Under-strength Saints no match for five-star Gartcosh

Maitland then saved well from Gavin Mackie at his near post and launched a 24th minute counter-attack up the left wing where James Ford and Connor Moore combined for Moore to fire a left foot shot just over the junction of post and crossbar.

The pressure from the home side finally told in the 34th minute when Gartcosh man of the match Zak More reached a Colin Galbraith through ball ahead of the advancing Craig Maitland to poke the ball home for a deserved opening goal.

A second goal followed just two minutes later when PJ Dolan cut in from the left and fired a right foot shot high into the net, well out of reach for Saints keeper Craig Maitland.

Saints’ skipper David Beaton, who led his troops by example with a battling performance in central midfield, had the chance to put the ball into the danger area when James Ford was upended on the Saints left midway inside the Gartcosh half but his free kick was headed clear.

With two minutes of the first half remaining, the home side stretched their lead further, exploiting poor Saints’ marking at a corner-kick. Gavin Mackie’s in-swinging delivery from the left was easily knocked home from close range by the unmarked Jack Trainer.

Iain Jackson withdrew Oran Bryce for the start of the second half, replacing him with sole substitute Keiran Caskie. 

Jackson was almost left to rue that decision when Gregor Brown went down in a crumpled heap after coming off worse in a challenge with PJ Dolan four minutes after the restart. 

With no replacement available, a quick rub down with David Dunlop’s magic sponge had to suffice and Brown resumed his place in the back three alongside Kyle Selfridge and Paul McFatridge.

With the wind now in their favour, Saints posed a little more threat and Keiron Lopez, Stuart MacLean and Connor Moore both managed efforts on goal, albeit without troubling Gartcosh keeper Stuart Wilson.

Having managed to keep the hosts quiet for 23 second half minutes, Saints were again far too easily picked off from a set-piece. Second half substitute Callum Galloway swung over a free-kick from the corner of the Saints 18-yard box which towering centre-half Stewart Diamond was allowed to meet with an unchallenged header past Craig Maitland’s left hand and into the net via the inside of the post.

Gartcosh completed a successful warm-up for their upcoming West of Scotland Amateur Cup semi-final against Drumchapel Amateurs with a fifth goal nine minutes before full-time. Yet again it was a self-inflicted injury from Saints whose tired minds and legs switched off as cheaply conceded possession just inside the Gartcosh half was ruthlessly exploited for Dylan Kerr to race through and slot the ball past Craig Maitland.

Referee Peter Kerr, who handled proceedings well, spared Saints any further agony and blew for full-time after three added minutes.

Saints now enter a long close season where a massive decision on the club’s future awaits.