St Mirren head into 2018 five points clear at the top of the Ladbrokes Championship after a 2-0 win over second place Dundee United.
A second half brace from Lewis Morgan saw the Buddies see off second place United and open the gap going into the new year.
A fairly quiet opening to the game was awoken on nine minutes when St Mirren won the first corner of the match. The ball was played into the box before finding its way to captain Stephen McGinn on the edge of the box. The skipper registered the first shot of the match with his powerful effort held by Harry Lewis.
Soon after United won their own corner after a dangerous looking ball from Billy King was turned behind by Stelios. The visitors were then given a glorious opportunity to open the scoring when referee Don Robertson awarded them a penalty after judging that Ian McShane had fouled Mark Durnan. Paul McMullan, who had a six month loan spell at Saints in 2015, stepped up to take but hesitated before seeing his spot kick brilliantly pushed away by Craig Samson.
There weren't too many chances to test either keeper in the remainder of the first half but it was United who looked more likely to make something happen as time ticked away before the break. Scott Fraser sent a wonderful ball into the path of the unmarked McDonald inside the box on 41 minutes, but the Australian striker headed behind him before Sam Stanton caught Liam Smith in possession and picked out Fraser a minute later only for the midfielder to send the shot wide.
Half Time: St Mirren 0-0 Dundee United
Saints grabbed the opener just before the hour mark thanks to a wonderful strike from Lewis Morgan. The winger looked keen to impress all night and got his reward on 58 minutes. McShane rolled a free kick around 30 yards out out to Morgan on the left side. He slowly came forward before gliding past McMullan and skipping past Flood before crashing the ball low into the far right bottom corner to put Saints ahead.
The Buddies searched for a second to try and kill the game off. Morgan had a shot blocked inside the box after being found by Cammy Smith before Kyle Magennis went mightly close with an effort that zipped beyond the post.
That all important second would come with a little over ten minutes remaining and once again it was Lewis Morgan who proved he was the man for the big occasion. Again it came from a short McShane free kick as the midfielder played the ball into the path of Morgan on the left side. Morgan came forward but was challenged by a United player and lost the ball. It broke to McGinn who helped it back into the path of Morgan and he took a touch to steady himself before rifling beyond Lewis to double Saints' advantage.
St Mirren had a massive chance to put the cherry on the cake when Cammy Smith found himself clear in the dying embers but the forward's shot was blocked by the legs of Lewis.
In the end Saints had to settle for two goals, but two goals that earned the side a massive three points in the promotion race as the Buddies open up a five point lead at the top.
Full Time: St Mirren 2-0 Dundee United
St Mirren: Samson, L.Smith, Baird, Davis, Stelios, McGinn, McShane, Magennis, C.Smith (MacPherson 90), Morgan (O'Keefe 90), Mullen (Sutton 88)
Subs Not Used: Stewart, Buchanan, MacKenzie, Duffy
Dundee United: Lewis, Scobbie, Durnan, Quinn, Robson, McMullan (Keatings 71), Flood (M.Smith 63), Stanton, Fraser (Allardice 76), King, McDonald
Subs Not Used: Deniz, Appere, Chalmers, Ingles
Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Joseph Lawson
Assistant Referee: David McKniff
Fourth Official: Steven Reid
Attendance: 6,214
Gallery pictures by Allan Picken © - Allan Picken Photography
