St Johnstone cruise through in Scottish Cup

Jan 18 2010

Forfar 0 St Johnstone 3

SAINTS came out of cold storage to warm the hearts of fans making the journey to Forfar for an Active Nation Scottish Cup tie which went ahead at the third time asking after a lunchtime pitch inspection.

It might have been tagged Blue Monday but a Kenny Deuchar opener and a Liam Craig double ensured the belated first game of 2010 passed off without mishap.

Saints were in action for the first-time since a Boxing Day win at Motherwell and manager Derek McInnes opted for two changes to his line-up, with man of the match Craig and Stevie Milne coming in for Kevin Moon and Murray Davidson.

New recruit Cillian Sheridan was a spectator, with his arrival from Celtic on loan coming after the cut-off point for a tie delayed by the January weather.

Forfar-based Milne’s last start was more than three months ago at Hamilton and he could have found the net within the first minute at Station Park, only for his teasing header to edge agonisingly past the upright.

But the Loons gave Saints a scare in the seventh minute when keeper Graeme Smith failed to cut out a near post corner whipped over by Marc McCulloch and alert striker Ross Campbell was denied by a block in the six-yard box.

Peter MacDonald was played in by a short Chris Millar pass but old-stager Andy Tod stepped in to thwart the maroon-shirted centre before he could get a shot away.

Then Danny Grainger was sent through by Millar but inexplicably the full-back tried to feed MacDonald instead of shooting and the chance was lost.

Craig came close with a dipping long ranger deflected beyond the post before Saints finally secured an advantage in the 23rd minute.

Deuchar has found goals hard to come by in the SPL but he rose superbly to head a probing Grainger cross into the corner of the net in textbook fashion, adding to cup doubles against lower league opponents.

Minutes later keeper Ally Brown prevented a mirror image strike by clawing the striker’s header from a Craig cross round the post.

Travelling fans were claiming a penalty when MacDonald tumbled trying to sweep past the keeper. Then Deuchar’s stretching connection was deflected wide.

Two minutes from the interval and fans in a 1449 crowd wolfing down the traditional bridie, Craig lashed home a superb left foot strike to give Saints breathing space.

It was superbly worked with Deuchar freed on the right by an accurate Dave Mackay pass from the half-way line. This time the centre turned goal-maker with a teasing cutback hammered low into the corner by support runner Craig.

Deuchar should have stretched the lead in the 48th minute but poked a volley wide with the target at his mercy.

But Craig made it three and easy in the 57th minute when he dashed through a threadbare defence to craftily lob advancing keeper Brown with some style.

MacDonald was booked and quickly replaced by Gavin Swankie in the 66th minute to keep him out of trouble.

With their progress sealed, the remainder of the game was a formality, with youngster Steven Reynolds getting a late run after returning from loan at Ayr.

Forfar: Brown, McCulloch, Campbell, M. Fotheringham (Deasley 61), Tod, Tulloch, Gordon (N. Smith 76), Mowatt, Templeman, Campbell and Gibson (C. Smith 70). Subs: K. Fotheringham and Curtis.

St Johnstone: Smith, Irvine, Grainger, Mackay, Gartland, Morris, Millar, Craig (Davidson 83), Milne (Reynolds 83), Deuchar and MacDonald (Swankie 66). Subs: Anderson and Main.

Referee: Calum Murray.