St. Johnstone 0 Hamilton Academical 2

Last updated : 05 March 2005 By Footymad Previewer

St Johnstone were dragged closer to the first divison relegation battle after losing to fellow battlers Hamilton.

In the last two minutes of the first half, St Johnstone lost both a goal and a player.

Hamilton looked likely to break the deadlock just before half-time from the penalty spot. After a superb ball from Lee Harvey sent Mark Corcoran down the left, the young winger's job was made easier by the St Johnstone keeper, Craig Samson, who rushed recklessly from his goal.

Corcoran mishit his shot and was lucky that his team-mate Pat Keogh was following up. All Keogh had to do was slip the ball into an unguarded net, but he was bundled over by Saints' defender Sean Webb. Webb was sent off for preventing the goal-scoring chance, but from the penalty Samson redeemed himself by saving Derek Ferguson's shot.

The travelling support didn't have to wait long for their first goal, however, as from a corner Corcoran smashed home from close range in the 45th minute after pouncing on a rebound from a Keogh shot.

The visitors made sure of all three points after 73 minutes from a move started and finished by substitute Colin Cramb. He began by passing the ball to the left-wing danger man Corcoran. The former Tayport player then laid the ball to Brian Carrigan, whose pinpoint cross was met by the head of Cramb to to put the result beyond doubt.