ST PAT’S warmed up for their Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final tonight (Tuesday) by clinching three points at Postal United last Monday.

ST PAT’S warmed up for their Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final tonight (Tuesday) by clinching three points at Postal United last Monday.

It was an all action league encounter with the visitors just having the edge in the end.

Both side were keen for the points but the visitors were first to make things happen with MacGuire bringing the best out of the United’s keeper Hollis in the opening minutes.

Not content they quickly followed with a good effort from Currie at the back post following a free-kick.

Not to be undone the home side responded, but with the goal at his mercy their striker James Simpson missed the target while the busy James Smith got into a great position but his progress was stopped with good block by Love.

This signalled a turn in the St Pats fortunes and as they probed and teased they found some joy. With adhesive control and clever run between two defenders, Kevin McElroy finished the move with a low drive from the edge of the 18-yard box past the advancing keeper and in at the back post.

The visitors were in control now but failed to extend their advantage before the break and suffered the consequences when Postal equalised in the 52nd minute.

Collecting a long ball, the troublesome Smith made a direct run into the area before smashing the ball home. The pace of the game picked up with the industrious MacGuire left disappointed after heading the ball just over the crossbar.

The outcome of the game was evenly poised but the visitors were made of sterner stuff. Into the last 10 minutes Currie played his part, keeping possession in the crowded area before picking out Hoy who turned and weaved into position before chipping the ball into the top corner of the net.

It was an exquisite strike but Saints were not happy with their lot and continued to attack. Graham would bring Hollis into the action just before the mercurial Ryan Deeley saw a neat header spin off the United’s crossbar but by then the valuable three points were safe.

This gave the players, especially the ones carrying knocks a week to recover before the Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final at New Douglas Park tonight (Tuesday), kick-off 7.30pm against the Cup favourites Harestanes AFC.

St Pat’s: Love, King, McIntyre, B Deeley, Hoy, MacGuire, Galloway, Currie, K McElroy, Graham, Gardiner, R Deeley, Cleary, Allan, D McElroy, Smith.