St. Mirren moves three points clear on top of the Ladbrokes Championship, as Gavin Reilly increased his goal tally to ten with a first half goal. Substitutes John Sutton made the 0-2 victory perfect. The Buddies lead the Ladbrokes Championship with 21 points, three points ahead of Livingston with 18, Dunfermline and Dundee United with 17 each.
Reilly gave the Saints the lead in the 36th minute, after he turned Adam Eckersley’s into a goal. Up to this point both keepers, Dumbarton’s Scott Gallacher and Saints Craig Simson were tested and needed to be alert
Saints had an early chance in the second minute, when Ross Stewarts shot was headed off the line by Andy Dowie. In the fourth there was another huge chance when McGinn’s shot was block by Gallacher’s legs. Craig Samson was tested in the 11th minute, when he deflected Froxylias’ shot wide. In the 14th Smith’s attempt from the edge of the box was tipped wide by Gallacher. Reilly almost had the opener in the 33rd minute, but once again the shot was deflected wide. Three minutes later Reilly succeeded on a cross from Adam Eckersley giving the Buddies a 0-1 half time lead.
At the start of the second half, Dumbarton had several chances but were unable to complete the deal. The first change for the Buddies came in the 55th when John Sutton replaced Ross Stewart. Despite the chances by the Dumbarton side, it was the substitute John Sutton, who rose on a corner in the70th minute to head the ball into the target for a two goal lead. This was the final score of the match, which was the first win away to Dumbarton since 1996.
Line Ups: St. Mirren – Samson, L Smith, Baird, Buchanan, Eckersley, McShane, McGinn, Morgan, C. Smith, Reilly. Subs: Stewart, Stelios Magennis, MacPherson, Kirkpatrick, Duffy, Sutton.
Dumbarton – Gallacher, Dowie, Wilson, Stewart, McLaughlin, Walsh, Wardrop, Hutton, Froxylias, Nade, Barr, Subs: Smith, C, Gallagher, Johnston, Morrison, Roy, Prior, Ewings,