St Mirren 1 Hearts 1

Saulius Mikoliunas rescued a point for Hearts with a late leveller as St Mirren were denied at Love Street.

Jim Hamilton had fired the Buddies ahead just before the hour mark after Craig Dargo nodded the ball down to him.

It was Hamilton's first goal for the club and looked set to be the winner.

But winger Mikoliunas thwarted the home side's hopes of maximum points when he arrowed a superb shot past Chris Smith three minutes from time.

Hearts were without injured trio Christian Nade, Laryea Kingston and Ibrahim Tall for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash in Paisley.

Stephen Frail's travellers were seeking their third consecutive win away from home in the league - and brought in 19-year-old striker Jamie Mole for his first SPL start.

But the result dented Hearts hopes of a top-six finish, with Falkirk winning at Inverness to increase their chances of facing the elite sides after the split.

St Mirren, aiming to chalk up a first league victory since January 19, had no fresh injuries and opened brightly, taking the game to the visitors with neat inter-linking play between Franco Miranda and Craig Dargo.

They were unable to threaten Steve Banks in the Hearts goal early on though, and Ruben Palazuelos tried his luck for the visitors in the sixth minute when his driven effort from 30 yards flew harmlessly wide of Smith's right-hand post.

After 12 minutes, Ian Maxwell connected with a low corner and from six yards hit a shot goalwards - but Christophe Berra blocked.

The home team claimed Berra used a hand but referee Willie Collum turned down the appeal.

In the 27th minute veteran defender Andy Millen replaced the injured John Potter who was taken off by stretcher after receiving an accidental foot in the face from Mikoliunas.

Two brave point-blank saves from Smith kept St Mirren on level terms, first denying Andrew Driver and then from the resulting corner keeping out a Christos Karipidis header.

A rasping shot from Dorman had the home support on their feet, but his long-range effort never troubled Banks as it screamed over the bar.

As the half drew to a close St Mirren continued to press but were unable to penetrate a stubborn Hearts rearguard.

Hearts made their intentions clear straight after the restart when Calum Elliot came within inches of putting the visitors ahead.

His powerful half-volley was struck convincingly, but Smith was alert and managed to get a fingertip to the ball.

Hearts again threatened with a pinpoint pass by Palazuelos towards the onrushing Elliot, but his shot from 16 yards was weak and wide of the target.

St Mirren punished Hearts by taking the lead after 59 minutes when Hamilton blasted home from seven yards after a clever knock-down by Dargo.

Veteran goalkeeper Banks managed to get a hand to the ball, but the ferocity of the shot was too great.

The second half had been lively and at times ill-tempered, but St Mirren stuck to their task and should have doubled the lead after 68 minutes.

Dorman, who was set up by Dargo, was unfortunate to see his low shot crash back off the post.

As Hearts pushed forward, gaps appeared in their defence and St Mirren could have killed the match as a contest in the 81st minute but Dargo rushed his effort and the home team's lead remained slender.

Mikoliunas punished them by scoring an equaliser with only three minutes remaining in regulation time.

A poorly cleared corner saw the ball reach the Lithuanian dangerman whose shot from the edge of the box was inch-perfect, giving Smith no chance.

Substitute Billy Mehmet failed to convert a chance from six yards as St Mirren searched in vain for a winner.

Teams:

St Mirren Smith, Barron, van Zanten, Potter (Millen 29), Maxwell, Mason, Dorman, McGinn (Murray 77), Miranda, Hamilton, Dargo (Mehmet 83).

Subs Not Used: Howard, Kean, Corcoran, Docherty.

Booked: McGinn, Miranda, Smith.

Goals: Hamilton 59.

Hearts Banks, Neilson, Berra, Palazuelos, Wallace, Mikoliunas, Jonsson (Stewart 58), Karipidis, Driver (Cesnauskis 39), Elliot, Mole (Beniusis 67).

Subs Not Used: Basso, Zaliukas, Ksanavicius, Thomson.

Goals: Mikoliunas 87.

Att: 4,557

Ref: W Collum (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com