SSPP are seen as favourites for the title and turned in a competent performance which met the current expectations.
Merpro played well but SSPP's fluent midfield along with the experienced clinical front pairing of Coogan and Heenan made the dif
ference.
Merpro started well and created a good chance when Christie fired in a cross for Donaldson to hook his shot back across goal but the SSPP keeper made a point blank save knocking the ball onto the bar.
Milne then had an effort at goal saved by the keeper in 8 minutes.
As the game appeared to be settling SSPP took the lead. A long ball forward was flicked on by Coogan for Heenan to run through to slip the ball past Henderson.
Christie had a good effort well saved following a Donaldson cross ball in 27 minutes.
SSPP went further ahead with Merpro claiming an initial foul had taken place after Brown was injured but play carried on and some edge of the box inter passing left Rae free to knock home from 6 yards.
Christie was fouled on the edge of the box and his resultant curling 20 yard short hit the post in 37 minutes.
Merpro then forced a series of corner kicks from alternate sides with dangerous in swinging crosses from Christie and Donaldson on each occasion excellently punched clear on the goal line by the keeper.
Merpro looked to have clawed a goal back from another cleared corner kick when Donaldson blasted in a goal bound shot from 10 yards only for the keeper again to make another excellent range save.
A frustrating first half came to a close as although SSPP claimed most possession Merpro had created some good efforts but were foiled by a good keeper and the woodwork.
Merpro started the second half well when Whitworth set up Christie who shrugged off his marker and rounded the keeper but his 12 yard shot was cleared off the line.
This proved to be a turning point as SSPP made a breakaway and after some slick passing Heenan ran through to make it 3-0 after 49 minutes.
Merpro came back and Christie did well to set up Whitworth but the GK managed to flick his effort off the line.
SSPP went further ahead when good passing opened up the Merpro defence leaving Rae with a tap in from six yards to make it 4-0.
Craig Allan was next to fire in a shot at goal but again the keeper made an excellent diving save to turn the effort round the post in 68 minutes.
Merpro created another good opening after some good quick interlinking passing between Milne and Christie left Whitworth stretching to turn the cut back into the net from 8 yards in 75 minutes.
Archbold was next to come close after winning a tackle on the edge of the box but his subsequent effort was again well saved from close range by the keeper.
There was one last chance for Merpro to open their account but Whitworth's effort from a Smith knockdown came back off the post as a final postscript to a frustrating outcome.
Merpro can take some credit from their performance and only some excellent goal keeping prevented them from scoring but overall SSPP were deserving winners.
Merpro: Henderson, Findlay, Houston, C Allan, Smith, G Allan, Brown (Archbold),Whitworth, Christie (Stephen), Milne,Donaldson (Wilson). Subs: Doyle, Graham.
