With 20 minutes gone, Chris Kerr had the ball in front of the North Bank when Tokely took him out with a shocker of a challenge. The thug knew exactly what he was doing, and showed no remorse for his actions by claiming for a throw in (how does that one work if you've won the ball? Idiot.) before acting in astonishment when he was sent off. Kerr had to be stretchered off and was out for over a year with ligament damage. Although he returned, he was never the same player and retired a few years later. It was the second injury blow in just a few minutes for Saints, as they'd already lost Barry Lavety. He'd been replaced by Steven McGarry, with Tom Brown coming on for the injured Kerr - a substitution typical of Tom Hendrie in those mad, attacking days!
As is our usual way, we managed to go a goal down with a man advantage. A soft penalty was awarded to the visitors that Paul Sheerin duly dispatched. This finally seemed to force Saints into action and a three goal blitz in six minutes before the break as good as wrapped things up. First, Mark Yardley managing to brilliantly control a flick from McGarry before popping the ball past former Saints keeper Les Fridge. Then Scott Walker put the Buddies in front with a fine header from Ian Ross's corner before McGarry forced home the third.
After that, we were in easy street and could have managed five or six. However, there was a tense ending when Mike Teasdale pulled one back with a few minutes to go, but fortunately we were able to ride things out.
A good win, but it came at a price. Next up was Cappielow - on a Sunday!