St Mirren 0 - 0 Motherwell: Love Street finale draws the tears

SOMETIMES the fairytale ending just isn't meant to be. St Mirren failed to cap their last ever league game at Love Street with a win, as they and Motherwell slugged out an uninspiring 90 minutes.

If this was the famous old stadium's final curtain call before the club decant to Greenhill Road, it was not as most would have wished with chances at a premium, the only fireworks on show those let off after the final whistle and the visitors having looked every bit as likely to leave with the points.

Most of those within the crowd of 10,189 were there to bid the fondest of farewells to a dear old friend, drown in their personal memories and ensure their spiritual home of just over 114 rollercoaster years went out with the snap, crackle and pop it so richly deserved. Amidst what at times was a surreal atmosphere, a game of football broke out, and to this end all the players involved warrant enormous praise for keeping their concentration and going about their business professionally. The result helps neither team's cause, especially with Hamilton winning, and both managers will no doubt reflect on chances gone begging.

This was a day for Saints fans to ponder, reminisce, dream and let all those days and hours idled away on the terracing wash over them for one last time. This was a chance to salute heroes of bygone days such as Davie McCrae and Dave Lapsley, to recall the days when Alex Ferguson's fabulous 'Furies' terrified the great and the good of the Scottish game and to shut their eyes and see Barry Lavety and Mark Yardley plundering goals left, right and centre on their way to the 2000 First Division title.

There was a pipe band prior to kick off, and as the eyes of grown men filled up uncontrollably at the final whistle, a procession of legends ranging from the 1950s to the more recent took to the pitch they graced, before all present roused even the stoniest of hearts with a rendition of 'Auld Lang Syne'. As the Buddies departed the North bank the chords of 'Oh When the Saints' drifted eerily, yet fittingly, across the old place. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

With the biggest Paisley attendance of the season eagerly roaring them on, the home team started full of intent and attacking purpose. Jim Hamilton was ruled to have clattered former team-mate Graeme Smith when it seemed the keeper had merely failed to fully grasp the ball. Andy Dorman produced better from Smith with a pivoting shot from six-yards that was repelled by the agile custodian. At the other end, Motherwell showed they had aspirations to burst the party atmosphere with last week's hat-trick hero, Chris Porter, looping a header inches wide of the far post.

There was a good pace about the game and it could have been a real rip-roarer had it not been for some truly inept officiating from man in the middle, Alan Muir, who produced a performance of whistle-happy, nit-picking ineptitude. Mr Muir's decision to caution Hugh Murray after only six minutes for a fairly mundane challenge left him with nowhere to go, yet despite this, he resolutely failed to dish out the same punishment for similar challenges much to the vociferous annoyance of most inside Love Street. Saints manager Gus MacPherson was, on more than one occasion, shepherded away by fourth official Steven McLean.

Having ridden out the initial hurricane from their hosts, Motherwell began to do more of the probing with Mark Howard in the Buddies goal called to make a good reaction save to keep out Stephen Hughes' drive. Andy Dorman, with his precise runs from deep, was a constant worry for the Well defence when Saints did break out, although it was Hugh Murray who came closest with a well-struck 25-yard drive seconds before the interval.

The second period was more of the same story with plenty of endeavour from either team, overly fussy refereeing and Motherwell looking the more likely to break the deadlock. Indeed, Howard twice denied the Fir Park men soon after the turnaround; one block from Keith Lasley was particularly impressive. Saints were huffing and puffing but unless Dorman was breaking from midfield, they looked a little lightweight in the final third.

Mark McGhee's men looked to have nabbed the points and dampened the shindig five minutes from time when Maros Klimpl's shot evaded Howard, only to somehow stay out before running across the goal line. Klimpl and several other Well players claimed a goal, but the referee was, for once correctly, having none of it.

Neither team could find a decisive way to goal and honours were shared. For once though, the result wasn't maybe the most important thing on the minds of the Love Street faithful, who with lumps in their throats stayed behind to a man, with the opportunity to bask a little while longer proved irresistible with little doubt some will need to be surgically removed before they would finally head for home. The doors are closing, the walls are tumbling down and the hallowed turf will be ripped up, but there will always be something that will never go.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Andy Dorman for Saints, and Maros Klimpl for the visitors came close but the energy of Hugh Murray earned him the nod.

QUICK FACT

The first game at Love Street took place on September 8, 1894 when the Buddies lost 3-0 to Celtic. The Glasgow team also produced the ground's highest ever attendance of 47,438 when the two clashed way back on August 20, 1949.

TALKING POINT

The display of referee Alan Muir. With a charge sheet including obvious calls going the wrong way, pettiness, inconsistency and indecision, he was appalling.