St Mirren 1-0 Falkirk

Apr 27 2008 Michael Baillie At Love Street

ST MIRREN goal hero Andy Dorman last night leapt to the defence of Falkirk fall guy Arnau Riera and insisted the Spaniard should not have been sent off. Riera received his marching orders late on after sending Dorman flying as the pair jumped for the ball.

But Dorman reckons rookie referee Scott MacDonald was wrong to produce a straight red and believes his ugly-looking fall appeared worse than it was. The playmaker said: "I didn't think the Falkirk player deserved to be sent off.

"We jumped for the ball and he barged into me in the air. It was just shoulder to shoulder so I was quite surprised when the ref gave him a red card. I felt it should just have been a yellow."

St Mirren made full use of their extra-man as just seven minutes after the dismissal Dorman snatched a stunning winner.

The game looked as though it was set to limp to a goalless draw until David Barron found Jim Hamilton.

He set up Dorman to smash beyond keeper Shayne Supple.

It was Dorman's fifth since joining St Mirren from New England Revolution in January and the man who has become a firm favourite with the Love Street fans admits it was one of the best of his career.

He said: "My only thought was to keep the shot down as it was in the air for a long time.

"It helped that it was on my left foot as that meant I had to concentrate harder but fortunately I hit it really well.

"It's as good a volley as I've ever hit."

Manager Gus MacPherson was full of praise for his match-winner who has impressed with his regular bursts forward from midfield. He said: "It was a fantastic strike by Andy."

Falkirk created a decent chance in just four minutes as Carl Finnigan gathered a flick on from strike partner Michael Higdon and spread play out to Tam Scobbie.

The young full-back whipped in a cross that was met by Higdon but his stinging volley was too straight at Mark Howard to seriously trouble the keeper.

MacPherson opted to play with three in attack with Hamilton, Craig Dargo and Billy Mehmet. And Dargo created a half chance for Ryan McCay in 14 minutes but the defender was leaning back and blazed his effort over.

Mehmet was next to pass up a chance after collecting possession from Dorman.

With options either side he elected to shot from 20 yards and it was a comfortable save for Supple.

The Buds striker was the first to pick up a yellow card from MacDonald for a late challenge on Jack Ross in 27 minutes.

Higdon was proving a handful for the home side and should have done better when he got on the end of Kevin McBride's corner. His header went just wide, though.

Two minutes before the break Hamilton almost opened the scoring in spectacular style when he let fly with a crisp drive from 25 yards that beat Supple only to clip the top of the bar.

Falkirk gaffer John Hughes went for a more attacking line-up in the second half, bringing on Pedro Moutinho for Ross and playing three up front.

And Bairns should have taken the lead in 52 minutes.

Finnigan was clean through on goal after Will Haining allowed Scott Arfield's pass to slip under his foot but with just Howard to beat the Falkirk hitman blasted over.

Dargo also passed up a great chance.

The St Mirren man stole in to get on the end of Hamilton's cross but with the goal gaping he sent his effort wide.

Falkirk were reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes left when Riera (left) and Dorman clashed.

As the pair jumped for the ball the Spaniard clattered into his rival and cleaned him out.

It could have just been a booking but MacDonald opted to reach for his red card. Seven minutes later St Mirren took advantage of their extra man as Barron's cross was flicked on by Hamilton into Dorman's path and he cracked home an unstoppable volley.

Dargo was lucky to just receive a yellow card for a cynical foul on Gerard Aafjes in the closing minutes.

Gaffer MacPherson was delighted with the win that sees Buds leapfrog Kilmarnock into tenth spot.

But MacPherson said: "It was a flat game. There was not a great tempo and few chances.

"We've not set a target, we just want to win our final games. We've now matched last season's points total."

REF WATCH

SCOTT MacDONALD came under fire for sending off Falkirk star Riera and he certainly seemed a bit too quick to reach for his top pocket. Up until then the rookie ref had handled the game pretty well but sadly for him it will be the big decision that his performance will be remembered for. Rating: 5/10.