by Holly McCormack at the Ballymena Showgrounds

St Mirren continued their fine pre-season form, with a two-nil victory over Ballymena, on Saturday afternoon. Goals from new signing Paul McQuade and Craig Dargo would ensure that St Mirren still remain undefeated in their pre-season games.

St Mirren took the early initiative in the match, with two chances in quick succession from the starting whistle. Initially it was Gareth Wardlaw, Sean Lynch, Paul McGowan and McQuade who combined well, but the final shot just sailed past the left-hand side and deflected out for a corner kick. Garry Brady made his way to deliver the corner and it was met by the head of Wardlaw, but he saw his effort just rise over the crossbar.

St Mirren were again nearly rewarded for their constant pressure, when Dargo saw his shot just rebound off the crossbar after eighteen minutes. McQuade picked up the loose ball but could not find the space to send his shot on target, instead he opted to play Dargo in but the final shot found the woodwork and was cleared to safety by the Ballymena defence.

Darren McGregor who after twenty-four minutes had the next chance to drive St Mirren into the lead. On loan Celt McGowan played in Lynch, but the loose ball was just too much and it went out for a throw in. David van Zanten found McGowan again who tried to play the ball through to McGregor, but in the end there was no problem for the Ballymena defence to clean up the loose ball and regain possession.

Ballymena looked like they might surge into the lead just a few minutes later with Gary McCutcheon flying down the left flank, but Paul Gallagher was more than equal to any impending danger. Club captain John Potter had a fairly quiet start to the game, but was nearly instrumental in putting the Saints ahead. He initially worked the ball with both Dargo and on loan Saint, Jure Travner. The ball was placed back to Brady who returned it to Potter. It was again played forward to van Zanten and then Wardlaw but Brady could do nothing with the final ball, and with five minutes remaining in the first half, the game remained goal-less.

St Mirren would have the final say as the first half drew to a close with McQuade inches away from the opening goal. It was inspired play by van Zanten who found McQuade in the box, but yards from goal he saw his final effort tipped away the Ballymena goalkeeper, Ryan Brown. From the resulting corner-kick Potter found McGregor in a good position within the box but his header went straight into the keepers arms.

Half-time: Ballymena United 0-0 Saints

It would be Saints who would come out the traps quickest in the second half, eager to ignite their burning desire to take the lead in this game. McQuade, a summer signing for Danny Lennon from Cowdenbeath, would be first off the mark when his right-hand drive was blocked by the Ballymena keeper.

Brady was the next Saint to try his luck after forty-eight minutes, his swinging cross into the box was nearly sent behind the line by Ballymena's number nine, Andy Smith. On this occasion though fortune favoured the home team and the ball was scrambled away to safety.

St Mirren would take the lead though after fifty minutes. Brady was involved again when his swirling corner was punched out the danger area and to the right-hand side of the box, fortunately for Saints the ball was met by Wardlaw who played the perfect cross ball into the box, and McQuade made absolutely no mistake in ensuring that his header found the back of the net.

Keen to capitalise on the lead, St Mirren continued to press throughout the second half. Offside was given to Wardlaw as he stretched to meet Bradys long pass. Wardlaw was again involved just a minute later when he played the short ball through to Dargo, however the subsequent volley was no problem for the keeper as it drifted inches over the crossbar.

With fifty-four minutes on the clock, Ballymena had their first real chance of the second half. It was Gary Haveron who tried his luck from a distance, but his long range shot nearly found the back of the next as it appeared Gallacher had spilled the shot, however the Saints keeper was first to react and he ensured the ball remained gripped in his hands.

Wardlaw, who has looked lively in the pre-season games so far, would be next to trouble the Ballymena goal. With sixty minutes on the clock, he could only see his troublesome volley punched to safety, with Brown alert in the Ballymena goal once again.

St Mirren made their first change of the game with Ally Love replacing Brady and Ballymena also opted to freshen things up with the introduction of Michael Smith and George Young. It would be Andy Smith though who would nearly break the deadlock for the home team, he managed to rustle through the Saints half and looked as if he would be one on one with Gallacher, but an excellent last gasp tackle from McGregor would diminish any threat.

Hugh Murray and Steven Thomson were next off the bench for the Buddies, with Lynch and goalscorer McQuade leaving the pitch.

Ally Love, who scored an absolute beauty of a goal against Brechin, nearly made his pre-season even more memorable. The loose ball fell to Love, who skipped the ball past several Ballymena players, with his final drive from the left just whittling past the post, unlucky on this occasion but yet again proving to manager Danny Lennon, that he has a dangerous left foot. Steven Robb and Marc McAusland were given a run out in the last ten minutes with McGregor and McGowan leaving the field.

With literally the last touch of the ball, Dargo took advantage of some lax defending from Ballymena. His shot from just outside the box bounced past the last defender and into the Ballymena goal to double Saints advantage and secure a two-nil win.

Full-time: Ballymena United 0-2 Saints

Ballymena United: Brown, Smith, Colligan, Haveron (Young 69), Watson (Stewart 13), Gage, Berry, Taggart, Smith (Hanley 67), McCutcheon, Murray.

St Mirren: Gallacher, van Zanten, Travner, McGregor (McAusland 80), Potter, Lynch (Murray 73), McQuade (Thomson 73), Dargo, Wardlaw, McGowan (Robb 80), Brady (Love 65).

Star Saint: Throughout the game Paul McQuade played intelligent passes and he was instrumental in the St Mirren attack. He scored the opening goal which was a fine header and a just reward for his contribution in the match.

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