Hibs ended their season on a high and compounded the misery for relegated St
Johnstone in a pedestrian affair at McDiarmid Park.
The visitors were under the cosh for long stages of the game, but St Johnstone
couldn't hit the net and contrived to waste some excellent chances.
The visitors scored courtesy of some woeful Saints defending and it was one of
the simplest goals Derek Townsley will ever score.
He was unmarked at the edge of the box as Garry O'Connor's pass came to him
and he had the easiest of tasks in sidefooting the ball into the net.
This sent Hibs on course for a well deserved win and gave the visiting fans
some hope for next season.
St Johnstone started the brighter of the two sides and went close to scoring
in the second minute.
Former Rangers striker Peter MacDonald ghosted into the box and headed Paul
Hartley's cross goalwards - however he was adjudged offside.
Hibs reacted positively to this and went close themselves only a minute
later.
Townsley was fouled 30 yards from goal by Paddy Connolly and elected to shoot
from the resulting free-kick. His shot was aimed for the top corner but young
Saints goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert was able to scramble across his goal and claim
the ball.
Tony Caig was the Hibs hero after only 10 minutes when he dived low at the
feet of Paddy Connolly when the Saints striker looked odds on to open the
scoring.
He was released by a through ball from Peter MacDonald but delayed his shot
too long, allowing Caig to recover and save.
Hibs opened the scoring with only two minutes of the half remaining and it was
the prolific O'Connor who turned provider for strike partner Townsley.
The Scotland squad man collected the ball on the left and played a perfectly
weighted square pass to the onrushing Townsley, who had the easiest of tasks in
sidefooting past Cuthbert.
Neither manager made any changes at half time but both managers used the
second half as an excuse to blood several youngsters ahead of next season.
There was little in the way of goalmouth action in the second period with the
Saints coming closest to scoring in the 50th minute.
Paul Hartley showed great intelligence in releasing Connolly with a quick free
kick, but he was unable to show the pace required to get clear of Hibs defender
Gary Smith.
Keigan Parker, once regarded as the hottest property in the SPL, was
introduced to the game and should have equalised for the home side.
He found himself unmarked in the Hibs box but was unable to beat Caig from six
yards in two attempts as the keeper saved impressively both times.
O'Connor should have sealed the win in the 90th minute when he rounded Saints
goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert - but after doing the hard work his shot flew high and
wide.
Teams:
St Johnstone: Cuthbert, Dods, McCluskey, McCulloch, McClune,
Murray (Ferry 70), Panther, Hartley,
Lovenkrands (Fotheringham 79), Macdonald (Parker 57), Connolly.
Subs Not Used: Devlin, Maher.
Booked: Hartley.
Hibernian: Caig, Alan Dempsie, Fenwick, Smith, Orman, Townsley,
Wiss (Nicol 61), Jack, Daquin (Whittaker 79),
Brewster (Reid 61), O'Connor.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Doumbe.
Goals: Townsley 43.
Att: 3,372
Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).
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