Darlington 0-1 St Mirren

Aug 3 2008 Craig Stoddart Reports

CLASSY St Mirren ended their pre-season with a battling win but two serious injuries left the SPL side counting the costs. Billy Mehmet's early strike was enough to separate the sides but Saints could be without Andy Dorman and Craig Dargo for their opening clash with Celtic.

Hitman Dargo left the field after eight minutes with Dorman stretchered off after lengthy treatment on the half hour.

The Buddies, who gave another outing to their unnamed Spanish trialist, started at pace, forcing Darlington keeper Simon Brown to save after three minutes.

But two minutes later Brown was picking the ball out of the net when Mehmet latched onto a low pass from Jack Ross at the edge of the area and blasted home.

Dennis Wyness then replaced the injured Dargo as Gus McPherson looked on in concern.

And things got worse for the St Mirren boss when Dorman went down injured following a heavy tackle on the halfway line.

The midfielder lay in some distress while he was attended to by physios from both clubs.

Darlington started the second half with more intent but the closest they came to a leveller was David Poole's long shot.

Quakers' Alan White was then lucky not to be sent off for a headbutt on Gary Mason.

A tangle in the home defence saw White react to a tackle from Mason by butting the midfielder.

But ref Graham Laws asked thatWhite be subbed as tempers flared between the sides.