Saints 3-2 Cove Rangers

A Melker Hallberg free kick gave Saints the lead on 21 minutes however, the visitors were level on the half an hour mark as Gerry McDonagh converted from the spot after Charlie Gilmour had fouled Fraser Fyvie.

Theo Bair had Saints back in front 5 minutes into the second half but the newly promoted Championship side came back again as Leighton McIntosh levelled the match up with a low driving shot on 63 minutes.

Saints though would get a winner with 8 minutes remaining as Taylor Stephen’s long range strike came back off the crossbar and substitute Graham Carey was there to knock the ball home from close range.

With the pre-season friendlies now complete Saints focus now turns to the competitive action as they welcome Annan Athletic to McDiarmid Park on Tuesday evening for a Premier Sports Cup Group F match, kick off 7:45pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints preparations for the new season continued this afternoon as they welcomed newly promoted Championship side Cove Rangers to McDiarmid Park for a pre-season friendly. The match gave Saints fans the first opportunity to see new signings Andy Considine and Adam Montgomery as both players started the friendly whilst other new arrivals Jamie Murphy and Graham Carey were on the bench.

It was a glorious summer afternoon in Perth as Fraser Fyvie got the match underway for the visitors and it would be Cove who created the first chance of the match on 3 minutes as Gerry McDonagh got in behind Dan Cleary but Elliott Parish was out quick to block the shot as the ball went behind for a corner.

Saints created a good chance 2 minutes later as Charlie Gilmour played in Max Kucheriavyi who cut in from the right and he then backheeled the ball into the path of Stevie May but the ball was cleared by the Cove defence before the forward could get his shot away.

Saints went on to dominate possession as they passed the ball about well and on 21 minutes they took the lead. The Perth side were awarded a free kick following a foul on Kucheriavyi after the Ukrainian had went on a good run through the middle. Hallberg took the free kick and he curled the ball over the wall and into the corner of the net despite Stuart McKenzie in the Cove goal getting a touch to it but he couldn’t keep out as Saints went a goal up.

PHOTO: Callum Davidson and Jim McIntyre

Saints were playing well and on 27 minutes the ball was played into the feet of May and the forward carried the ball forward and twisted and turned to get away from his man before seeing his curling effort well held by McKenzie.

However, 2 minutes later Cove were handed a way back into the game as they were awarded penalty after Gilmour had fouled Fyvie in the box. McDonagh stepped up to take the penalty and the Irish forward slotted the ball into the right-hand corner of the net, despite Parish guessing the correct way.  

With 5 minutes of the first half remaining good passing play by Saints saw Ali Crawford play in May however, his strike was well saved by McKenzie as the shot was turned behind for corner.

Saints made four changes at half time as James Brown, Michael O’Halloran, Cammy MacPherson and Theo Bair came on to replace John Mahon, Charlie Gilmour, Murray Davidson and Stevie May.

Bair got the second half underway for Saints and the forward got the first chance of the half on 48 minutes as his strike was deflected behind for a corner. Then 2 minutes later the Canadian regained the lead for Saints as he got on the end of an Adam Montgomery cutback from the byline to turn his first-time strike beyond the outstretched left hand of substitute keeper Kyle Gourlay.

Bair was looking dangerous up top and on 56 minutes MacPherson threaded a fine throwball to the former Vancouver Whitecaps man but Gourlay was out quick to save at the forward’s feet.

On the hour mark Fyvie sent a dangerous ball into the Saints box from the right but no one in a Cove shirt could get on the end of it as the ball went out for a throw-in.

PHOTO: Andy Considine gets away from Mitch Megginson

Saints then made a double change on 62 minutes as new signings Jamie Murphy and Graham Carey came on to replace Ali Crawford and Max Kucheriavyi.

Then a minute later Jim McIntyre’s Cove were level. The ball was played out wide to the right playing in substitute Leighton McIntosh who drilled a low strike beyond Parish.

Saints made another change on 77 minutes as Taylor Steven came on to replace Adam Montgomery and the youngster made a big impact with 8 minutes remaining. The young forward advanced down the left channel before unleashing a strike from distance which hit the crossbar. Carey was the quickest to react to the loose ball as he nudged it over the line from close range to put Saints back in the lead again.  

With 5 minutes remaining Hallberg left the pitch to a round of applause as he was replaced by a trialist. Bair was proving to be a handful for the Cove defence and the forward went on another powerful run into the box on 89 minutes but his strike was well held by Gourlay as Saints saw the game out to end their pre-season with a win. Attention now turns to the competitive action which gets underway on Tuesday evening as Saints welcome Annan Athletic to Perth for a Premier Sports Group F match.

Saints: Parish, Cleary, Mahon (Brown 45), Considine, Gilmour (O’Halloran 45), Davidson (MacPherson 45), Hallberg (Trialist 85), Montgomery (Steven 77), Kucheriavyi (Carey 62), May (Bair 45), Crawford (Murphy 62)

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Parker, Ferguson, Moreland, Trialist

Scorers: Hallberg (21), Bair (50), Carey (82)

Cove Rangers: McKenzie (Gourlay 45), Logan, Towler, Scully, Neill (Ross 45), McDonagh (McIntosh 45), Yule (Leitch 45), Masson (Megginson 45), Vigurs, Fyvie, Reynolds

Scorers: McDonagh (30 pen), McIntosh (63)

Referee: Dan McFarlane  

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Melker Hallberg celebrates his goal