Saints survival hopes looks positive

St Andrews..........................2

St Andrews United played their last away game of the season on Friday.

Both teams were minus a number of first choiceplayers, mainly due to suspensions.

This was a must win game for United if they were to avoid relegation forthe second time in the past three seasons.

In a game of few clear cutchances, the visitors scored two early second half goals to secure allthree points.

The first half was fairly even.

The best chance of the half fell to Paddy Deane after 25 minutes, when he was played in behind the home defence.

From a slight angle he side footed the ball at goal and keeper Stuart Hall managed to block the ball with his legs.

It took United only five minutes into the second half to break the deadlock.

Ryan McInnes sent a free kick from the right flank into the Haws goalmouth and Aaron Whitehead headed the ball into the bottom corner of the net froma few yards.

United doubled their lead after 55 minutes when Ricky Patrick fired the ball into the roof of the net after Craig Brand crossed into a crowded goalmouth.

United thought they had scored a third goal after 74 minutes when PaddyDeane headed a Ryan McInnes corner into the net from a few yards.

The visitors’ joy was short lived however when referee Chris McNab disallowed the goal for an infringement.

There were no more goals and United ran out comfortable winners by 2-0.

St Andrews United - Trialist, Brand, Dobie, Whitehead, Mackie, McMullan, (Buchan), Mcinnes, Patrick, Rolland, Sibanda, Deane.

Subs - Cunningham, Murdoch, Sturrock, McNeish.