St Mirren 2 - 0 Hearts

Graham Carey scored a goal of the season contender as St Mirren defeated Hearts in their Clydesdale Bank Premier League match at St Mirren Park.

The two sides will contest the Scottish Communities League Cup final next month - and Danny Lennon's side struck a psychological blow ahead of that contest with this comfortable victory.

Paul McGowan netted from the penalty spot after three minutes and Carey's impressive breakthrough extended their lead on the stroke of half-time.

Saints made a good start to the match and earned two early corners, the first of which was headed behind by Darren Barr.

Barr was involved in the next corner too and this time he was adjudged to have felled Lee Mair, resulting in referee Kevin Clancy pointing to the spot.

McGowan stepped up to take the resulting kick and duly despatched the ball past goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald, who dived the wrong way.

Hearts responded at the other end and Craig Samson had to parry away Jamie Walker's fizzing shot on the angle.

Barr received the first booking of the match for carelessly fouling Carey, before David Ngoo worked Samson with a low shot from the edge of the box.

However, it was the hosts who looked the more likely to add to the scoring and Sam Parkin should have done better when he met Carey's delivery.

On the stroke of half-time St Mirren did manage to double their lead and it came in stunning fashion, Carey looping a shot over the helpless MacDonald from 25 yards out.

Hearts boss John McGlynn introduced John Sutton and Dylan McGowan in place of Ardvydas Novikovas and Barr for the start of the second half.

McGowan headed wide from Walker's corner and the striker had a big shout for a penalty when he was hauled down in the box by Mair, however Clancy ignored the appeals.

Carey could not beat MacDonald with a second strike from distance on 56 minutes and Hearts had their best chance of the opening hour when Samson parried Walker's shot to Sutton, who could not quite turn the ball into the net.

After offering very little in the way of attacking threat in the first half, the double substitution at half-time seemed to breath new life into the visitors, although they continued to find scoring opportunities difficult to come by.

Dougie Imrie replaced Lewis Guy for the last 10 minutes and Lennon made a double switch - David van Zanten and Kenny McLean coming on for David Barron and McGowan.

Kevin McHattie had a drive from distance in the final minute of injury-time comfortably gathered by Samson and St Mirren held out to leapfrog their opponents in the table.

The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

Dylan McGowan sends in a cross, John McGinn makes a clearance. Kevin McHattie takes a shot. Save made by Craig Samson.
91

Andy Webster fouled by Sam Parkin, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Wilson takes the free kick.
88

Jamie Walker has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.
87

Correction - Denis Prychynenko concedes a free kick for a foul on Dougie Imrie. Kenny McLean is brought on as a substitute for Paul McGowan. David van Zanten joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Barron. Mehdi Taouil is brought on as a substitute for Denis Prychynenko. Free kick crossed by Graham Carey.
83

Denis Prychynenko gives away a for an unfair challenge on Dougie Imrie. Kenny McLean comes on in place of Paul McGowan. David van Zanten is brought on as a substitute for David Barron. Denis Prychynenko leaves the field to be replaced by Mehdi Taouil.
83

Kevin McHattie challenges David Barron unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dougie Imrie replaces Lewis Guy. Direct free kick taken by Craig Samson.
80

Kevin McHattie takes a shot. Paul McGowan gets a block in.
80

Jamie Walker fouled by Lee Mair, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Walker fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Craig Samson.
76

Paul McGowan sends in a cross, clearance by Andy Webster.
74

The ball is swung over by Graham Carey.
72

David Barron delivers the ball, clearance by Andy Webster.
72

Paul Dummett fouled by Callum Tapping, the ref awards a free kick. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.
71

Shot from outside the box by Michael Ngoo misses to the left of the goal.
70

Paul McGowan has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
69

Jamie Walker gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sam Parkin. Conor Newton takes the free kick.
69

Jamie Walker delivers the ball, Lee Mair makes a clearance.
69

Dylan McGowan is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Samson.
67

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Barron on Michael Ngoo. Jamie Walker crosses the ball in from the free kick, Paul Dummett manages to make a clearance.
66

Jamie Walker has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide left of the goal.
66

The ball is delivered by Dylan McGowan, Marc McAusland manages to make a clearance.
65

