A spectacular goal salvaged a stoppage time point for Saints for the second week running as they drew with Motherwell in dramatic circumstances.
This time it was Kyle Magennis who conjured up an equaliser, the young midfielder thundering a volley high into the net after Mihai Popescu's throw in had been flicked across goal with barely seconds remaining.
That cancelled out David Turnbull's opener as he'd fired Motherwell in front with less than 20 minutes to goal. Magennis' timely intervention was welcome, although results elsewhere meant it didn't make a huge difference to the relegation picture.
The midfielder once again started the game on the bench as he continues his comeback, Kyle McAllister taking over from the injured Anders Dreyer. Although Turnbull started for the hosts, there was no sign of fellow impressive youngster Jake Hastie.
Motherwell nearly made a dream start as they went close to scoring inside five minutes. Hladky did well to deny Allan Campbell but the ball bounced out to Gboly Ariybi who looked set to stroke it home, however Mateo Muzek was in the right place to hack the ball off the line. There was some less impressive goalkeeping at the other end as Mark Gillespie appeared to have gathered McAllister's free-kick only to nearly throw the ball into his own net.
Hladky helped James Scott's drive around the post as the Steelmen threatened again before McAllister had Saints' first real chance, curling an effort just wide from the edge of the box. Gillespie denied Jackson as the striker tried to flick the ball home at a corner but the flag was already up for offside before Liam Grimshaw fizzed a shot off the outside of the post from 25 yards. That was followed by Magennis replacing Ryan Flynn, who had been unable to shake off an injury he'd picked up a few minutes earlier.
The first half had been scrappy but Saints started brightly after the break, Magennis' fierce shot being blocked at the edge of the box, Danny Mullen then appealing furiously for a foul after something happened off the ball. The striker saw his shot kept out by Gillespie after he'd been set up by Jackson before slack play from Popescu let in Scott, however Hladky was able to clear the danger at the expense of a corner.
That moment seemed to spark Motherwell into life, Turnbull sending a long range shot over before his free-kick was headed off by Scott. The arrival of Duckens Nazon in place of Mullen gave Saints some fresh impetus but they weren't able to take advantage of it before they fell behind. Sub Elliot Frear's cross was knocked down by James Scott and Turnbull was given plenty of time to pick his spot as he rattled a shot past Hladky.
Saints tried to respond, Gillespie spilling McAllister's attempt to sneak a free-kick in at the near post eith no one in a black and white shirt in quite the right place to force it home. Stephen McGinn followed brother Paul into the book for a foul on Ariyibi but Turnbull's free-kick was straight at Hladky.
There had been little sign of a Buddies equaliser but a glorious chance arrived in stoppage time, Stephen McGinn picking out Cody Cooke but he volleyed tamely at Gillespie. As Saints pushed they almost got caught on the break, Frear finding himself through on goal but Hladky dealt with his shot easily.
And that seemed to be that – but Saints had one final chance when they won a throw in deep in the Motherwell half. Popescu launched it into the box and when it bounced off a head it fell perfectly for Magennis to thunder home, sparking wild scenes among the travelling support behind the goal. It means Saints are now four points behind Hamilton and while they can no longer finish bottom, they'll have to beat Accies in their next game to have any chance of avoiding the play-offs.
Full Time: Motherwell 1-1 St Mirren
St Mirren: Hladky, P.McGinn, Popescu, MacKenzie (Cooke 89), Muzek, S.McGinn, Flynn (Magennis 25), Lyons, McAllister, Mullen (Nazon 68), Jackson
Subs Not Used: Holmes, Baird, Ferdinand, Hodson
Motherwell: Gillespie, Tait, McHugh, Aldred, Dunne, Cadden, Campbell, Ariyibi (Livingstone 87), Grimshaw (Frear 63), Turnbull (Semple 82), Scott
Subs Not Used: Hartley, Johnson, Main, Sammon
Referee: Alan Muir
Assistant Referee: Daniel McFarlane
Assistant Referee: Stuart Stevenson
Fourth Official: David Lowe
Attendance: 5,274 (1,681 St Mirren fans)
Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography
