McGrath on target again for St Mirren

Athboy's Jamie McGrath was once again on the scoresheet for St Mirren as they held Motherwell to a 1-1 draw in their Scottish Premiership clash at Paisley yesterday

Newly appointed Motherwell manager Graham Alexander was denied a winning start to his reign as midfielder Jamie McGrath’s penalty sealed the draw.

McGrath, who joined St Mirren from Dundalk, has now scored seven goals this season. The Athboy man was named man-of-the-match after the game which also featured two other players with Meath connections, Dylan Connolly who is from Johnstown and Jake Doyle-Hayes whose mother is from Drumree.

The 1-1 draw took Motherwell a point clear of Ross County at the foot of the table and above Hamilton on goal difference who are second from bottom of the Scottish Premiership, while St Mirren, who are managed by former Republic of Ireland international Jim Goodwin, drop to eighth.

McGrath converted a penalty - a decision with which Alexander disagreed - after Devante Cole's opener.

Motherwell, now without a win in 11 games, move up a place to 10th, while St Mirren drop to eighth.

The Paisley side tried to pepper the Motherwell goal with shots in the early stages, but Marcus Fraser, McGrath, Lee Erwin and Kyle McAllister were all off target.

Alexander's new charges slowly took control and should have taken the lead when Tony Watt met Liam Polworth's lovely cross, goalkeeper Jak Alnwick blocking at point-blank range.

Cole flashed a shot wide but was successful with his next effort when St Mirren failed to clear their lines at a corner. Defender Conor McCarthy headed high into the air and Watt nodded down for Cole to finish.

Home manager Jim Goodwin sent on new loan signing Eamonn Brophy in place of McAllister in the second half and Ethan Erhahon placed a shot narrowly wide from McGrath's cutback.

Erwin was deemed to have been felled by Bevis Mugabi with his back to goal and McGrath's finish from 12 yards was composed.

Ilkay Durmus tested debutant Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly at a free-kick and Mark O'Hara did likewise with Alnwick at the other end.

Alexander was called in to replace Stephen Robinson and Devante Cole fired Well in front midway through the opening half to raise hopes of a new manager bounce.

But the Steelmen’s hopes of a first win since Halloween turned into another sob story as McGrath tucked home from the spot with 12 minutes remaining.

The point is enough, however, to see Alexander’s new side climb above Hamilton and out of the bottom two while Saints fall to eighth, a point behind Kilmarnock.