A stunning Graham Carey strike saw St Johnstone draw with Dunfermline in their first pre-season friendly.
But far more notable than the result was manager Steven MacLean’s youth-focused approach.
By full-time, seven young hopefuls had featured for the Perth side on an evening that threw up a number of talking points.
Lack of depth
Steven MacLean hasn’t hidden from the fact he needs new recruits.
Saints and Hearts remain the only Premiership sides yet to make a signing this summer.
At East End Park, one look at the Perth side’s playing group was enough to illustrate the problem.
Outwith Callum Booth, who is returning from injury, Saints’ bench was made up entirely of youth team prospects.
That won’t do in the top flight.
There are three-and-a-half weeks left until St Johnstone’s league campaign gets underway, ironically enough against the Jam Tarts.
Gaffer MacLean is hopeful the market will start to shift as the big kick-off approaches.
He is also determined not to sign players purely to boost numbers.
He doesn’t want ballast, he wants talent.
The closer Saints get to August 5, the thinner the line between the two will get.
Youth in spotlight
One consequence of Saints’ shortage of numbers is the opportunity afforded to the club’s young talent.
Three young hopefuls started against Dunfermline, having been challenged by their manager to grasp the opportunity to impress.
Alex Ferguson, who caught the eye on loan in East Fife’s midfield last season, was deployed at right-back and looked comfortingly assured until he was replaced by Taylor Steven just after Graham Carey’s superb strike to level the contest at 1-1.
Ferguson had taken a sore one early on and MacLean’s instinct to protect the youngster was completely understandable.
Liam Parker was another young hopeful handed a start and alongside captain Liam Gordon in the heart of defence, he was a sturdy, impressively unhurried participant.
Saints had started second best and fell behind to a Craig Wighton strike before Carey’s superb equaliser.
In the aftermath, they took a more controlled – and controlling – approach, helped by their youthful stars’ increasing comfort in their roles.
Cammy Ballantyne is a known quantity these days and was a combative presence in the centre of the park, while Steven, whose introduction marked the turning point in the contest, pushed his opposing full-back high up the park, nullifying the Pars’ ability to attack down the left flank.
The youthful Perth side strung together a few neat moves in a second half that threatened to catch alight but never quite made it.
Ben McCrystal replaced Ali Crawford with 25 minutes to go and was a hustling, bustling, enthusiastic presence.
Fran Franczak was given 15 minutes, tasked, like Steven before him, with pressing high, this time on the right flank, and supporting Stevie May up top.
Jackson Mylchreest took May’s place with seven minutes to go as Saints’ age profile dipped arguably as low as it ever has.
They won’t all play regular football at McDiarmid Park this season. In fact, most of them won’t, with development loans the likely outcome.
But on the evidence presented at East End Park, the kids are more than alright.
New No 1
Saints have needed a ‘proper’ No 1 since Zander Clark left the club two summers ago.
Remi Matthews was an able stand-in but, as last season went on, it became increasingly clear his stay would be a temporary one.
Enter Ross Sinclair.
The 22-year-old stopper’s development has been well managed by Saints, who sent him for loan spells with Brechin, Cowdenbeath and Montrose.
Steven MacLean, seeing what was coming for Sinclair, blooded the young keeper in the Premiership in Saints’ final two fixtures of last season.
Now it appears the No 1 jersey is his to lose.
There was little he could have done to prevent Dunfermline’s opener at East End Park.
The Pars were in the ascendency and Saints’ defence had failed to deal with a loose ball in the box, allowing Wighton to lash it home.
He will start Saints’ next pre-season game, at East Fife next Tuesday.
He’s unlikely to be bombarded, but if his positioning, ability to claim crosses and use of the ball is as it was at East End Park, he’ll still be there in the Viaplay Cup.
MacLean will sign another goalkeeper this summer.
But, as the latest homegrown player to emerge onto the first team scene, you get the feeling Saints fans will be delighted if Sinclair keeps proving himself worthy.
