Scottish Premiership round-up: Steven Maclean stars in St Johnstone win
Sunday 13 September 2015 12:32, UK
Steven Maclean scored a hat-trick as St Johnstone beat Hamilton 4-1 at McDiarmid Park in the Scottish Premiership.
Saints set up the victory with two quick goals midway through the first-half, the first coming when MacLean cut the ball back for Liam Craig to smash home on 22 minutes.
MacLean doubled the lead with a penalty kick just three minutes after that after Accies defender Darian MacKinnon handled the ball.
The 33-year-old was on target again two minutes before the break when he had time to pick his spot with the Hamilton defence totally stretched.
And MacLean completed his treble from close range after Michael O'Halloran knocked the ball down to him to set up his fellow striker.
Accies grabbed a consolation with a back-post header from Lucas Tagliapietra after good play from Ali Crawford created the opening.
Dundee United crashed to a fourth successive defeat when Kevin McHattie scored a rare goal in the dying minutes at Tannadice with a strike from 30 yards to give Kilmarnock a 2-1 victory.
Killie had taken the lead with a powerful penalty from Kallum Higginbotham (44) after Sean Dillon brought down Rory McKenzie.
United had levelled with a spot-kick from Billy McKay after a volley from Blair Spittal came off the arm of Lee Ashcroft, and the visitors looked more likely to take the points when Killie snatched the points two minutes from the end.
Motherwell rescued a point in stoppage-time when Louis Moult fired home from close range following good work by Marvin Johnson to earn a 1-1 draw with Ross County.
The visitors had taken the lead on 33 minutes when Michael Gardyne steered the ball home at Fir Park after Andrew Davies nodded down a free-kick from Jamie Reckord.
Dundee consolidated their top-six position and sent Partick to the foot of the table thanks to an excellent 76th-minute strike from Greg Stewart.
The Dark Blues striker scored with a curling shot beyond Thistle goalkeeper Tomas Cerny to secure a 1-0 victory at Firhill.
