Peterhead 1-6 (six) Saints

Last updated : 18 January 2011 By Stuart Gillespie

Let's not get carried away. This was a midweek game against a part-time, second division outfit. However, we struggled against them at home, and many people feared the worst, so this is an improvement.

Regular readers will be aware I've been keen for Paul McQuade, Aaron Mooy and Jamie McCluskey to get their chance. Well, McQuade and Mooy both did - and both took it. They came in for Craig Dargo and Sean Lynch. The rest of the team was the same as the one that lost to Aberdeen, meaning the under par Paul McGowan kept his place in the side.

However, midway through the first half he changed all that, heading home a Jure Travner cross. There was no stopping us after that and 10 minutes later McGowan set up Mooy for his first ever senior goal. Almost immediately it was three, Travner providing McGowan again and just before the break McQuade got his first Saints goal from close range.

No sooner had the second half started than McGowan notched up his hat-trick and soon after McQuade got his second. Shockingly, that was it and we even let Peterhead grab a late consolation goal through Graeme Sharp. Not good enough!

In all seriousness, this result is a real confidence booster and makes you wonder why we couldn't do it at home. To complete a superb night, Ayr United beat Hibs so we'll be heading to Somerset in the next round rather than Easter Road.