Match report

Tuesday, 06 October 2009
Saints work hard for win at Turriff

Friendly Match
Turriff United (0) v Saints (2)
Attendance [350]

Saints had to work hard for a 2-0 win over Turriff United at The Haughs tonight in an entertaining game to inaugurate the Highland League side's new floodlighting system.

Manager Derek McInnes gave a start to long-term injury victims Graeme Smith, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Kevin Moon and Peter MacDonald and although his side dominated the first half they were unable to beat a home goalkeeper on great form.

Filipe Morais sent an effort over the bar in the opening minutes and that set the tone for a first half which saw us dominate possession but unable to beat confident United goalkeeper Ross Buchanan. Time and again the Turriff number one denied Saints players – a good save from a Peter MacDonald being the first of those.

Saints were also guilty of wasting some chances, among those a Collin Samuel header from a Gavin Swankie free kick and a Peter MacDonald effort which was wide from 20 yards.

The home side tried to hit on the break and grew in confidence as the half progressed and Saints keeper Graeme Smith had to look lively to cut out a dangerous Craig Morrison cross in the 28th minute.

However, it was Smith’s opposite number who continued to please home fans as he continued to frustrate the SPL side, confidently clutching a Samuel header and then again denying MacDonald who had got his head to a Morais cross.

Then second half started with Steven Anderson – one of three half-time substitutes – pulling a shot wide of goal but we took the lead in 54 minutes when Buchanan was finally beaten. Even then the Turriff keeper performed heroics when he dived full length to push away a Peter MacDonald header but he was powerless to stop the unmarked Collin Samuel netting the loose ball.

If Saints thought that goal would open the floodgates then they had to think again – it was to be the best part of 20 minutes before there was another clear sight of the United goal and when it came Samuel fired the ball well over from a Swankie cross.

Saints doubled their advantage with ten minutes remaining and it came by way of an own goal. Samuel’s strong header from a Liam Craig cross was pushed away by the keeper and when Steven Reynolds tried to net the loose ball, Turriff defender Cammy Bowden diverted it into his own net.

The home side had a great chance to get a goal back in the final minute following a free kick but they couldn’t find the net despite a goalmouth scramble.

St Johnstone: Smith, Irvine, Grainger (Durnan 81), Moon (Mackay 45), Rutkiewicz, Gartland (Anderson 45), Craig (McIntosh 81), Swankie, Samuel (May 81), MacDonald (Hemsley 60), Morais (Reynolds 45)
Subs not used: Clark

Turriff United: Buchanan, Bowden, Ralton, Anderson, Massey, Henry (Henderson), McAllister (McLeod), McKenzie, Morrison (Noble), Allan, Hutchison (King).
Subs not used: Fyfe, Clark, Chalmers, Reid

Att: 350
Referee: Steven George