Match report: St Johnstone U18s 3-1 Ayr United

Our under-18s picked up another three points in the Club Academy Scotland Performance League on Friday afternoon.

It was, however, not the best of starts for the young team at McDiarmid Park and Ayr United managed to seize the upper hand with a fourth minute strike.

But heads did not drop and that attitude was rewarded when Jacob Fleming tucked into the back of the net just after the half hour mark.

He kept his composure nicely after Fran Franczak’s rocket of a shot had rebounded down into the box off the crossbar.

Franczak tested the visiting goalkeeper as the break approached following a powerful run before the started of the second half witnessed little goalmouth action.

But we managed to nudge into the lead with 66 minutes on the clock when a wicked free-kick delivery from trialist was nodded over the line by substitute Jamie Cord.

Jack Robertson soon hit the post at the back post from a corner before Cord had the chance to increase our advantage from the spot. His penalty was well-saved by the goalkeeper.

Cord was not denied his second of the game – our third – in the 90th minute. He timed his run into the box perfectly to sweep home Binnie’s cross from the right.

That is now three wins on the spin for the U18s.

Saints: Flanagan, Hamill, Carling, Robertson (Muir 85), Voy, Miller, Binnie, Trialist, Fleming (Trialist 64), Franczak, Evans (Cord 64).