but for Saints, who remain winless, it was an improved showing on the outing against Queen of the South, but one still leaving lots of room for improvement.

Saints were dealt a low prior to kick off when Jamie Langfield was ruled out having sustained an injury in the warm-up. Scott Gallacher replaced him in the starting eleven.

Other than the goalkeeping issue there was only one change to the team so comprehensively beaten seven days previous. That change saw Jack Baird replacing Andy Webster who joined a fit again Calum Gallagher on the bench alongside Lawrence Shankland and David Clarkson.

It was a decent enough start from the Buddies who twice inside the opening fifteen-minutes came close. Ryan Hardie spun his marker and fired over in the early exchanges and Gary MacKenzie saw his header from a corner blocked on the line.

In-between these chances the home team had forced Gallacher into action with the keeper saving well from Robert Thomson who then lifted the rebound over. All this after MacKenzie looked to have got away with a poor challenge inside the area.

If this was a warning for what looked like a nervous and fragile Saints defence it was one they failed to take any notice of. With quarter of an hour on the clock Dumbarton broke down the right and when the ball was centred Andy Stirling was all alone front and centre to easily sweep home.

If there were concerns as to the durability and resilience of Saints this weekend they proved unfounded as far from retreating into their shell they went on to boss the remainder of the half. It was more a case of chances to create chances rather than glaring openings, but there was enough on show to keep the travelling fans on side.

Eventually the pressure told with Saints getting parity a little short of the interval. Ryan Hardie nodding home a precision header having been well picked out by Tom Walsh; fitting that the two most dangerous looking players combined.

However there was almost an immediate sucker punch from the Sons. Josh Todd held the ball up, rolled in Joe Thomson who saw his thumping drive blocked by Gallacher to avoid an almost carbon copy of seven days previous when Queen of the South hit back immediately.

Half-Time: Dumbarton 1-1 St Mirren

Staying level ensured Alex Rae was afforded the opportunity to give a very different team talk within the confines of the dressing room at half time. Clearly the message would have been there was enough to suggest we could profit going forward, but to be very wary of being picked off on the counter.

Steven Aitken in the home dressing room would also have had his say and his team started way better after the break. Danny Harvie should have scored when left all alone for a free header six-yards out and the hard to handle Thomson clipped the outside of the woodwork having got in behind the defence onto a long diagonal ball.

By the hour mark it was all Dumbarton with Thomson causing no end of problems for a Saints defence struggling to cope with anything in behind or anything in the air. Gallacher was an increasingly busy figure with one good stop from David Smith causing the keeper to receive prolonged treatment.

For a time it was corner after corner raining down on the Saints goal, but to be fair they coped well with them. Closest Dumbarton came was another header from Harvie.

Alex Rae made changes with Lewis Morgan and Ryan Hardie making way for Calum Gallagher and Lawrence Shankland, but in between them Darren Whyte made his first team debut coming on to replace Kyle Hutton.

Eventually Saints rallied and produced chances of their own. Hardie headed wide when he ought to have done better, John Sutton saw a scuffed effort skid wide of goal with Martin scrambling across his line and the keeper saved well from a Calum Gallagher volley.

The final chance went the way of Dumbarton. Thomson got away from Scott Gallacher, but a combination of the keeper and MacKenzie prevented a certain goal even if the home bench felt it should have been a penalty.

Full-Time: Dumbarton 1-1 St Mirren

Dumbarton: Martin, Pettigrew, J. Thomson, Buchanan, Todd, Gallagher, R. Thomson, Harvie, Barr, Smith (Fleming 72), Stirling (Stanton 81).
Subs Not Used: Stevenson, McCallum, Wright, Kassarate, Ewings (GK).

St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, Irvine, MacKenzie, Sutton, Mallan, Hutton (Whyte 80), Baird, Walsh, Morgan (Gallagher 74), Hardie (Shankland 85).
Subs Not Used: Webster, Clarkson, McAllister, Langfield (GK).

