St Andrews United’s defensive failings came back to haunt them at Sauchie’s Beechwood Park on Saturday afternoon, which in turn dented there hopes of surviving the relegation dogfight at the bottom of the Super League.

Chris Seeley’s absence through work commitments resulted in changes at the back, Phil McGuire came in to the middle to support Craig Wedderburn and James Drummond moved to left back. Gary Sutherland returned to the starting line up to partner Barry Sibanda, Kamil Kadela dropped to the bench.

Saints rejigged defence looked far from secure in the early stages and the frailties were highlighted on 9 minutes when a free kick from Stevenson was allowed to drift over untouched until Carroll stabbed it home at the back post with Cargill rooted to the spot. The homeside doubled their lead on 14 minutes when former Dundee United striker Colin Samuel was allowed all the time in the world to knock the ball back to Hendrie who made no mistake firing in to the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Saints finally woke up and managed to pull a goal back 17 minutes. The Sauchie defence seemed equally beneficial as they failed to clear the ball and as Patrick swung at the ball Stevenson sliced the ball beyond Halliwell in to his own net. Sauchie restored their lead on 21 minutes, Mackie lost the ball in the right back spot before the ball was lobbed in to the box, Samuel appeared to pull McGuire down before turning and screwing a shot in to the far corner, much to the annoyance of the Saints defence. United pulled a second goal back on 39 minutes when yet another defensive error, saw a free kick find Patrick at the back post and he stabbed the ball home. Saints had a chance to level the game on 40 when a quickly taken free kick by the home side found Sutherland who raced clear but shot wide of Halliwells post.

Sauchie came out for the second half determined not to repeat the errors of the first halfand sat back soaking up United pressure. McGuire came close on the hour when he shot over from a Mackie free kick. In a rare Sauchie attack Stevenson tried a cheeky flick but Cargill saved well. Sauchie made it four on 78 minutes. A free kick awarded for a foul by McGuire on Samuel, found the head of Syme who directed the ball beyond Cargill. Saints should have scored on 86 when Wedderburn let fly but Halliwell was on top form to save his goal bound effort.

Another defeat for Saints on the road, but as disappointing as the result was, results elsewhere mean that none of the other teams in the battle at the bottom gained any ground on Saints.