Temple Of Saints - Tommy's Terrific Twosome

Scottish Premier League - 01/04/2001

Sexy Saints 2 Hibs 0 League Table Here

Team: Main,McClune,Forsyth,Weir,Kernaghan,Dasovic,Tommy,Pope,Nathan,JR,MoMo
Subs: Cuthbert,Kiegan,Frail,McCulloch,Crozier

It's been a long time coming but finally it came together this afternoon. Sexy football, kids playing instead of the veterans and at last Tommy showed some of the skill we all knew he had with two of the best finishes of the season. Add to that Le Mo taking the piss out of Lotopee and the fact we won despite the dire Dallas in the middle and it's nice to be sitting at the end of the day feeling optimistic once more.

With McCluskey suspended and Kano a flu victim, Kernaghan took over the defensive role and Le Mo went to the right midfield with JR partnering Nathan up front. Good to see McClune getting the nod ahead of Frail as well - and going by the 90 minutes he and Fozzy put in the full back positions are looking solid for next year.

The opening stages were fairly quiet with only a MoMo run and weak shot to show for Saints efforts. The Hibs midfield lacking the classiness that an ex-Saintee would bring was more than happy to settle for fouling the Saints players with Matthias the Thug and new boy Hacker Arpignon making their marks on Le Mo and Nick.

Of course Dallas was playing up for the cameras. Unwilling to take any action early on he managed to piss off the home support even more (not an easy thing to do) on the quarter hour mark. A long ball found JR running through the middle only for Fenwick(?) to haul him to the ground. We got the free kick but the Hibs defender was surely the last man - but not even a yellow card. It was even worse when the quickly taken free kick was netted by JR only for Dallas to whistle for it to be taken again - obviously concerned that we might take the lead too early in the game and take away the opportunity for him to be controversial late on.

Needless to say the retaken kick was cleared and Lotopee broke up the park. Saints won the ball back though and some neat work on the left from Tommy and MoMo ended up with the Snake sending the ball across the goalmouth. Chances were pretty scarce though. Laurssen managed to provide some entertainment with a total sclaff, whilst Tommy and Dasovic (looking a lot sharper than in recent games) both had long-range efforts go over the bar.

The best chance came on the half-hour mark. MoMo was fouled but took a quick free-kick and passed to Nathan. He managed to run into the box and put in a good shot only for Colgan to put in just as good a save. There was bad news for us 10 minutes before half-time. Pope blocked a Laursen free-kick and was flattened. He ended up being stretchered off with a leg injury and St Sandy replaced him with Marco McCulloch.

The closing stages of the half saw Saints press. Nathan saw a good break pulled back after a very dodgy offside decision then another break saw his cross deflected wide. At the other end Zitelli had a decent free-kick well saved by Main whilst Dallas wasn't to be left out of the action and rounded off the half by giving St. Sandy a lecture. Should have punched his puss Sandy.

Second-half started brightly for Saints as well. Le Mo saw a free-kick curl just wide although the keeper had it covered. Then a Weir free kick into the box saw a neat flick from Tommy to Kernaghan only for Cartman's turn and shot to be saved. The best chance came after 10 minutes. Tommy made a good break up the left then cut into the middle. He laid the ball out to JR on the right. He got to the byeline and his cross found Tommy in the box only for the Dane to sclaff the ball over the bar from 4 yards out.

Saints were pressing constantly now with the full backs pushing forward up the wings and Marco and Dasovic looking solid in midfield whilst the strikers/wingers/MoMo were running riot up front. A free-kick on the right wing saw JR get the ball over. Colgan dropped it but we were unable to follow-up. The first penalty claim came just after that. MoMo lost the ball in midfield but ran after the Hibs player (most of us expected a nasty retaliatory challenge). He won the ball back and went on another run to the edge of the box. Played the ball out to Nathan whose cross would have found Le Mo unmarked had the Saints player not been pulled down.

Dallas finally decided to get the cards out just after the hour with Matthias the Thug first in the book for persistent fouling. Saints were still on the attack. Nathan and Le Mo combined well, then Sylla laid the ball out to JR who ran into the box only for his low drive to go across the goalmouth.

Hibs picked up their second yellow on 65 minutes when Arpignon took an early free-kick and smashed the ball against Dasovic's face. Luckily Nick's good looks weren't too spoilt and he carried on. Nathan didn't though and looking tired he was replaced by Kiegan.

Five minutes later and we took the lead. A long headed clearance from Cartman just inside the Saints half fell to Tommy. He ran through to beat a square Hibs defence and with Colgan coming out he sent a beautiful chip over the keepers head and into the net from 20yds out. 1-0 us and things were looking up.

It improved 3 minutes later as well. MoMo started a run from the Saints half. With Kiegan unmarked on the right, he ran to the edge of the box before sending a neat short pass to the left for Tommy to run onto, get into the box, stay on his feet despite some Hibs fouling and send the ball past Colgan to make it 2-0. It's amazing what a wee boost in confidence can do for a guy.

The game settled after that. Nick picked up a booking just so Dallas could make sure the TV cameras got his best side. With 12 minutes to go Main made a good save from a long-range Libbra effort but Hibs looked bereft of ideas. The last 10 minutes saw Lotopee hit the Saints post and with the rebound falling to Murray, Main pulled off a good save. But Saints had some good chances. Le Mo sent a long-range effort wide after Colgan had come out to take a shy and was rushing back to his goal. Then Tommy almost got his hat-trick in injury time but the free-kick on the edge of the box went just over.

So we get the win but more importantly the confidence and sexy football was there in abundance and for the full 90 minutes for a change. Tommy looked a different player and more like the skilful winger we signed. JR looked class as well but MoM for me had to be Le Mo who took the piss out of Lotopee for the 90 minutes and turned on the skill time after time. But to be honest there wasn't a duff player on the park today.

We may have blown it this year but we can still finish on a high and the signs look good for next year.

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