Elgin City 2-4 Saints

Saints took the lead on 11 minutes as Adam Montgomery fired home after playing a neat one-two with Theo Bair.

Melker Hallberg doubled Saints lead 4 minutes into the second half as he latched onto Montgomery’s cutback into the box. Substitutes Stevie May and Cammy Ballantyne then made sure of the points as they further extended Saints lead. Firstly, May converted a Montgomery cross which took a wicked deflection to deceive Thomas McHale in the City goal on 62 minutes. Then with 20 minutes remaining Ballantyne got on the end of a Michael O’Halloran cross to slot home with his first touch of the match.

However, Elgin staged a late rally as they pulled a couple of goals back. Russell Dingwall curled home a 25-yard free kick that went in off the post on 74 minutes before Kane Hester took advantage of a slack pass back from John Mahon to score a second for the hosts.

This evening’s result sees Saints move up to third place in Group F with 5 points and it was confirmed this evening that Annan Athletic had won the group after they defeated Ayr United 5-4 on penalties after playing out a 1-1 draw at the Galabank Stadium.

Next up for Saints is their final Group F match which will take place on Saturday as they welcome Ayr United to McDiarmid Park, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were back on their travels this evening as they made the trip north to take on cinch League Two side Elgin City at Borough Briggs for a Premier Sports Cup Group F match. Saints fought back twice to draw 2-2 with Queen of the South on Saturday although The Doonhamers got the bonus point as they won the penalty shootout 4-2. Callum Davidson made three changes to the starting eleven which started at Palmerston three days ago for this evening’s match. Charlie Gilmour and Stevie May both dropped to the bench whilst Ali Crawford missed out after picking up a hamstring injury at the weekend and they were replaced by Michael O’Halloran, Theo Bair and Jamie Murphy. Elgin lost 4-0 at Annan Athletic at the weekend and manager Gavin Price made six changes to his starting eleven this evening. Thomas McHale replaced Daniel Hoban in goals whilst Jake Dolzanski, Russell Dingwall, Brian Cameron, Kane Hester and Aidan Sopel came in to replace Darryl McHardy, who was suspended, Rory MacEwan, Kenny MacInnes, Chris Antoniazzi and Fin Allen.

Despite the UK experiencing the hottest day ever it was a damp evening in Elgin as Kane Hester got the match underway for the hosts. The League Two side started brightly and they would get the first sight of goal on 4 minutes as Brian Cameron unleashed a strike from the edge of the box which went narrowly over. Then moments later City created another chance as Russell Dingwall went close with a 30-yard effort.  

Saints though would take the lead on 11 minutes. A tidy move down the left saw Adam Montgomery play a neat one-two with Theo Bair before he despatched his low strike beyond Thomas McHale in the home goal.

PHOTO: Adam Montgomery celebrates his goal

Elgin were looking dangerous on the break and on 17 minutes Hester showed neat skill to lose his man on the by-line as he cut inside but Elliott Parish made a good save with his legs to deny the forward. Then 3 minutes later Hester got on the end of a long punt forward as he beat John Mahon to the ball. The former Arbroath forward then played a pass across the box and it took a touch off Andy Considine which directed the ball towards goal however, Parish was able to get back to gather the ball to prevent the own goal. Play then quickly switched to the other end as Theo Bair saw his effort hit the post.

The Borough Briggs side were having a good spell in the match and on 22 minutes Dylan Lawrence beat Montgomery to the ball as he raced into the box however, his shot lacked composure as he blasted it well over. Then 2 minutes later Matthew Cooper sent over an inviting ball from the right which Angus Mailer got on the end of however, his header was comfortably gathered by Parish.

Saints should have doubled their lead on 26 minutes as Michael O’Halloran crossed the ball from the byline and Bair got on the end of it at the back post however, the Canadian somehow turned the ball over from point blank range.  

Saints continued to create opportunities going forward and on 31 minutes Jamie Murphy went on a powerful run into the box but McHale made a great save before Owen Cairns cleared the danger.

PHOTO: Jamie Murphy gets away from Dylan Lawrence

Hester was causing the Saints defence all sorts of problems and on 32 minutes the forward again broke into the Saints box but his effort hit the side netting.  

Saints were forced to make a change just before half time as Theo Bair got a huge gash on his shin and had to be replaced by Stevie May.

The hosts were awarded a free kick in an inviting position on 43 minutes after Angus Mailer had been fouled by Murray Davidson. Substitute Finn Allen took the free kick but Parish was equal to the effort as he comfortably gathered the ball.

Murray Davidson got the second half underway for Saints and the Perth side almost doubled their lead 20 seconds into the half as Graham Carey’s ball into the box was latched onto by May but the forward saw his first-time effort go wide.

Saints though did double their lead on 49 minutes. Montgomery got on the end of Carey’s long ball over the top down the left channel and he then cut the ball back to Melker Hallberg who slotted it beyond McHale and into the net.

PHOTO: Melker Hallberg scores Saints second goal

That goal knocked the stuffing out of City and Saints would made it 3-0 just after the hour mark. Good build up play saw Montgomery send the ball into the feet of May and he unleashed a shot on the turn which took a deflection off an Elgin defender to wrong foot McHale as the ball nestled in the bottom left corner of the net.

On 63 minutes Elgin were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box after Lawrence was fouled by Mahon. Hester took the free kick but his effort was straight at Parish. Then a minute later Hester was presented with a great chance to pull a goal back for City as the forward was clean through on goal however, Parish stood strong as he used his legs to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Saints then made a double change on 67 minutes as Taylor Steven and Cammy Ballantyne came on to replace Graham Carey and Jamie Murphy and within 2 minutes of coming on Ballantyne would put Saints 4-0 up. O’Halloran’s cross from the right was missed by May but Ballantyne was on hand to slot the ball beyond McHale with his first touch of the match.

PHOTO: Cammy Ballantyne scores to make it 4-0

However, on 73 minutes Elgin were awarded a free kick after Lawrence had been fouled by Ballantyne. Russell Dingwall took the free kick and he curled his effort over the wall as it went in off Parish’s right-hand post to pull a goal back for the hosts.

City then got a second goal with 5 minutes remaining as Hester pounced on a short pass back by Mahon and the forward flicked the ball around Parish and took a touch before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Saints made their final change of the evening on 86 minutes as Max Kucheriavyi came on to replace Murray Davidson.

The hosts continued to push in the closing stages but Saints were able to see the game out to secure the 3 points which takes them up to third place in Group F.

Elgin City: McHale, Cooper, Cairns (MacInnes 45), Anderson, Dolzanski, Mailer (MacEwan 70), Dingwall, Cameron, Hester, Lawrence, Sopel (Allen 25)

Unused Substitutes: Hoban (GK), Peters, Machado, Antoniazzi, Loveland

Booked: Hester, Mailer

Scorers: Dingwall (74), Hester (85)

Saints: Parish, Brown, Mahon, Considine, Montgomery, Davidson (Kucheriavyi 86), Hallberg, Carey (Ballantyne 68), Murphy (Steven 68), Bair (May 42), O’Halloran  

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Wright, Gilmour, Ferguson

Booked: Montgomery

Scorers: Montgomery (11), Hallberg (49), May (62), Ballantyne (70)

Referee: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 886

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Cammy Ballantyne celebrates his goal with Taylor Steven and Stevie May