Whitburn 2-2 St Andrews

Saints were unlucky in the third minute when a headed effort looked to be netbound but a home defender managed to get a foot to it to clear for a corner.

On 17 minutes a poor pass forward, up Saints left, allowed a home break to develop and Brass broke through to take his chance well and gave Whitburn the lead.

The home team’s dominance saw them edge further ahead when a Saints clearance dropped to Russell who hit a well placed shot into the corner.

Whitburn appeared nervous at any free kicks given to Saints and in 40 minutes were lucky to survive a strong effort by Jordan Austin right in front of goal to force it over the line.

The start of the second half saw Barry Sibanda on as substitute for Ireland.

With Austin and Sibanda up front, Whitburn found it difficult to keep both players quiet and in 49 minutes a great effort by Austin was just deflected over bar.

Two minutes later Austin was tripped in the area but, unfortunately for Saints, Schiavone failed to convert and the ball went out for a corner.

But from that corner Sibanda hooked a fierce left foot shot into the net.

With 10 minutes to go on loan East Fife striker Austin got his first goal for Saints and it was something special.

Inside the Whitburn area, being pressed for space and his back to goal, he hit a fine overhead kick into to the top corner of the net.

Graham of Saints received a second yellow followed by red card and Saints regrouped with 10 men.

But Saints still looked more dangerous and Schiavone, after a break on the right, hit a great shot to the near post but Whitburn’s keeper managed to divert it for a corner.

Saints - Cargill, McInnes, McPhie (Hendry), Graham, Wedderburn, Perrie, Schiavone, Ireland (Sibanda), Austin, Nutt, Fleming.