St Mirrenoff kicked off their league campaign with a home match against the current champions who had already defeated the buddies in the Cup.
But a galvanised Saints side were in no mood to put on a repeat performance and earned a valuable first point.
The home side started the game well, with lively striker Robert Hillcoat giving the Sandbank defence no time on the ball. It was he who nearly opened the scoring, but his overhead kick went narrowly over the crossbar.
Saints pressure paid off in the 23rd minute when David Wilson played a diagonal pass over the Sandbank defence for wing-back Andrew Tucker to race into the box. The tracking Rangers defender clipped the heels of Tucker and the referee pointed to the spot. Wilson calmly stepped up to fire the spot kick high into the net and the Paisley side were rightly ahead.
Stung, the Rangers’ supporters side started to put pressure on home side but keeper John Kerr was comfortably commanding his six yard box.
Like all Saints senior games against the old firm, there was an edge to this clash and before the break, tempers flared when Saints midfielder Chris Dailly was pushed to the ground. The ref flashed four yellows as he attempted to cool the resultant melee.
Saints should have kept it tight second half, but instead conceded within a minute of the restart from a sweeping move down the right.
Kerr then rescued Saints from falling behind following an almost identical move to the Sandbank goal. The strikers first touch was a bit heavy and Kerr raced from his line to block the shot then to pounce on the rebound.
There were then chances for Saints to restore their advantage; first Wilson saw his header come back off the post with the keeper beaten all ends up then defender Barry Johnston came close with an overhead kick after David Walker kept the move alive.
In the final minutes, Saints broke from defence, but blew a great three-on-one charge towards the Sandbank goal and both sides had to settle for a point.
Saints manager Mark Syme said: “It was a good solid performance from our guys against the team that won the treble last season. We showed great character in defence and maybe even on chances created were unlucky not to take all three points.”
Man of the match: Defender Grant Elliott
St Mirrenoff: John Kerr, Grant Elliott, Chris Adam, Graeme Mothersole (Barry Johnston), Andrew Tucker, Craig Sinclair (David Walker), Gordian Mothersole, Chris Dailly, Ryan Robinson, Robert Hillcoat, David Wilson.
Saints next match is a Scottish Cup tie against Scaur AFC, kick-off1pm at the University of the West of Scotland sport’s campus. Any Saturday saints fans wishing for a further fix of the stripes are welcome to lend their support.
