by Colin Orr at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium

ST MIRREN'S pre-season preparations continued with a 2-2 draw at Dumbarton tonight.

A first-half strike from Steven Robb and a penalty from Michael Higdon twice put Saints in the lead.

But Dumbarton's Derek Carcary struck to haul his side level on both sides of the break.

In the end, the draw was a fair reflection of the game after a spirited performance from Jim Chapman's Second Division side.

A healthy crowd of Saints fans made the short journey over the Erskine Bridge to take in the night's game, although the wet and grey conditions didn't lend much in the way of a pre-season feel.

Danny Lennon fielded a strong side, which included ex-Hibs and Falkirk man Sean Lynch as a trialist in the middle of the park.

The Dumbarton line-up contained at least one face familiar to the Paisley contingent, with one-time Saints cult hero Junior Mendes playing up front as a trialist.

Saints took just seconds to threaten, with Paul McQuade slicing the Sons open for the overlapping David Barron to cross, but Craig Dargo couldn't get his shot away six yards out.

A neat move involving McQuade and Michael Higdon almost created a goal but Steven Robb couldn't get his head to the ex-Cowdenbeath man's cross.

At the other end, Paul Gallacher held a low drive from Ross Campbell, but it was to be Saints who took the lead on 21 minutes.

Higdon played Dargo into space down the right and the striker's cross was met by Robb, who nodded past Stephen Grindley from six yards out.

Dumbarton defender Ben Gordon provoked the anger of the away support when he pulled back Dargo with the Saints man almost through on goal but referee Iain Brines elected not to show a card.

From the resulting set-piece, Grindley caused panic in his own box when he spilled Darren McGregor's header but the keeper managed to gather at the feet of Dargo.

But it was the home side who were to score next, thanks to a superb individual goal from Derek Carcary on 38 minutes.

The striker beat Jure Travner to cut in from the right and curl a superb shot past Gallacher and into the far corner to make it 1-1 at the break.

Half-time: Dumbarton 1-1 St Mirren

Saints had the first opening of the second half when Lynch burst from midfield and played in Higdon but sub keeper Michael White palmed away the striker's effort.

Lennon made a double switch when he threw on Gareth Wardlaw and Stephen Glass for Dargo and Robb after 58 minutes.

And the move paid off four minutes later when Wardlaw was brought down in the box by White after running on to McQuade's through ball, with Brines awarding the penalty.

Higdon calmly stepped up and buried the spot kick low into the corner to make it 2-1 to Saints.

McQuade and Steven Thomson left the field soon after, with Hugh Murray and Garry Brady getting a run-out.

Higdon came close to his second of the night with a rasping free-kick from 25 yards which was well saved by White.

But the next goal was at the other end, with Carcary adding a well-taken second to level the scores on 71 minutes.

Iain Chisholm picked him out with a superb ball out of defence and the striker ghosted in from the right flank to slot the ball under Gallacher.

Both sides probed in search of a winner late on but it never looked like arriving and the game petered to a close.

Full-time: Dumbarton 2-2 St Mirren

Dumbarton: Grindley (White 46), Nugent (Brannan 72), McNiff, McManus (Wallace 68), Gordon (Cook 68), McStay, Geggan (Chaplain 46), Campbell (Chisholm 46), Mendes (Jones 77), Carcary (Devlin 72), Wilson (Mushet 68).

St Mirren: Gallacher, Barron (McKernon 86), Travner (van Zanten 46), McGregor, Potter, Lynch* (McAusland 72), McQuade (Murray 65), Thomson (Brady 65), Dargo (Wardlaw 58), Higdon, Robb (Glass* 58).
Subs not used: Samson (GK).

* - Trialist

Referee: Mr Iain Brines.

Star Saint: New signing Paul McQuade looked lively for Saints on the right flank in an encouraging performance from the ex-Cowden man.

© The St Mirren Football Club Official Website

You are respectfully reminded that this news report and/or interview, as with all content on this website, is subject to copyright and as such the St Mirren Football Club Official Website MUST be acknowledged as the original source.