Referee: Stephen Finnie.
Assistant Referee: Dougie Potter.
Assistant Referee: Graham Fraser.

Attendance: 1,101.

Star Saint: Saints were shaky defensively at times and Scott Gallacher did well with a few stops, but the award goes to Tom Walsh who set-up the goal and sent over a string of good crosses deserving of better

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

Match Gallery Pictures © John Millar.

The Under-20 side's 100% start to the season was brought to an end on Tuesday evening as they went down 2-1 to Hibernian at the Paisley 2021 Stadium in a SPFL Development League match-up.

The Leith side were one-up at half-time but it looked as if Saints had saved a point with a late equaliser from Lawrence Shankland but an injury time goal from Hibs saw Saints suffer their first defeat of the new season.

Match report pictures © John Millar.

Saints slid to the bottom of the Championship table this afternoon after losing to Queen of the South in Paisley.

Derek Lyle curled Queens in front early on after good work from Stephen Dobbie, who was later denied by a great Jamie Langfield save. A stunning Tom Walsh over-head kick levelled things up towards the end of the half but a few minutes later Lyle scored again to ensure the visitors enjoyed the advantage at the break.

The game was as good as over as a contest by the hour mark, Lyle returning Dobbie’s earlier favour by sending him through to add the third. Lyle wasted a fantastic chance to complete his hat-trick before he was subbed, the closest Saints coming to reducing the deficit being when Lewis Morgan hit the post.

Saints had made two changes to the side that started last week’s seven goal thriller against Albion Rovers. Jason Naismith returned to the side in place of Jordan Stewart, who dropped out completely, with Ryan Hardie partnering John Sutton up front. Gary MacKenzie kept his place in defence as he made his home debut with Kyle Hutton lining up in midfield against his old club.

Saints created the first opening for the visitors, some miscommunication between Naismith and Langfield allowing Lyle to pinch the ball at the edge of the box but he lifted his shot well off target. Queens returned the favour by giving the Buddies a free-kick at the edge of the box when Mark Millar flattened Stephen Mallan. It was very much in his range and his effort was low and hard, however Lee Robinson did well to get across goal and turn it behind for a corner that MacKenzie headed into the keepers arms.

Moments later Queens took the lead. Dobbie was allowed to wander along the edge of the box and when the options appeared to have dried up, he back-heeled for Lyle and he curled a tremendous shot beyond the grasp of Langfield to put the Doonhamers in front.

Saints’ brightest moments were usually coming thanks to Lewis Morgan on the left, one of his crosses finding the unmarked Tom Walsh but he headed wide. Dobbie had a chance to double Queens lead when Jamie Hamill found him at the edge of the box with a free-kick, however he didn’t get a clean connection and his effort was dealt with by Langfield. Moments later he worked the Saints keeper properly. Dale Hilson took advantage of some hesitancy from Naismith to switch play across to Lyle and he delivered a fine cross for Dobbie, his header kept out by great save from Langfield.

Queens were looking comfortable and a foul just outside the box gave Lyle a chance with a free-kick in a decent position, however he sent his effort a yard or two over. Grant Anderson then scooped a shot over the bar before Saints drew level in spectacular circumstances. A cross from the left bounced off the head of Andy Dowie to Walsh, who conjured up a wonderful overhead kick that flew past Robinson before the keeper had even seen it.

That briefly transformed Saints and Walsh almost completed the turnaround seconds later, his shot inches away from the bottom corner. However, no sooner had that happened than Queens were back in front. Anderson outpaced Andy Webster to the ball and got to the byline before crossing for Lyle to slide in and score his and his side’s second. On this occasion the Saints response was immediate, Robinson doing well to turn Ryan Hardie’s powerful effort behind for a corner which led to MacKenzie’s header being hacked off the line.

Half-Time: St Mirren 1-2 Queen of the South

Despite being behind, Saints had finished the half with some momentum and should have been level shortly after hostilities resumed. A tremendous Walsh cross picked out the unmarked Hardie lurking at the edge of the six yard box, however his header was weak and Robinson was able to save. Queens were then forced into a change, Jake Pickard replacing the injured Mark Millar.

