St Mirren picked up three points on their return to Ladbrokes Championship action as they defeated Inverness at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.
Second half goals from Ian McShane and Gavin Reilly sealed a huge league win as the Buddies moved to within a point of first place Dundee United with a game in hand.
The match was stirred into life on 10 minutes after a quiet opening spell when Liam Polworth let fly from distance with Saints goalkeeper Craig Samson doing well to push the ball away with his fingertips. A few moments later, from a corner kick, Samson was alert to deny Carl Tremarco’s header at the near post.
Saints should have taken the lead on the half hour mark when Lewis Morgan managed to break clear. David Raven was trying to get back to cover the winger, but Morgan got himself one-on-one with ex-St Mirren goalkeeper Mark Ridgers, only to slide his effort by the post.
Inverness weren’t creating many clear cut opportunity but had a few shots from distance that troubled Saints. It was Polworth again causing the problems with two long range strikes that went close. The first was drilled just wide before Samson gathered his second attempt a minute later. Joe Chalmers had a go from range a further 60 seconds later, but again Samson was equal to it as he pushed the shot away.
Samson's Inverness counterpart was made to work on 38 minutes when he tipped over a stinging drive from Ian McShane on the edge of the box.
But it was the hosts who would close out the half the stronger of the two with Samson denying John Baird and Iain Vigurs in quick succession on the lead up to the interval.
Half Time: Inverness 0-0 St Mirren
While Inverness finished the first half as the better side, it was the Buddies who came out brightly after the break.
The rain and snow had lashed down on the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium throughout the whole match and even through the interval. Its effects were beginning to tell early in the second half with puddles on the park holding up the ball slightly before Kyle Magennis rifled an effort at Ridgers on 49 minutes.
Saints’ strong start would be rewarded on 51 minutes when the visitors were awarded a penalty kick. Morgan danced his way into the box before being nudged over by David Raven with referee John McKendrick showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Up stepped Ian McShane who sent Ridgers the wrong way to open the scoring.
Caley nearly found themselves level four minutes later though with Samson making another magnificent save to deny Joe Chalmers from distance.
The game hit a lull with a Vigurs free kick crashing off the Saints wall before Morgan curled one of the bar for the Buddies.
But it would soon flash into life again when Vigurs was given his marching orders with a little over 10 minutes to play. Booked in the first half for a coming together with Cammy Smith, the midfielder was shown a second yellow after bringing down McShane in the St Mirren box before screaming in the goalscorer’s face. This prompted Samson to rush out to have a go at Vigurs with the referee also booking the Saints keeper once the melee had calmed down.
Saints brought on Stelios Demetriou for Cammy Smith as they looked to close out the result. And the Cypriot played a major part in St Mirren claiming all three points. With Inverness charging forward in search of an equaliser, the ball fell to Stelios on the edge of the Saints box. He launched it towards Gavin Reilly who knocked it beyond a Caley defender to find himself rushing through one-on-one with Ridgers. The striker showed great composure to knock the ball beyond the goalkeeper to score his 50th career league goal and earn Saints a big three points.
Next up for the Buddies is their game in hand against Livingston on Tuesday night. Both sides go into the midweek fixture knowing a win for either would be enough to send them top of the Ladbrokes Championship.
Full Time: Inverness 0-2 St Mirren
St Mirren: Samson, L.Smith, Baird, Davis, Eckersley, McShane, McGinn, Magennis, C.Smith (Stelios 83), Morgan, Reilly (Duffy 90+3)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Stelios, Buchanan, McCart, Kirkpatrick, Duffy, Sutton
Inverness: Ridgers, Raven, Tremarco, Chalmers (Oakley 75), Donaldson, Warren, Polworth, Vigurs, Mulraney (Calder 53), Bell, Baird (Trafford 82)
Subs Not Used: Mackay, Elsdon, Doran, Oakley, Calder, Seedorf, Trafford
Referee: John McKendrick
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Assistant Referee: David Dunne
Attendance: 2,687
Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography
