There were no thoughts of end of the season stuff at Perth with St Johnstone
seeking a place in Europe and Motherwell still involved in a relegation battle.
In a game that see-sawed throughout Saints should have had the result sewn up
by the interval. The home attack missed at least five gilt-edged chances which
might have cost them dear.
But they did have a hero in winger Leigh Jenkinson with two goals including a
first half equaliser and a last gasp winner.
In the event all the effort seemed to prove unnecessary with the full-time
results indicating that Hibs were to take the big drop into the First Division
and Kilmarnock look likely to pip the Perth team for that vacant European spot.
Motherwell got a dream start which should have settled early nerves after only
three minutes.
An Owen Coyle cross was placed in the path of skipper Brian Martin who shot
home from eight yards.
With John McQuillan and Gerry McMahon combining well on the right, the Perth
side swept forward in almost constant attack.
A McMahon cross put the Motherwell defence into chaos with Coyle clearing off
the goal-line from one of his own players.
Pressure by the Perth team paid off in 15 minutes with Jenkinson's equaliser.
The scorer then had the miss of the season nine minutes later when McQuillan
powered a low cross which eluded the visiting defence but Jenkinson scooped the
ball over the bar from a yard out.
There was another goal-line clearance by Motherwell in 27 minutes by Ian Ross
and then Northern Ireland international George O'Boyle was the next Saint to sin
when he headed tamely into keeper Stephen Woods' arms from only two yards.
Fellow striker Roddy Grant was similarly affected when he screwed wide from
six yards with only Woods to beat.
Just on the break McMahon beat the Motherwell defence but O'Boyle again failed
to connect at the far post.
It was Motherwell who took up the attack after the break with Ross unfortunate
in 57 minutes. His shot from a Coyle pass was parried by keeper Alan Main and
the Motherwell man failed to reach the rebound.
The visitors went into the lead on 58 minutes when midfielder Billy Davies was
brought down in the box by Alan Kernaghan. Tommy Coyle put away the spot kick
with customary ease.
Saints fading European hopes were restored in 70 minutes when O'Boyle headed
goalwards and substitute Stuart McCluskey touched home practically on the
goal-line.
The best goal of the game came in 88 minutes when Saints keeper Main cleared
downfield. The ball was killed dead by Jenkinson who picked his spot from all of
16-yards to net a low grounder.
Teams:
St Johnstone: Main, McQuillan, Preston, O'Neil,
Weir (McCluskey 64), Kernaghan, McMahon (McAnespie 82),
O'Halloran, Grant, O'Boyle, Jenkinson.
Subs Not Used: Andersson.
Booked: Kernaghan, Jenkinson.
Goals: Jenkinson 15, McCluskey 70, Jenkinson 88.
Motherwell: Woods, May, McMillan, Ross, Martin, Denham, Valakari,
Arnott (Falconer 55), Coyne (Shivute 69), Davies,
Coyle (Lindqvist 82).
Booked: May.
Goals: Martin 4, Coyle 58 pen.
Att: 6,754
Ref: M Clark (Edinburgh).
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