"Brechin are a very difficult team to play against and I am delighted with the result. We showed patience in the first half and in the second had some great play and goals."
Saints were a great deal more convincing but still conceded a late goal. They were fortunate that Brechin's Steven Hampshire failed to open the scoring in the first half when he missed from inside the 6 yard box, despite being under no pressure from the home defence.
Stark was "disappointed not to get a clean sheet. Having put the onus on defending today as that was what has cost us in the last two games and the lads at the back rose to the challenge."
Saints were major benefactors of Mixu's dominance in the box. He scored twice with his head, and had his third headed goal cancelled for offside.
Simon Donnelly was quick to acknowledge Magimix's finishing today,
"if we can get the right sort of balls into the box, as we did today, we know he'll finish them off."
Although, Donnelly was concerned about the player-coaches gymnastic celebration;
"I'm not sure about that celebration, the ground was shuddering when he landed!"
Elsewhere in the league, Falkirk go top after scraping through against Raith Rovers due to a 68th minute John O'Neil penalty. From the highlights on yesterdays Scotsport, the Falkirk team owe their young keeper Darren Hill a pint or two for keeping them in the game. The game ended with only nine Raith players on the pitch after blood pressures were increased after Davide Xause had been fouled on the wing by Calderon.
Falkirk, are a different side to last year, having lost the spearhead to their attack in messrs Miller, Kerr, Coyle, and Samuel (and Tosh). So far they have only recorded 4 goals, with Saints scoring 9! Stats do not lie. A turnaround from last year.
How they will fair this season depends on the commitment and the fitness of their experienced midfield. O'Neil and Latapy are getting on, and Latapy is never too far away from controversy having caused problems at his two previous clubs. O'Neil commented on his "surprise at how quick the pace is in this league. I hope it is not like that every week."
The most interesting factor so far, is how close all the teams are already with the top seven teams sitting with between 5 and 8 points. Also, despite QOS being shredded on the opening day 4-1, they are the form team in the last three league games (WDW). This is despite them having only played one home game.
Another team to be aware of is Ross County. The highlanders have strengthened by absorbing many ex Arabs (Winters jnr, Hamilton Hannah, McCunnie) and are also scoring well.
Saints are back on the road to Paisley on Tuesday evening to contest the second round of the CIS Cup. Hopefully, Stark will play the same team and formation from Saturday. (I will have the report on the net, late on Tuesday or first thing Wednesday.)