The Buddies were enjoying a bright spell but it came to an abrupt end. After Robinson sent a poor free-kick straight through to Langfield, the Saints keeper tried to take advantage of his opposite number being out of position by launching the ball upfield. Queens won back possession and worked the ball forward to Lyle who slipped it through to Dobbie. The forward waited on Langfield committing himself before squeezing a shot home from a tight angle, Anderson lurking at the back post just in case the ball didn’t cross the line on its own.

Saints soon found themselves with a mountain to climb and John Sutton and Naismith were replaced by Lawrence Shankland and David Clarkson in a bid to find a way back into the game. However, before the hosts had carved out a chance Lyle should have had a hat-trick. Dobbie robbed Andy Webster at the half-way line and as he raced forward he spotted his unmarked strike partner. His square ball was perfect, however Lyle inexcusably shot over. Next time Dobbie went himself, his shot getting the better of Langfield but flying narrowly past the far post.

A corner gave Saints some hope of reducing the deficit, however as the ball dropped both Walsh and Clarkson went for it, the former’s effort going wide. Webster had been struggling to deal with the Queens attack and was replaced by Ben Gordon for the final 20 minutes or so. There would be no hat-trick for Lyle as shortly after he was replaced by Steven Rigg before Morgan almost gave Saints some hope, beating a couple of men before rattling the post from 20 yards. The youngster tried again a few minutes later, however Robinson easily held the long range shot. Late on, Rigg and Dobbie were unable to take chances to pile the misery on the Buddies, the home fans making their displeasure clear at full-time.

Full-Time: St Mirren 1-3 Queen of the South

St Mirren: Langfield, Naismith (Shankland 60), Irvine, Webster (Gordon 69), MacKenzie, Sutton (Clarkson 60), Mallan, Hutton, Walsh, Morgan, Hardie.
Subs Not Used: Magennis, Baird, O’Keefe, Gallacher (GK).

Queen of the South: Robinson, Hamill, Marshall, Dowie, Brownlie, Anderson (Brotherston 83), Millar (Pickard 53), Lyle (Rigg 71), Hilson, Dobbie, Jacobs.
Subs Not Used: Higgins, Moxon, Tapping, Atkinson (GK).

Referee: Barry Cook.
Assistant Referee: Jordan Stokoe.
Assistant Referee: Chris McTiernan.

Attendance: 3,102 (273 Queen of the South fans)

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

St Mirren continued their 100% win record on Tuesday evening as they won 2-1 against Aberdeen in a SPFL Development League fixture at Brechin City’s Glebe Park.

Saints took an early lead when Conor O’Keefe put the Paisley side ahead on 12 minutes. Greig McNaughton’s free-kick found its way to O’Keefe who fired the ball past Dons keeper David Craddock.

Within a minute Saints had doubled their lead when O’Keefe’s shot was saved by Craddock but the ball spun off the post then defender Sam Roscoe before nestling in the back of the net.

Saints were comfortably in control of the game as they saw the first half out but Aberdeen came out with more purpose in the second half.

The Paisley side looked to be coping with what Aberdeen were throwing at the them but the home side did get back into the game with 20 minutes remaining. A challenge on Scott Wright saw referee Chris Fordyce award a penalty-kick which was coolly slipped past Reece Willison by Bruce Anderson.

Aberdeen pushed for an equaliser but Saints hung in to claim the three points and keep their place at the top of the Development League.

St Mirren: Willison, McNaughton, Stewart (Barclay 55), Magennis, Gordon, McDonald, Flanagan, Whyte, Orsi, McLear, O’Keefe.
Unused Substitutes: MacPherson, Fawkes, Johnston, McKendry, Scally, Henry (GK).

Official Website photographer, Allan Picken was at The Exsel Group Stadium to capture all the action from Saints thrilling 4-3 victory.

Click any image to open a larger version of the photo. All content copyright Allan Picken Photography, no reproduction without permission.