Graham Carey delivers the ball, clearance by Andy Webster.
64

The ball is swung over by Michael Ngoo, Marc McAusland manages to make a clearance. The ball is crossed by Michael Ngoo, Marc McAusland makes a clearance.
63

Centre by Paul Dummett, clearance by Denis Prychynenko.
62

A cross is delivered by Jamie Walker, clearance by David Barron. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Walker played to the near post, clearance made by John McGinn.
61

The ball is sent over by Paul Dummett, clearance made by Danny Wilson.
61

A cross is delivered by David Barron.
61

Graham Carey crosses the ball.
60

David Barron concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Ngoo. Callum Tapping takes the direct free kick.
60

Foul by Denis Prychynenko on Lewis Guy, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Craig Samson.
59

Shot by Jamie Walker. Save made by Craig Samson.
58

Danny Wilson produces a cross, Michael Ngoo gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc McAusland. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.
56

Jamie Walker sends in a cross, clearance by David Barron.
55

Graham Carey sends in a cross, clearance made by Danny Wilson. Short corner worked by Graham Carey. Graham Carey produces a curled left-footed shot from 25 yards. Jamie MacDonald makes a save.
54

The ball is delivered by Jamie Walker, David Barron makes a clearance. Jamie Walker takes a short corner.
52

Michael Ngoo crosses the ball, Paul Dummett gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Walker from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by John McGinn.
52

Lee Mair fouled by Michael Ngoo, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Samson.
50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dylan McGowan by Sam Parkin. Free kick taken by Dylan McGowan.
50

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Walker from the right by-line to the near post, Dylan McGowan has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Mair by Michael Ngoo. Craig Samson takes the free kick.
47

The second half has started.

Dylan McGowan is brought on as a substitute for Darren Barr. Arvydas Novikovas leaves the field to be replaced by John Sutton.
45

The match has reached half-time.

Graham Carey grabs a goal. St Mirren 2-0 Hearts.
44

David Barron concedes a free kick for a foul on Jason Holt. Denis Prychynenko fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick. Effort on goal by Jason Holt from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
42

A cross is delivered by Graham Carey, Headed effort on goal by Sam Parkin from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.
41

Paul McGowan crosses the ball.
39

Foul by Paul McGowan on Kevin McHattie, free kick awarded. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Denis Prychynenko.
38

Michael Ngoo has an effort at goal. Craig Samson makes a save.
37

Centre by Graham Carey, Jason Holt makes a clearance.
36

Graham Carey produces a cross, clearance by Danny Wilson.
35

Unfair challenge on Paul McGowan by Michael Ngoo results in a free kick. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.
29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Denis Prychynenko on John McGinn. Lee Mair takes the free kick.
28

Darren Barr concedes a free kick for a foul on Graham Carey. Booking for Darren Barr for unsporting behaviour. Free kick taken by Lee Mair.
27

Arvydas Novikovas produces a cross.
27

Foul by Andy Webster on Sam Parkin, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Paul Dummett.
24

The assistant referee signals for offside against Lewis Guy. Kevin McHattie restarts play with the free kick.
22

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Mair on Michael Ngoo. Andy Webster takes the direct free kick.
21

Arvydas Novikovas delivers the ball, blocked by David Barron. Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Walker, Craig Samson makes a save.
18

David Barron sends in a cross, Jamie MacDonald makes a save.
17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Barr on John McGinn. Paul Dummett takes the direct free kick.
17

Graham Carey crosses the ball. Lewis Guy is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
13

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Danny Wilson.
9

Jamie Walker takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson.
9

The ball is crossed by Jamie Walker, clearance by Marc McAusland.
8

David Barron delivers the ball, Kevin McHattie manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey from the right by-line, Darren Barr manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Graham Carey, Penalty awarded for a foul by Darren Barr on Lee Mair. Penalty taken right-footed by Paul McGowan and scored. St Mirren 1-0 Hearts.Lee Mair provided the assist for the goal.
2

Unfair challenge on Sam Parkin by Andy Webster results in a free kick. Lee Mair restarts play with the free kick.
1

A cross is delivered by Darren Barr.
1

The referee gets the match started.

Taken from sportinglife.com