St Johnstone..........4,-Montrose................2
SAINTS' manager Paul Sturrock signed a Swedish striker, Peter Fyhr, to put pressure on his shot-shy attack for the Challenge Cup semi-final at Perth last night. The ploy appeared to work, with Roddy Grant hitting a hat trick and Irish internationalist George O'Boyle getting in on the act with the fourth Perth goal.
But it took the home men until well into the second half before they finally overcame the tough-tackling leaders of the third division.
Montrose also turned in some neat football and a late penalty by Colin McGlashan kept the score respectable.
It was the visitors who showed promise early on when a Craig Cooper free kick found Mark Haro in the clear. The big defender powered a header that appeared to be netbound but a brilliant one-handed stop by Alan Main thwarted the visitors.
Indeed, it took Saints 19 minutes to mount a reasonable attack, when John O'Neil's drive was parried by keeper Dave Larter. O'Neil followed up with a header but it was too direct.
Some of the tackling was too tough and Saints' O'Neil was booked for a foul on Scott Taylor,and a double booking followed in 27 minutes when Philip Scott and Paul Masson had a midfield flare-up.
The breakthrough came for Saints just after the half-hour. A touch of class from home winger Leigh Jenkinson in 31 minutes left ex-Saint Craig Mailer sprawling. The resultant cross was perfectly placed in the path of Grant to score the opener.
There was no sign of dejection from the third division outfit and Dave Smith's men earned a lifeline just before the break. Scott Taylor left the home defence standing in 41 minutes and his cross from the byeline was swept into the net by McGlashan.
St Johnstone showed a little more determination after the break and were rewarded in 56 minutes, when O'Boyle hit a post and Grant was lying handy to bundle the rebound home.
McGlashan had a chance to equalise in 69 minutes but his lobbed effort was held comfortably by Main.
Montrose's chance of cup glory faded in 70 minutes when Haro handled in the box. O'Boyle, who usually takes the spot-kicks, sportingly handed the ball to Grant, who thus completed his hat trick.
The result was put beyond doubt in 75 minutes, when O'Boyle got in on the act with a headed goal. But with four minutes to go, spirited Montrose got one back when Jim Weir handled in the box. McGlashan got his second goal with the kick.
Saints now go forward to play Campbell Money's Stranraer in the final on November 3.
ST JOHNSTONE - Main, McQuillan, Preston, Sekerlioglu, Weir, Griffin, Scott, O'Neil, Grant, O'Boyle, Jenkinson. Substitutes - Whiteford, Tosh, Fyhr.
MONTROSE - Larter, Mailer, Tindal, Macdonald, Craib, Haro, Cooper, Bird, McGlashan, Taylor, Masson. Substitutes - Stephen, Tosh, Ingram.
Referee - R Tait (East Kilbride).
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