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).
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