St Mirren 1 - 0 Hamilton Academical: Dargo makes the difference as Saints go marching on towards top six finish

Published on Saturday 27 December 2008 18:26

Dargo 78

AN ADROITLY-WORKED and clinically-finished goal by substitute Craig Dargo 12 minutes from time gave St Mirren their fourth SPL win in succession. They really are now in proper contention for a top six finish this season, while Hamilton remain in bottom place. Dargo had added real pace to the St Mirren attack upon his arrival, and the key to his tap-in was his speed through the centre of the visitors' defence to meet Jack Ross's cross, itself made possible by a fine piece of vision from Andy Dorman.

It was the best piece of play in the match and gave St Mirren a thoroughly deserved victory.

A frankly poor first half almost had an explosive start when St Mirren were presented with a glorious chance to open the scoring inside 90 seconds. Denis Wyness's shot ricocheted upward to Dorman standing alone in front of a goal. Last week's goalscoring hero turned zero by heading over an empty goal from six yards out.

Two minutes later at the other end, Richard Offiong put Simon Mensing in, but the former Motherwell man slashed his shot into the side netting.

With the visitors leaving Offiong up on his own with James McCarthy in behind him, the onus was on St Mirren to attack, and they did enjoy the lion's share of play in the first half-hour, though Mark Howard had to look lively to block the inrushing McCarthy.

Dorman, Jim Hamilton and Franco Miranda all had chances which did not trouble Tomas Cerny, and then it was Accies turn to enjoy pressure, their best chance coming from Tony Stevenson's cross to Martin Canning whose head flick was snapped wide of the post by Chris Swailes.

The second half began with Hamilton's prodigious work rate allowing them to get upfield more, though an Offiong shot just wide of the goal was all they had to show for their efforts.

St Mirren then enjoyed a sustained period of pressure, with two long range shots from Stephen McGinn being followed by a sumptuous near 30-yard drive by Dorman which Cerny dived to palm wide of his right hand post.

A match that was so tightly-pressed and closely contested for an hour was always likely to open up, and it did so largely in St Mirren's favour.

The key decision came when Saints' manager Gus MacPherson sent on Dargo for Wyness.

St Mirren then laid siege to Hamilton and were well worth Dargo's goal. Hugh Murray's superb shot which just dipped over the bar might have made it two, and though they tried manfully, Accies offered no real threat to the home goal.