Naive defending singled out as St Mirren B lose KDM Evolution Trophy opener at Dumbarton
Peter Hartley admitted 'naive' defending cost St Mirren's young guns in their KDM Evolution Trophy opener on Tuesday night.
But the former Motherwell centre-back, who is the club's head of first-team transition and loan pathways, insists the players will benefit from the experience.
The Buddies 'B' team lost 4-2 to League Two Dumbarton at the Marbill Coaches Stadium. It was their first outing in the new-look competition which has been modelled on UEFA's European club competitions.
Participating Premiership 'B' sides are allowed to field three outfield players and a goalkeeper over the age of 21.
Shot-stopper Ryan Mullen, Jamaican winger Jalmaro Calvin and midfielder Fraser Taylor featured in the starting XI with hot prospect Evan Mooney also getting the nod.
Both Mooney and Taylor got on the scoresheet but Stevie Farrell's Sons emerged with all three points.
Harley insists the match was a good opportunity for the younger players to learn and grow as they attempt to show they have what it takes to make it to the first team.
'I think defensively we were a little naive,' he told club media afterwards. 'But that is what this competition is for; the young team come in and play men's football against a team like Dumbarton.
'To be fair, they were clinical and maybe you would get away with those chances at an Under-19s game. But they have to learn, and got to learn fast, if they are going to be integrated and develop into our first team.'
Saints were 2-0 down with just over half-an-hour played after Scott Tomlinson and Chris Johnston netted past Mullen. Despite Mooney pulling one back shortly after the interval, Tony Wallace restored the Sons' advantage in the 61st minute.
Taylor, who was League One player of the year last season at champions Arbroath, scored a stunning 30-yard free-kick to keep the Buddies in it.
And there was almost an equaliser with eight minutes to go when Calvin showed his pace to get on the end of a pass but his effort was blocked by keeper Ollie Ecrepont.
Dumbarton's Dominic Docherty then made Saints pay when he finished the match off by scoring in the closing stages.
Hartley was encouraged by aspects of the performance and the resilience shown despite trailing for much of the evening.
'In the second half there were good patterns of play,' he added. 'We done well in the final third but it was that finish, the last touch, that let us down.
'But the boys were very brave, and I can't fault them for that, as they still tried to get on the ball and play. It was just defensive errors [that led to the goals].'
On Calvin going the distance ahead of Saturday's Premier Sports Cup visit of Hearts, Hartley added: 'He obviously came over from Jamaica and is playing catch-up as he came in a bit later.
'For him to play 90 minutes, that will be a big plus for the manager [Stephen Robinson] as he will get to see him and Calvin showed he was fit enough to play the 90.'
Next up for the young Saints is a trip to the Indodrill Stadium to face Alloa Athletic on Tuesday, August 26.
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