Liam Donnelly goal earns St Mirren welcome win over Falkirk

St Mirren secured a vital victory for their William Hill Premiership survival chances thanks to Liam Donnelly’s first goal for the club.

The midfielder, playing emergency centre-half, headed home in the 63rd minute as Saints won 2-1 for the second time at Falkirk this season.

Barney Stewart’s 17th goal of the season had given the Bairns an early lead but Miguel Freckleton, culpable in the build-up to that opener, equalised two minutes later for the visitors.

The win keeps the Paisley side, under the caretaker control of Craig McLeish, above Kilmarnock on goal difference in the race to avoid the relegation play-off place.

McLeish, in charge for the second game since Stephen Robinson’s move to Aberdeen, made some smart substitutions in the second half to make Saints more of a threat and they paid off as Donnelly earned them only a second victory in 15 league games.

Things began badly for the visitors as they fell behind after 15 minutes.

Freckleton’s slack pass on the edge of the penalty area to Alex Gogic was cut out by an alert Dylan Tait. He swiftly found on-form Stewart, who tucked in a lethal finish with all the confidence of a 17-goal striker.

However, St Mirren mustered a near instant response to level through fall guy Freckleton.

Jake Young’s persistence won Saints a corner, swung in by Scott Tanser, and Freckleton towered on the edge of the six-yard box to power home a header.

Falkirk came agonisingly close to restoring their lead eight minutes before the break.

Ben Broggio darted on to Donnelly’s hesitant play as he tried to keep the ball in play.

The on-loan midfielder bustled down the left wing to deliver a delightful, deep cross to the back post, where Stewart met it with a clean header from 10 yards but the aim was an inch out and bounded off the woodwork and away.

Freckleton’s excellent intervention then denied Calvin Miller eight minutes after the break.

However, Saints were ahead after 63 minutes when Mark O’Hara’s fine free-kick delivery from the far side found Donnelly leaping to head into the top corner.

Dan Nlundulu and substitute Jonah Ayunga went close in quick succession as the home side tried to add to their lead.

Saints goalkeeper Shamal George then made a brilliant save to close down the angle and deny Filip Lissah after 82 minutes, and his defenders excelled in their late stand through four minutes of stoppage time.