St Mirren goalscorer Graham Carey celebrates with John Potter
By Fraser Gibson
Graham Carey's breathtaking free-kick lit up St Mirren's determined draw with Hearts for a result which did neither side any favours.
The on-loan Celtic midfielder curled home a 35-yard set-piece on the brink of half-time to put Gus MacPherson's side in front.
However, Marius Zaliukas headed home moments into the second half from Suso Santana's cross.
Hearts remain in sixth place while Saints are three points off the bottom.
The first meaningful action came midway through the first period when Carey was fouled by David Obua 30 yards from goal.
On-loan Celtic midfielder Carey stepped up to take the free-kick himself and Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald had to divert his effort for a corner.
From the set-piece, Hugh Murray hit a drive narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
Hearts were starting to come into the game and Obua sent a header from a corner into the turf before the ball trundled wide.
Gary Glen had the next opportunity for the visitors when Ian Black dropped a pass into his path. His first touch won him space in the box but he fired over the bar.
St Mirren's Carey then had a second free-kick effort on target after a sliding challenge on him from Jason Thomson saw the Hearts man booked, but MacDonald again tipped the ball wide for a goal kick.
However, the youngster made his third set-piece decisive after Michael Higdon was fouled by Zaliukas.
Carey stepped up to curl a spectacular effort into MacDonald's top left-hand corner just before half-time.
Hearts came out with purpose in the second period and were level within a minute of the restart.
Andrew Driver sent in a corner from the left, which was cleared only as far as Santana, who beat Carey on the right wing and sent in a cross which Zaliukas headed powerfully past Paul Gallacher.
Obua came close to putting the Edinburgh side in front after 66 minutes when he drove in a shot from the edge of the box which St Mirren's Gallacher had to beat away.
Substitute Craig Thomson also tested the keeper with a powerful drive from 30 yards which was palmed clear for a corner.
In the four minutes of injury time, home substitute Rory Loy went on a blistering counter-attack, passing three defenders and finding Higdon, whose effort was turned round the post by MacDonald.
Gallacher similarly turned a Calum Elliot drive over the bar and both teams had to settle for a point apiece in Paisley.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Scottish Premier
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
St Mirren
1-1
Hearts
FT
(HT 1-0)
Carey 44
Zaliukas 47
St Mirren
01 Gallacher
05 Mair
06 Potter
21 Innes
02 Ross (O'Donnell 86)
03 Carey
07 Murray
08 Dorman
10 Thomson
09 Mehmet (Loy 83)
11 Higdon
Substitutes
20 Howard,
12 O'Donnell,
14 Brady,
26 McLennan,
41 Johnston,
17 Loy
Hearts
30 MacDonald
03 Wallace
13 Obua
20 Thomson yellow card
26 Zaliukas
04 Jonsson
06 Palazuelos
07 Suso Santana
08 Black (Thomson 76)
11 Driver (Templeton 87)
36 Glen (Elliot 89)
Substitutes
28 Ridgers,
39 Mulrooney,
46 Thomson,
14 Nade,
22 Elliot,
24 Templeton,
55 Robinson
Ref: BrinesAtt: 4,204
ST MIRREN
HEARTS
Possession
St Mirren50%
Hearts50%
Attempts on target
St Mirren3
Hearts2
Attempts off target
St Mirren3
Hearts3
Corners
St Mirren8
Hearts9
Fouls
St Mirren12
Hearts15
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:58 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+4:26 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Craig Thomson, Rory Loy manages to make a clearance.
90:00+4:08 Calum Elliot takes a shot. Paul Gallacher makes a save.
90:00+2:50 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Graham Carey, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Chris Innes misses to the left of the goal.
90:00+2:41 Michael Higdon takes a shot. Save made by Jamie MacDonald.
89:52 Outswinging corner taken by Craig Thomson, clearance by Stephen O'Donnell.
88:22 Substitution Calum Elliot joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gary Glen.
88:22 Andy Dorman gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ruben Palazuelos. Free kick taken by Marius Zaliukas.
86:31 Substitution David Templeton on for Andrew Driver.
85:10 Substitution Jack Ross goes off and Stephen O'Donnell comes on.
83:54 Unfair challenge on Lee Wallace by Hugh Murray results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Lee Wallace.
82:49 Substitution Rory Loy on for Billy Mehmet.
80:00 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Andrew Driver from the left by-line, clearance made by Chris Innes.
79:29 Inswinging corner taken by Andrew Driver, Michael Higdon makes a clearance.
79:16 Craig Thomson takes a shot. Paul Gallacher makes a save.
77:06 Corner taken by Graham Carey, clearance made by David Obua.
76:08 Corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey, Jason Thomson makes a clearance.
