Saints 0-0 Annan Athletic (Annan win 5-4 on penalties)

Saints dominated the early possession however, they would find themselves a man down after 29 minutes as Dan Cleary was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Annan’s Tom Muir.

Despite being a man down Saints continued to create chances and Murray Davidson came close when his header from a Graham Carey corner was cleared off the line with 16 minutes remaining.

The part-time League Two side got a great chance to win it on 80 minutes as substitute Josh Galloway raced into the box but his strike hit the outside of the post.

Saints were then reduced to nine men in the closing stages as substitute Cammy MacPherson saw red for a late challenge on Aidan Smith.

The match then went to a penalty shootout to see who would get the bonus point. Michael O’Halloran saw his penalty saved by Greg Fleming, whilst Andy Considine blasted his over which gave Josh Galloway the chance to seal the win for the visitors and he tucked his penalty beyond Elliott Parish to give Annan the bonus point.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Dumfries on Saturday for a Premier Sports Cup match against Queen of the South, kick off 3pm.  

MATCH REPORT

Saints got their Premier Sports Cup campaign underway this evening as they welcomed cinch League Two side Annan Athletic to McDiarmid Park for a Group F match. Saints defeated Cove Rangers 3-2 in Perth at the weekend and manager Callum Davidson made one change to his starting eleven as Theo Bair came in to replace Stevie May who dropped to the bench. A Lewis Hunter strike 3 minutes from time saw Annan defeat Queen of the South 3-2 at Palmerston at the weekend and manager Peter Murphy made four changes to his starting eleven for this evening’s cup match. Cammy Williamson, Benjamin Luissint, Josh Galloway and Tommy Goss all dropped to the bench for the Galabankies and they were replaced by Jordan Lowdon, Lewis Hunter, Aidan Smith and Tom Muir.

Tony Wallace got the match underway for the visitors in the glorious evening sunshine in Perth.

Saints started the match strongly and they came close to taking the lead on 7 minutes as a lovely through ball by Andy Considine played in Adam Montgomery and the on-loan Celtic man sent a low cross across the face of the Annan goal which Charlie Gilmour got on the end of however, the midfielder saw his effort cleared off the goal line.

Then a minute later another good move by Saints saw Melker Hallberg play the ball into the feet of Theo Bair who slotted the ball into the path of Ali Crawford but his first-time low strike from 20 yards went inches wide.

Saints continued the pressure and on 9 minutes Max Kucheriavyi won Saints a free kick on the edge of the box after he had been fouled by Dominic Docherty. Kucheriavyi took the free kick himself however, his effort clipped the Annan wall as it went behind for a corner. Hallberg sent an in-swinging corner in from the right which Andy Considine got on the end of but his header was comfortably saved by Greg Fleming.

Saints were dominating possession however, just before the half an hour mark Callum Davidson’s side were reduced to ten men after Dan Cleary was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Tom Muir.  

PHOTO: Dan Cleary is sent off by referee Don Robertson

The visitors then came close to taking the lead on 32 minutes as Wallace delivered an inviting ball from the right which Muir was inches away from making a connection with at the back post.

Saints regrouped and with 10 minutes of the first half remaining Kucheriavyi won Saints a free kick in a promising position after he had been fouled by Lewis Hunter. Hallberg took the free kick but Fleming was equal to his effort as the Galabankies keeper got down well to gather the ball. Then on 39 minutes Hallberg had a go from distance however, the strike from the Swedish midfielder didn’t trouble Fleming.

Despite being a man down Saints continued to control much of the possession and create chances. On 44 minutes Crawford’s delivery from the left was only cleared as far as Hallberg but the midfielder’s first-time effort went well over.

Saints almost took the lead deep into first half stoppage time as Hallberg’s corner from the right was met by Murray Davidson however, his header was tipped over the crossbar by Fleming.

5 minutes into the second half Annan got a sight of goal as Docherty dragged an effort wide. Then on 59 minutes Scott Hooper saw his goal bound effort blocked on the six yard line by Montgomery.

Saints were awarded another free kick in a promising position on 64 minutes after Crawford had been fouled by Docherty, who was booked for the foul. Both Hallberg and Crawford stood over the free kick and it was taken by the latter however, Crawford’s effort clipped the Annan wall as it went behind for a corner.

Callum Davidson made a double change on 67 minutes as Graham Carey and Jamie Murphy came on to replace Max Kucheriavyi and Ali Crawford.  

Carey almost made an immediate impact as 2 minutes later his low strike from a tight angle was saved by Fleming and Davidson reacted quickest to the loose ball but Steven Swinglehurst produced a brilliant block to deflect the strike over for a corner. Carey took the corner from the right and his delivery was met by Davidson but the midfielder saw his glancing header go narrowly over.

PHOTO: Melker Hallberg goes past Dominic Docherty

Davidson got on the end of another Carey corner on 74 minutes but this time his header was cleared off the line at the back post.

Saints then made a double change as Michael O’Halloran and Cammy MacPherson came on to replace Charlie Gilmour and Melker Hallberg.

Then with 10 minutes remaining Annan came agonisingly close to taking the lead as substitute Josh Galloway did well to beat the offside trap and he raced in on goal however, his shot hit the outside of Elliott Parish’s left-hand post.

The Perth side made another change on 84 minutes as Stevie May replaced Bair. However, Saints evening got even tougher in the final minutes of the match as they were reduced to nine men after MacPherson was shown a red card for a late challenge on Aidan Smith. The Saints bench were furious with referee Don Robertson’s decision.

Annan pushed late on for a winner but Saints were able to see the danger out as the match went to a penalty shootout to see who would get the bonus point.

Murphy scored Saints first penalty as did Goss for Annan. Stevie May was next for Saints and he despatched his penalty low to his left before Elliott Parish got down low to his right to save Scott Hooper’s effort to give Saints a 2-1 lead. Davidson and Smith then both scored for their respective teams before Michael O’Halloran saw his effort saved by Fleming. Docherty then scored for the Galabankies to level up the penalty shootout before Carey and Tony Wallace both scored to take the penalty shootout to sudden death. Andy Considine blasted his penalty high into the North Stand and that gave Annan the chance to win it. Galloway stepped up and despatched his penalty beyond Parish as the League Two side secured the bonus point which sees them sit top of Group F with 5 points.  

PHOTO: Saints players look on as they lose on penalties

Saints: Parish, Cleary, Mahon, Considine, Gilmour (O’Halloran 75), Davidson, Hallberg (MacPherson 75), Montgomery, Kucheriavyi (Carey 67), Bair (May 84), Crawford (Murphy 67)

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Brown, Ferguson, Ballantyne

Booked: Mahon, Gilmour

Sent Off: Cleary, MacPherson

Annan Athletic: Fleming, Barnes, Lowdon, Hunter (Luissint 75), Swinglehurst, Wallace, Docherty, Smith, Muir (Galloway 60), Johnston (Goss 60)

Unused Substitutes: Mitchell (GK), Williamson, Steele, McCartney

Booked: Muir, Hunter, Wallace

Referee: Don Robertson  

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Dan Cleary wrestles with the Annan players which led to him being sent off