ST MIRREN battled to a hard-fought 0-0 draw at Falkirk on Saturday.

Cammy Smith might’ve won it for Saints at the death, but Falkirk goalkeeper Robbie Thomson made a smart stop to deny the midfielder.

But on a day where clear chances were hard to come by, a draw was a fair reflection on the tie.

A point cuts Saints’ lead at the top of the Championship to two points after Dunfermline’s win over Livingston.

Falkirk looked set to take the lead after 12 minutes when Nathan Austin got goal side of Jack Baird as he latched onto a ball over the top, but the Saints centre back got back brilliantly and slid in to tackle the Falkirk front man as he was about to pull the trigger.

After 20 minutes Saints almost found the opener after a brilliantly worked corner. Ian McShane played it low and short to Cammy Smith who turned well and squared it for Gavin Reilly who had found space, but Saints top scorer scuffed his effort from close range and it went wide of the target.

Slowly but surely the home side started to get a foothold in the game. Just after the half-hour mark a long through ball from Aaron Muirhead set Austin clear on goal, this time Baird couldn’t get back and the striker was one-on-one with Craig Samson, but he pulled his shot wide and into the side netting.

Austin went close again after a pinpoint James Craigen delivery, but his diving header went into the ground and bounced over the crossbar.

The Buddies responded as Lewis Morgan tried his luck from 20 yards, he forced Thomson into a smart save to push the ball out for a corner.

The second half started at a frantic pace with both sides threatening. Morgan’s cross found Reilly unmarked in the penalty box, but the ball wouldn’t come down quickly enough and his shot was blocked.

Reilly tried his luck again in the 56th minute, this time from 20 yards and Thomson was able to gather comfortably.

St Mirren manager Jack Ross introduced John Sutton and Jordan Kirkpatrick to try and spark some life into his side who were distinctly below par in the second period.

It appeared to no avail though as Falkirk threatened again. Joe McKee picked delivered a lovely lofted pass for substitute Cieran Dunne who was free on the left side of the box, however his control let him down and the chance passed the home side by.

As the clock ticked down a winner looked increasingly unlikely. Cammy Smith, St Mirren’s best player on the day, might’ve won it for the Paisley side in the dying moments, his fizzing right footed shot from 22 yards flew inches wide if the post.

But Smith would have the game’s best chance in injury time. Adam Eckersley’s clipped pass was missed by the Falkirk defence and Smith was through, but Thomson was out quickly to block his shot in what was almost the last kick of the game.

St Mirren: Samson, L.Smith, Buchanan, Baird, Eckersley, McGinn (MacPherson 79), McShane, Morgan, Magennis (Sutton 51), C.Smith, Reilly (Kirkpatrick 74)

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Stelios, McCart, Stewart