75:31 Substitution (Hearts) makes a substitution, with Craig Thomson coming on for Ian Black.
73:06 Eggert Jonsson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Billy Mehmet. Graham Carey restarts play with the free kick.
65:29 Inswinging corner taken by Andrew Driver from the right by-line, Hugh Murray manages to make a clearance.
63:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Suso Santana by Andy Dorman. Indirect free kick taken by Andrew Driver.
63:05 Inswinging corner taken by Graham Carey, Gary Glen manages to make a clearance.
62:16 Foul by Ruben Palazuelos on Steven Thomson, free kick awarded. Graham Carey restarts play with the free kick.
61:12 Jack Ross fouled by Lee Wallace, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Graham Carey.
60:35 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Graham Carey by Jason Thomson. Paul Gallacher takes the indirect free kick.
58:40 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey from the left by-line, clearance made by Marius Zaliukas.
55:08 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Andrew Driver from the right by-line, clearance by Michael Higdon.
52:09 Jason Thomson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Graham Carey. Graham Carey takes the indirect free kick.
51:02 David Obua challenges Hugh Murray unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Gallacher takes the free kick.
50:19 The offside flag is raised against Jason Thomson. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
49:15 Marius Zaliukas concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Higdon. Chris Innes takes the free kick.
46:45 Assist by Suso Santana.
46:45 GOAL - Marius Zaliukas:St Mirren 1 - 1 Hearts Marius Zaliukas scores a headed goal from close range. St Mirren 1-1 Hearts.
46:24 Suso Santana sends in a cross,
45:54 Corner from left by-line taken by Andrew Driver.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
Half Time
45:00+2:03 The ref blows to end the first period.
45:00+1:06 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Higdon on Ian Black. Ian Black takes the free kick.
43:43 GOAL - Graham Carey:St Mirren 1 - 0 Hearts Graham Carey scores a goal direct from the free kick from a long way out to the top right corner of the goal. St Mirren 1-0 Hearts.
43:07 Eggert Jonsson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Higdon.
42:46 The offside flag is raised against Suso Santana. Paul Gallacher takes the free kick.
41:09 Michael Higdon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ruben Palazuelos. Andrew Driver takes the indirect free kick.
37:34 Foul by Marius Zaliukas on Billy Mehmet, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Innes.
36:56 Graham Carey takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Jason Thomson.
35:51 Graham Carey produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Jamie MacDonald.
35:51 Booking Booking for Jason Thomson for unsporting behaviour.
35:45 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Graham Carey by Jason Thomson.
35:03 Corner taken left-footed by Graham Carey from the right by-line, clearance by Jason Thomson.
32:51 Ian Black produces a cross, Effort on goal by Gary Glen from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
30:04 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Andrew Driver, Jack Ross manages to make a clearance.
Correction - 29:07 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Billy Mehmet by Jason Thomson. Graham Carey crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Jason Thomson.
29:07 Unfair challenge on Billy Mehmet by Jason Thomson results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Graham Carey.
25:04 Outswinging corner taken by Andrew Driver, Shot by David Obua from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
23:44 Corner taken by Graham Carey from the left by-line, Effort on goal by Hugh Murray from inside the box misses to the right of the target.
Correction - 22:29 David Obua concedes a free kick for a foul on Graham Carey. Shot on goal comes in from Graham Carey from the free kick, save by Paul Gallacher.
22:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Graham Carey by Jamie MacDonald. Indirect free kick taken by Graham Carey.
21:54 Marius Zaliukas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Billy Mehmet. Chris Innes restarts play with the free kick.
21:38 Ruben Palazuelos fouled by Hugh Murray, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Marius Zaliukas.
17:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Billy Mehmet on Marius Zaliukas. Eggert Jonsson takes the indirect free kick.
16:18 Jason Thomson fouled by Hugh Murray, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Eggert Jonsson.
14:33 Hugh Murray challenges Suso Santana unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Wallace takes the indirect free kick.
13:14 The assistant referee signals for offside against Michael Higdon. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
10:07 Unfair challenge on Billy Mehmet by Eggert Jonsson results in a free kick. Graham Carey takes the indirect free kick.
9:04 Unfair challenge on Marius Zaliukas by Michael Higdon results in a free kick. Eggert Jonsson restarts play with the free kick.
7:08 Gary Glen is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Gallacher.
5:20 Free kick awarded for a foul by Andrew Driver on Graham Carey. Paul Gallacher restarts play with the free kick.
3:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Higdon on Eggert Jonsson. Eggert Jonsson takes the indirect free kick.
2:38 The offside flag is raised against Billy Mehmet. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.
0:45 Graham Carey challenges Jason Thomson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Jason Thomson.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
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