Stranraer 0 St. Johnstone 2

Last updated : 21 January 2006 By Footymad Previewer

Saints finally managed to take all three points from Stranraer. It was a result which they deserved, but it wasn't achieved as easily as it should have been.

For the Perth men completely dominated the first half at Stair Park and, despite good chances created for Owen Coyle, Paul Sheerin and Jason Scotland, they only led by one goal when the teams went in at the interval.

They should have gone ahead in the 13th minute, but Stranraer's Alex Keddie raced back to sweep Coyle's angled shot off the home goal-line.

Three minutes later, Saints were ahead courtesy of Scotland. The architect was Coyle, who set the chance up with a clever back-flip leaving Scotland with a simple task of firing home.

The visitors remained on top but they created little to concern Barry-John Corrr in the home goal.

After the break it was a different story, and Stranraer threatened at last.

Stephen Payne came closest for the home side when his swerving free-kick blazed just over Kevin Cuthbert's cross-bar.

And Bryan Gilfillan saw his drive cleared off the visitors goal line by Sheerin following a Stephen Payne corner.

But Stranraer failed to convert their pressure into an equaliser and, 10 minutes from time, Saints killed the game with a second goal. Man-of- the-match Darren Sheridan carved out the chance with a perfectly-weighted pass and Simon Mensing steered it past Corr at the post.