Scottish Cup 3rd Round Replay - 13/02/01
Scottish Cup 3rd Round Replay - 13/02/01Pars 3 Saints 2
Team: Main,Dods,Bollan,Weir,Frail,Sylla,Dasovic,Kane,
Nathan,Russell,Pope
Subs: Cuthbert,Parker,Tommy,O'Neill,McCluskey
Oh fuck where do I even start? I'm still so angry at the team. If you cast your mind back to what it was like when we lost to to F*lk*rk or St*n*o*sem*ir at least then we were humped off the park. But tonight Saints just stuck the knife in a different way - yup tonight they gave us some hope with a reasonable first half and a two goal start before throwing it all away and ending the season (you might guess that I'm struggling to stay calm here). One thing is for sure though - tonight has to mark the start of the rebuilding for next year. And if the manager won't do it then (and it pains me to say this) maybe the rebuilding starts with him. And I hope to Christ I don't open the papers tomorrow to the same old crap from Sandy either - it's time he got fucking angry with the players and made them play for their jersey - if not there are plenty of kids that we can take just as much risk with.
Anyway the promise of the team shake-up started with Nathan and Jack Forgotten-Man Russell taking over from Paddy and Kiegan with the latter dropping to the bench and Paddy vanishing. Tommy made a return to the bench alongside the usual suspects. Defensively surprise surprise we were unchanged.
We started brightly enough and didn't look too tired. Le Mo took an early corner and the cutback to Kane saw his shot well held. Then in 10 minutes Kane, Pope and Nathan combined well (yup ball at feet as well) only for the Bombers shot to go just wide. Defensively we still looked a bit shaky with Weir unsteady to say the least. Still all was forgiven when 4 minutes later Russell broke on the left - he went wide into the box and turned a defender before sending a narrow shot into the net.
We were dominating by now and MoMo and Nathan combined well a minute later but had to settle for a corner. Then Nat was brought down on the edge of the box (and referee Orr for about the only time that night gave us the free kick), only for Mo's shot to go over the bar. The Pars were getting back into it though and a Par got between Weir and Dods only for Main to make a cracking save from his angled shot.
At the other end Dasovic forced a good save before Moss beat Weir to the ball and got into the box. Luckily Dods got back as well and made a brilliant tackle on the edge of the 6 yard box. Saints weren't finished and after Pope's cut in to Nathan (more ball to feet), ended up in the ball going over the bar, the boys made up for it.
Some good build up play on the stroke of half-time saw MoMo chip the ball into the box. Thug Skerla made a poor headed clearance straight to the feet of the Bomber and his first time drive went low into the net to make it 2-0. The Pars still had time for a penalty claim after a scuffle in the box which included the ref barging Dasovic to the ground. Luckily for him the ball went over the bar otherwise it might have been lynch time.
Second-half started well for Saints with Russell on the left wing sending a neat lob into the box - unfortunately Nathan was just too late getting to it. Then after Main made a decent save from a Pars long-range shot, the game got scrappy with MoMo and Nicolson clashing several times ending up in a booking for both and the Pars deciding to target MoMo all the time with Dair booked a minute later.
With Mo fired up Tommy replaced him on the hour mark with Pope moving to the right wing. Craig Russell was put through 1 on 1 with the keeper only for Skerla to come back and make a good tackle.
Then the roof caved in. In 62 minutes Saints fail to clear their lines and with the Pars piling on the pressure Thomson sends a long range effort past Main to make it 2-1. Kiegan came on for Craig Russell but the action was all in the Saints half. Weir lost the ball in the box again and only the timely intervention of the chest of Dasovic saw the ball reach Main not beat him. A Pars long ball saw Bollan well beaten but the shot across goal was well saved by Main.
Tommy managed to send the ball into Nathan who got into the Pars box only to be felled - as if that wasn't bad enough with the ref waving play on, Kane's shot was then blocked by Mr Orr. The Saints support was still backing the players at this point and when Kiegan slipped a neat short ball through to Nathan, the Bomber turned his defender and raced down on goal only for the shot to go wide - one of the worst missed I've seen from him. The Pars put Tod on for Petrie and after his first action (fouling Kiegan) it was obvious that they were going for the long-ball game.
With 12 minutes to go Frail, Weir and Bollan were all posted missing and failed to clear the ball - it ended up with Van Dykenwhoren who had an easy shot past...well Main wasn't even there either. 2-2 and Saints visibly wilted (as did we). Five minutes later it was all over - again they sent a ball in from the right after Weir and Frail did their vanishing act, Thomson's shot hit the post and the rebound came to Moss who's tap-in made it 3-2. Saints tried to get back into it but there was no fight left and only a weak Kiegan shot gave us any hope. Even the away support wasn't angry - just very very disappointed.
MoM for me - non-existent although Russell and Nathan both looked fresh up front. MoMo has to keep his temper - it's no use being forced to sub him after only an hour. Defensively we were shite throughout - Dods was reasonable but Weir looks finished, Bollan couldn't care and Frail wasn't fit. Dasovic and Kane tried but they were never going to be able to put in a full shift after Sunday. And as for Tommy - I'm going to reserve judgement until I see him being passed the ball a bit more but on current form he's like the rest of the Saints side going bloody nowhere.
Finally a mention for the Pars stadium announcer. Be very careful with the "local" wit on Saturday - the OF bigots won't be as restrained as we were at the end of the game.
We've got 10 days until the Sheep game. The players, manager and club had better get to work cos there's a whole fucking side needing rebuilt.
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