St. Johnstone 1-0 Greenock Morton

A well taken goal from Jacob Fleming in the first half was all that could split the sides on the night, although Saints will be looking back and wondering how they only managed to convert the solitary goal, with the hosts having a string of big chances throughout the game. 

Defensively sound, and in control of the game in midfield - holding most of the possession across the 90 minutes, the home side were just missing that finishing touch in front of goal, but were able to come away from the match 1-0 victors in the end. 

The young Saints got off to a good start, with Brodie Dair testing the opposition goalkeeper in the opening minute of the game. His powerful running caught the opposition defence off guard, before striking the ball towards the back post, which was then pushed out for an early corner. 

Saints then came within an inch of an opening goal just 10 minutes into the contest. Adam McMilan did well to pick the ball up in an attacking area, before laying it off to McCrystal, who smashed his effort off of the left hand post. The ball crashed back out to Fran Franczak on the edge of the area, and his first time volley canoned just wide of the corner.

The home side continued knocking on the Greenock Morton door, with chance after chance. 15 minutes in, Dair crossed to McCrystal at the back post, but the midfielder was unable to get a clean connection on it, and his shot was well held. Then just minutes later, a Kyle Scott corner into the area was met by Dom Shiels, who rose above the rest and powered his headed effort past the post.

After an opening half an hour with Saints in control, Morton grew into the game and had their best spell of the match. Their first chance came when number 9 latched onto a back pass from Scott, to find himself one-on-one with Kyle Thomson, who produced a fine save with his legs to keep the effort out. 

Morton then went close again minutes later, with number 10 finding space on the edge of the area, before directing a powerful shot on goal. Thomson did well to save, gathering the ball at the second attempt.

Thomson was called into action once again in the 38th minute, but he made it a hattrick of saves in a small period, diving down low to push number 8s curling drive out of the bottom left corner. 

After Saints weathered a brief storm from the visitors, they soon found themselves in-front. Dair picked the ball up on the right hand side and drove down the right flank with pace and purpose. He beat his man, and drilled his cutback to Jacob Fleming. The Saints number 9 cutely flicked the ball past the opposition goalkeeper and into the back of the net, to open the scoring for his side. 

Following the opening goal Saints regained control of the game, and as the half came to a close, they looked more likely to add to their tally, than Morton did to an equaliser

Into the second half, and the young Saintees were now in full control of the game once again. 

Their first chance of the half came in the 50th minute, with Dair once again causing Morton problems on the right flank, before crossing the ball low to Fran Franczak on the edge of the box, who took the effort in his stride, firing over the bar. 

Adam McMilan almost doubled his side’s lead with a moment of individual brilliance. He took the ball on the left hand side, and shrugged off his marker before then beating another defender, and curling an effort goalwards. Unfortunately for him, the Morton goalkeeper was able to keep it out with a good diving save. 

In the 53rd minute, Fran Franczak produced an inspired piece of skill, rouletting away from his defender and cutting the defence open on the left hand side. He drilled a low cutback to Fleming inside the area, but his shot narrowly missed the top corner, going over the bar. 

Saints continued their spell of dominance and had a string of chances. Just before the hour mark, Scott received the ball from a free-kick and drilled a low shot goalwards into a crowded box, his effort was cleared as far as McMilan who kept the chance alive. He shot, which was also blocked but only as far as Fran Franczak, who took a pop at goal. His effort was somehow kept out again by the visitors, who cleared it to safety. 

Dair was next to go close, as Saints heaped the pressure on Morton. He latched onto a short back pass and drove down the right wing with purpose, before firing a shot at goal, but his effort whizzed past the bottom left corner. 

Saints then went close on multiple occasions with shots from outside the area. Fran Franczak twisted and turned past his marker, before his left footed effort flew over the bar. McCrystal followed suit minutes later, finding himself space on the edge of the box, but his strike also missed the target. 

With less than 5 minutes left on the clock, Saints had their final chance of the game. A dangerous through ball gave Cole Williams something to chase, and he found himself in a foot race with the Morton goalkeeper. Just as it seemed he may get his foot on it first, the keeper rushed out and gathered the ball in the nick of time, snuffing out the chance. 

The hosts would play the game out without incident, with a complete defensive performance limiting Morton to very few chances, and realistically the scoreline flattered the visitors. The young Saintees would close the game out as 1-0 victors. 

Alistair Stevenson spoke to to the official Saints website after the game: 

“We were in total command for most of the game tonight. Got to give credit to Morton because they were organised and defended really well, they made it hard for us to get that breakthrough, but once we got that goal we relaxed a bit and had plenty of chances to score a few more. 

“We created a lot of opportunities from some really good play, but unfortunately just could not take them, and their goalkeeper made a couple of really top saves to keep them in the game. When there’s only a goal in it there is always that risk that they could catch us out on the break, but we defended really well and were in control of the game. It’s always a positive to keep a clean sheet.

“We made a couple of changes as the game went on, took a few knocks but it never really affected us, the team continued playing well and carried on as usual which is what you want to see. Especially as we’ve had a few of the older players heading out on loan, so it’s really positive to see the younger ones making that transition to the team seamlessly, and continue that conveyor belt of talent.

"It’s a really good performance and a great result, taking another 3 points and carrying on this strong run of form. We’ve already played 13 games this campaign, after a long pre-season, and we’ve only lost 1, which was a half an hour game at the Oban tournament. The lads have done really well and they are looking forward to hopefully carrying on this good form."