SHIRE 3 ST. MIRREN 6

It was a case of heroic failure for Shire as they exited the Co-operative Insurance Cup at the hands of SPL side St. Mirren.

They were facing as real hammering after conceding three goals to Buddies striker Billy Mehmet inside the game’s first seventeen minutes.

But rather than let the roof cave in completely Jim McInaly’s men rolled the sleeves up, unbelievably, pulled the score back to 3-3 with goals from Stephen McGuire and a double from Andy Rodgers.

Eventually, the full-time club made the difference in ability tell with three more goals but Shire fans will feel their team gave every bit as good as they got for much of a thrilling encounter.

Shire were forced to leave out Michael Bolochowecyj and Derek Ure and gave a debut in goal to young keeper Gavin Sorley. Coach Jim McInally adopted a naturally cautious approach to a match with dangerous SPL opponents and flooded the midfield with five players, leaving Andy Rodgers to work on his own up front.

St. Mirren fielded a team very close to what you might expect in the top division. They included Scotland keeper Paul Gallagher and gave a competitive debut to former Falkirk striker Michael Higdon.

There was little doubt Shire were hoping to avoid a repeat of the 7-0 defeat the suffered against the Buddies in the same competition five years ago at Love Street. But there was also a warning in the previous day’s scores where most of the Third Division teams went down to heavy defeats against loftier opposition.

Before kick-off there was a minute’s applause for Shire’s popular kitman and groundsman Jimmy Wilson who died suddenly in May.

There was little surprise when, straight from the kick-off, the visitors went onto the offensive. Debutant Sorley was well protected, though, by good blocks by David King and Craig Tully from penalty box efforts from Higdon.

And Shire weren’t afraid to use the ball when they had it. Stephen McGuire found room on the right for a cross which just eluded Rodgers at the far post.

But the early goal that Shire feared was not far away. Saints’ Andy Dorman found too much room down the right flank and his low cross into the box wasn’t cut out, leaving Billy Mehmet unmarked at the back post to tap-in.

The defence was trying too hard to protect Sorley in the early stages and that was creating big problems. After nine minutes the keeper should have been allowed to pick a loose pas but Tully intervened, trying to clear for him, but his upfield ball was mis-hit straight to Mehmet who lobbed the stranded keeper from 20 yards.

Things got much worse when Shire conceded a needless corner after 17 minutes. Dorman’s left-wing flag kick was perfectly judged for Mehmet to head home from close range.

At that stage a real rout looked on the cards but Shire managed to steady the ship. The midfield got hold of the ball long enough to stem the tide and, after a few minutes, even push St. Mirren back.

After 23 minutes Dean Richardson broke free down the left fed a through ball to McGuire who beat the keeper with an angled drive at the far post.

And things got better. Four minutes further on McGuire broke free from midfield and although he missed his chance for a shot on goal he still managed to feed Rodgers who cracked in a shot from the 18 yard line that flew past Gallagher into the net.

It should have been 3-3 after 32 minutes when McGuire raced clear of the visiting defence and again sent Rodgers clear but this time his fizzing shot just wide of target.

But it was only three minutes later that Shire did bring the scores level. Jamie Stevenson cracked a 30 yard free-kick onto the crossbar and when the ball bounced back into play Rodgers was on hand to bundle the ball over the line from inside the six yard box.

St. Mirren found their composure again and started to dominate once more. Sorley produced a brilliant save from a Steven Robb header and was then quickly off his line to block an effort from Gary Brady.

Shire were hoping to go in level at half-time but it wasn’t to be. A long clearance from defence was flicked on at the edge of the box by Higdon and Mehmet ghosted in unmarked to place the ball past the unprotected keeper.

Shire seemed in no mood to accept defeat, though and they should have brought the scores level on 51 minutes. This time Paul Weaver’s clever reverse pass sent McGuire clear inside the box and although his shot was powerful it was kept out only by a full-length save from Gallagher.

After 58 minutes David King gave away a free-kick right on the edge of the Shire box and Mo Camara hit a thunderous, curling drive which just shaved the top of the crossbar.

Shire were actually forcing the play at this stage and there were a couple of goalmouth scrambles as they sought out an equaliser.

Their forward-thinking attitude left them exposed at the back and, after 67 minutes the visitors broke quickly and in numbers. Steven Thomson’s initial shot was hacked clear by Sorley but the ball bobbled right to the feet of Mehmet who had no more than a tap-in to make the score 5-3.

The game threatened to run away from Shire and another breakaway from deep saw the home offside trap broken by no more than three players and it was substitute Stephen O’Donnell who was quickest to the ball to slide it into the net.

SHIRE : Sorley, Hay, Forrest, Tully(Dunn 74), King, Weaver, Donaldson(Johnston 82), Stevenson, McGuire, Richardson(McKenzie 80), Rodgers.

ST. MIRREN : Gallagher, Ross, Camara, Brady, Mair, Potter, Dorman(Brighton 82), Thomson, Mehmet, Higdon(Dargo 74), Robb(O'Donnell 60),

REFEREE : Steven O'Reilly

ATTENDANCE : 1,024.

Photos : David G. Donnelly