Dargo stunner wins it for Buddies

Published Date: 03 October 2009
By BARRY ANDERSON
AT ST MIRREN PARK
A SECOND-HALF rally highlighted by a spectacular winning goal from Craig Dargo secured St Mirren's first league victory at their new stadium and prolonged Hearts' recent winless sequence away from Tynecastle.
Dargo arced a bouncing ball over Janos Balogh and into the top corner on 64 minutes to complete a rejuvenation which started when Steven Thomson equalised Jose Goncalves' opening header. Although Hearts virtually controlled the first half and should have been comfortably ahead at the interval, the hosts were an altogether different proposition during the second 45 minutes.

They pressed forward with more verve as their opponents craved an attacking outlet to ease the pressure. Suso, the outstanding player of the first half, was virtually anonymous after the break and found himself substituted as a result.

Hearts have now gone 11 away matches without victory, but the residents of Paisley returned home happy after finally breaking their duck with a win following the flit from Love Street last season.

Swirling gales and driving rain greeted Hearts on their first visit to New St Mirren Park, the elements ensuring attractive football was going to be rare. However that did not deter the visitors in the opening minutes. David Witteveen's glancing header from Craig Thomson's corner was cleared off the goal line by another Thomson, Steven of St Mirren, and David Obua's left-footed drive clattered off the advertising board behind Paul Gallacher.

They required to score to consolidate on the early dominance but, as sunshine broke out over Paisley, the hosts gradually emerged from their shell. Strikers Billy Mehemt and Dargo required plenty policing with their relentless movement, but the chief entertainer on show was Suso of Hearts.

His penetrating runs through the attacking central midfield zone caused untold trouble, and his sprightly turn and shot led to the opening goal on 29 minutes. Gallacher palmed Suso's ambitious 25-yard strike for a corner, from which an Obua effort was deflected narrowly wide. Craig Thomson arced the second corner towards the six yard area and Goncalves rose to head powerfully home, prompting familiar chants of "Jose" from travelling supporters who previously idolised his namesake Quitongo.

Suso ought to have doubled Hearts' advantage within 60 seconds. Lee Mair supplied Gallacher with a most careless backpass, the Spaniard intercepted to round the goalkeeper but delayed shooting. When he eventually swung the boot, the ball ricocheted off a defender and was clawed from the jaws of the net by the recovering Gallacher.

Had he converted a St Mirren recovery would have been distinctly unlikely, however parity was restored on 38 minutes. Stephen McGinn's ball across the face of goal was bizarrely mishit by Andy Dorman at the back post but fell kindly for Steven Thomson to dispatch his club's first goal in 274 minutes of football.

Witteveen's audacious backheeled attempt rolled wide prior to half-time, as did his header from Michael Stewart's cross, but Hearts would have rued Suso's hesitance at the interval knowing a 2-0 scoreline would have represented an intimidating hurdle to their hosts.

It became obvious when play restarted that St Mirren's principal problem - the inability to retain possession in the final third - had transcended both halves. But their persistence and greater sense of adventure compared with the first half would eventually pay dividends. Craig Thomson forced Gallacher low to his right to repel a swerving free-kick on 57 minutes before Dargo delivered a sweetly struck second goal. Substitute Tom Brighton intelligently chested a free-kick into the striker's path for a first-time volley on the turn which sped off towards the top corner.

Csaba Laszlo, the Hearts manager, replaced Suso with Christian Nade to the tune of jeers from the visiting support before Witteveen was stretchered from the field, the consequence of a full-bloodied tackle with St Mirren substitute Chris Innes. His place was taken by Ian Black for the closing stages.

MacPherson's side continued pressing and Balogh was alert to parry Innes' drive from 18 yards four minutes from time. Hearts finished with a touch of huffing and puffing around the home penalty area but could not force an equaliser.

St Mirren (4-4-2): Gallacher; Ross, Potter, Mair, Barron; Dorman, Murray, Thomson, McGinn; Mehmet, Dargo. Subs: Howard, O'Donnell 90 (for Dorman), Brady, Brighton 61 (for Murray), Innes 46 (for Mair), Burns, Faulds.

Hearts (4-2-3-1): Balogh; C Thomson, Bouzid, Goncalves, Wallace; Stewart, Palazuelos; Obua, Suso, Driver; Witteveen. Subs: MacDonald, Nade 68 (for Suso), Templeton, Jonsson, Black 75 (for Witteveen), Robinson 78 (for Stewart), Kucharski.

Referee: Brian Winter.

Attendance: 4652.

Taken from the Scotsman