Kenyan striker Jonah Ayunga inches closer to full fitness in goalless duel

STARS ABROAD Kenyan striker Jonah Ayunga inches closer to full fitness in goalless duel

Mark Kinyanjui 16:58 - 07.12.2023

The 26-year-old has continued to step up his recovery from ACL injury with 66 minutes under his belt but could not help St.Mirren avoid defeat to St.Johnstone in Scotland.

Kenyan defender Jonah Ayunga continued to step up his recovery from a long ACL injury with 66 minutes under his belt as St. Mirren were held to a 0-0 draw by St.Johnstone in a Scottish Premier League match played on Wednesday night.

Ayunga had one shot on target, missing one big chance, while he also recorded a 71 percent pass accuracy playing as a lone center forward.

Saints should have taken the lead on 24 minutes when St Johnstone's Daniel Phillips gave the ball away on the edge of his box. The ball was worked through to Ayunga who was challenged just before he could slot into the net. It did fall to Jamieson whose effort was knocked over the bar by Dimitar Mitov in the St Johnstone goal. 

The home side then had their best chance of the match on the half-hour mark when Matt Smith met a dangerous ball swung in by Graham Carey.

 The St Johnstone midfielder got his foot on it but sent his side-foot volley straight into the arms of Zach Hemming.

 Carey had a go from distance a few minutes later but didn't get enough on it to trouble the Saints goalkeeper with Hemming collecting with ease. 

Saints were forced into a first-half change of their own when Ryan Flynn pulled up with an injury and was replaced by McMenamin. 

Stephen Robinson was forced into another change at the break when Tanser had to come off. He was replaced by James Bolton.

The Buddies should have taken an early second-half lead when Mark O'Hara found Greg Kiltie unmarked in the St Johnstone box. 

The forward headed into the ground which allowed Mitov to gather comfortably. The hosts then went up the park moments later with Hemming doing well to touch Carey's cross-cum-shot away from the danger area. 

Jamieson did well to pick out a super cross-field ball from McMenamin on the hour mark. The St Mirren Youth Academy graduate brought the ball under control before getting his strike away, but it was straight at Mitov. 

It appeared that it would be a share of the spoils for both sides until the hosts were awarded a penalty in the final seconds of the game. Kane saw his spot-kick saved by Hemming, but he followed up to win it for the home side.