| Saints lost 1-0 to Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday afternoon and had to endure the agony once more of failing to convert a penalty kick.
As expected, youngsters McCulloch, Forsyth and McClune started the game for Saints as Sandy Clark begins to mould his team for next year. John Paul McBride missed out through an ankle injury and Nathan Lowndes started the game up front.
Motherwell had good chances to score the opener early on but Adams and Elliott failed to net for the Fir Park team. At the other end Paul Hartley made a good surging run up the right wing though his resulting shot went wide of Motherwell keeper Woods’ right hand post.
Motherwell then took the lead midway through the first half. Ex-Saints Kevin Twaddle sent in a corner from the left and Elliott rose unmarked at the back post to head Motherwell into a one goal lead.
Saints had the chances in the second half to wrap the game up but will rue their string of missed opportunities. Firstly, Momo Sylla played a defence splitting pass to tee up Nathan Lowndes although the striker delayed his shot which allowed Hammell time to put in a last ditch saving tackle and avert the danger. Momo then had a chance himself but his attempted chip narrowly missed the target. Saints best opportunity to score came when they awarded a penalty mid-way through the second half after Motherwell defender Strong blocked Lowndes’ header on goal with his arm. Momo stepped up to take the spot kick although his powerful drive was well saved by Woods who dived high to his right to tip the ball round the post and deny saints a share of the points.
SAINTS: Main, McClune, Weir, Kernaghan, Forsyth, Hartley (Parker 59), Sylla (McCluskey 85), Dasovic, McCulloch (Kane 66), Lovenkrands, Lowndes.
SUBS NOT USED: Cuthbert, Crozier.
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