Bairnfica 2-4 St Mirrenoff
SSFL League Cup Group Match
Sunday, 5 September
Saints supporters overcame a poor first half performance to come away with all three points in the opening game of their league cup section.
The Paisley side took the lead inside 15 minutes when a corner was drilled in low from David Wilson. Striker Robert Hillcoat missed an attempted back-heel flick, but midfielder Chris Dailly was waiting to pounce and stabbed the ball home at the second attempt.
Some indecision in the Saints defence soon after almost gifted Bairnfica a route back into the match, with two good chances in as many minutes. First, a long throw-in caught the Saints side out, but a weak header was comfortably dealt with by keeper Craig Muir.
In their next attack, Bairnfica won a corner and another free header was put wide from six yards out. The Falkirk fans deservedly drew level shortly after aided by more poor defending from a corner and they went ahead in controversial fashion.
After springing Saints’ offside trap, the Bairnfica striker saw his shot saved by Muir, but he squared the rebound for his team-mate who appeared to handle the ball before knocking into the empty net.
Feeling harshly treated, Saints responded quickly and drew level a few minutes before the break. Hillcoat picked the ball up inside the opposition half and played a perfect through ball for wing-back Andy Tucker who unselfishly squared the ball for Duncan Johnston to knock past the stranded Bairns goalkeeper.
And it was route-one football to make Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce proud which saw the St Mirren supporters edge in front. Muir sent a long punt up the park, Wilson rose highest to flick a header beyond the defence and his strike partner Hillcoat coolly slotted the ball into the net.
The game was clinched by the best move of the day when Saints worked the ball out to Johnston on the left with some neat one touch passing. He flicked the ball inside to former senior St Mirren player Ryan Robinson, who played a perfectly weighted pass for Hillcoat to run onto.
With a team-mate waiting for a pass across goal for a tap-in, the forward again showed great composure to slip the ball past the keeper and into the near post.
St Mirrenoff: Craig Muir, Chris Adam, Ian Craig, Graeme Mothersole, Andrew Tucker (Fraser Gray), Duncan Johnston, Gordian Mothersole, Chris Dailly, Ryan Robinson, Robert Hillcoat (Grant Elliott), David Wilson (Roy Henderson).
Next up for the buddies is their sectional cup match away to Beechwood Albion on Sunday, kick-off 1pm in Stirling .
Fans of St Mirren are welcome to come along and cheer on the supporter’s side to victory. For more information, visit teamstats.net/stmirrenoff
