MATCH REPORT | St Johnstone U18s 5 Inverness 0

St Johnstone under-18s recorded a well-deserved 5-0 Club Academy Scotland League win over Inverness on Friday.

The Perth side made sure to take control of the McDiarmid Park contest in the early stages before a couple of late goals rounded off proceedings nicely.

Adam McMillan, Jacob Fleming, Filip Franczak, Ben McCrystal and Murray Binnie were on target for the Saints.

The deadlock was broken after just eight minutes when Brodie Dair beautifully controlled a pinpoint diagonal switch, powered into the box and cut the ball back. 

Positioned nicely was McMillan and the forward made no mistake when guiding low into the bottom corner with his left foot.

Saints were already pinging the ball around with intent and McCrystal was beginning to become a commanding force in the middle of the park.

He went close to adding a second and then Fleming forced a smart stop out of the Inverness goalkeeper.

The visitors soon had a promising sight of goal but the effort from the left-side of the box was dragged wide of the post.

Perhaps a wake-up call, Saints doubled down on their efforts and extended their advantage in the 27th minute when McMillan turned architect to allow Fleming to find the back of the net from close range.

There was a third before the half hour mark and this time Franczak was the one celebrating after racing through on goal and then lobbing the advancing shot-stopper.

The pressure continued and Dair smashed the crossbar with a fierce strike before Fleming had a headed goal ruled out for offside.

Fleming was on the hunt for the fourth in the 54th minute but, after rounding the goalkeeper, was unable to get enough purchase on the shot which followed to steer it over the line.

Substitute Dylan Williams cracked the crossbar on the hour mark before two late goals wrapped up a comfortable victory for the young Saints.

Binnie, who entered the action in the second half, passed into the path of McCrystal who finished in the 87th minute.

And it was roles reversed in the final minute with McCrystal showing neat feat before slipping Binnie through on goal at a tight angle. He made no mistake with a clever finish off the inside of the post to claim the fifth.