St Mirrenoff 3 V 3 10m Rangers

Saints supporters’ side let slip a two goal lead and with it the chance to put some daylight between themselves and the bottom of the table.

In a table worryingly mimicking the side the players support, St Mirrenoff find themselves just two points ahead of basement boys Sparta Jags.

In truth, this clash with one of two Rangers fan’s teams in the Premier League could – and should - have been done and dusted by half-time.

Despite a sluggish start on the bobbly Elderslie pitch, the home side were soon cruising, two goals ahead thanks to neat finishes by Craig Sinclair and Andy Tucker.

Sinclair’s clever lob came after he was picked out by winger Fraser Gray whilst Tucker took two bites before finishing with a slide rule strike from eight yards out.

Further chances to extend the lead were past up as a host of Saints turned to sinners in front of goal, but the two goal cushion stood heading into the second 45.

The otherwise solid Saints keeper John Kerr gift-wrapped the Gers’ route to recovery, spilling a free-kick into the path of an onrushing 10M striker and he made no mistake.

But no sooner had the lead been halved than the two goal cushion was re-established. A David Wilson corner was only half cleared and when David Christie helped the ball back into the mix, towering defender Grant Elliott directed a neat header past the stranded Gers keeper.

Again, the buddies were on easy street, but another defensive error presented another chance for 10M and with 20 minutes to go they closed the gap once again.

By now the match was stretched, with chances at both ends. Defending from the front, Saints repelled a number of Gers moves before they finally netted an equaliser, their No.9 showing composure to pick his spot in the roof of Kerr’s net.

Still, a neat ball from midfield opened up play on the left and when sub Duncan Johnstone fizzed a cross into the box, a 10M defender appeared to kill the ball’s flight with his hand. With men over at the back post, the home side awaited the penalty award, but the ref waved play on and Saints waved goodbye to a welcome three points.

The result was the second fixture against Rangers teams, with Saints succumbing 2-1 to Sandbank Rangers the previous Sunday, Robert Hillcoat’s tidy volley relegated to a footnote as Sandbank recovered with a penalty and a fluke cross which found its way past Kerr.

Next up for the Buddies is a league clash with Broadwood Clyde on Sunday, kick-off 1pm at the Elderslie Amateurs FC pitch.

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