Source: Team_Talk
Point apiece for Buddies and Jambos
Graham Carey and Marius Zaliukas scored either side of half-time as St Mirren and Hearts shared the spoils in an 1-1 draw in Paisley.[LNB] Carey, whose set-piece deliveries were a threat throughout, sent an impressive free-kick sailing from outside the box high into the net to put the hosts in front two minutes from the interval.[LNB]However, Hearts responded immediately on the restart, Zaliukas bulleting home a header after Suso Santana had done well to work himself into position for a cross from the left.[LNB]Both sides had chances to snatch a late winner, with each goalkeeper making a crucial save in injury time.[LNB]Carey hit a 25-yard free-kick after being clattered as the first half reached its midway point but Jamie MacDonald beat it away for a corner and from the set piece, Hugh Murray hit a drive narrowly wide of the left-hand post.[LNB]David Obua then met Andrew Driver's 25th-minute corner from the left with a powerful downward header, but the ball rolled to safety past the upright.[LNB]The same Hearts player came close again just before the half-hour - Gary Glen went on a good run from the halfway line and passed out to Driver on the left, and his deep cross to the towering striker was met by a header which was touched over the crossbar.[LNB]Carey was brought down by Jason Thomson just outside the box 10 minutes from the break and, taking the free-kick himself, sent in a superb shot which MacDonald had to soar up to his right to turn away.[LNB]His set-piece skills were rewarded two minutes from the break, as Carey put his side in front by sending a well-executed shot high into the net after Michael Higdon was brought down by Zaliukas.[LNB]Hearts were back on level terms just one minute into the second half after breaking upfield and winning a corner, fired in from the left by Driver.[LNB]It was cleared only as far as Santana on the opposite wing, and he turned neatly to create space to send in a cross which was bulleted home from close range by Zaliukas.[LNB]St Mirren mounted some pacy attacks as the game flowed from end to end and as the hour mark approached. Higdon impressively worked his way inside from a run up the right wing and found Billy Mehmet, but Andy Dorman's eventual shot was deflected over in a busy penalty box.[LNB]Gallacher had to parry a raking shot from Obua, arriving at pace from outside the area.[LNB]Chris Innes headed over from a Carey free-kick and Carey was then dispossessed in his own box by Santana but home captain John Potter hurled himself in the way of the Hearts midfielder's cross.[LNB]Hearts had to engage in some last-ditch clearing headers as both teams sought a late winner, while Craig Thomson tried his luck with a long-range drive 10 minutes from time which Gallacher had to palm out for a corner.[LNB]In the four minutes of injury time, home substitute Rory Loy went on a blistering counter-attack, passing three defenders and finding Higdon, whose on-target effort was turned round the post by MacDonald; and then Gallacher similarly turned a Calum Elliot drive over the bar.
