St Mirren 3, Falkirk 1.

ST MIRREN scored one of the finest goals of the season as they steered

themselves closer to the leaders in the first division.

However, it was an unhappy 90 minutes for third-placed Falkirk, and

the Brockville club could find themselves in trouble with the SFA.

The Bairns had midfielder Neil Oliver, somewhat unluckily, sent off

after a second-half incident, and then referee Les Mottram called

striker Richard Cadette to his room minutes after the final whistle to

inform him that he would be reported to the SFA for a gesture towards

the fans.

Manager Jim Jefferies could also find himself in trouble as he

defended his players later.

Yet despite those incidents, the 4883 fans left talking about the

amazing third goal for Saints in which they strung together 22 passes

before John Hewitt clipped a shot into the net. Hewitt said: ''That was

World Cup stuff, a great goal.''

Earlier Saints had shown they wanted revenge for their B&Q Cup final

defeat. In only six minutes, Paul McIntyre headed the opener from a

Hewitt free kick.

Although Falkirk drew level in 34 minutes when defender Robert Dawson

headed into his own net as he attempted to clear from Joe McLaughlin,

Saints did not allow that to upset them.

McIntyre struck again seven minutes into the second half when he met a

David Elliot corner to head in the second off the underside of the cross

bar.

In 72 minutes, Oliver was red carded, although he seemed to trip over

Jamie Fullarton who was on the ground. And against 10 men, Saints were

able to play their most attractive football for Hewitt to complete the

scoring with that superb goal seven minutes from time.

However, Jefferies was upset afterwards, blaming his defender Neil

Duffy for the two McIntyre goals. ''It was his job to mark McIntyre, and

he did not do it,'' he said.

And Jefferies continued: ''I did not feel it was violent play when

Oliver was sent off. So far as Cadette is concerned, I think that the

action being taken against him is a bit harsh.

''Seemingly the referee did not see anything but a linesman has

reported him. When you consider the abuse he has to take, it is harsh.

The officials should be protecting him.''

ST MIRREN -- Money, Dawson, Baker, McWhirter, McIntyre, Orr, Farrell,

Fullarton, Lavety, Hewitt, Elliot. Subs Taylor, Bone, Combe.

FALKIRK -- Parks, Duffy, McQueen, Oliver, McLaughlin, Hughes, Taggart,

Drinkell, Cadette, Rice, Sloan. Substitutes: May, McDonald, Westwater.

REFEREE -- L Mottram (Forth).