Saints 1 Aberdeen 2
Team:
Cuthbert,McClune,Dods,Conway,Forsyth,Fotheringham,Maher,
Ferry,Kiegan,McConnell,Kearney
Subs: Findlay,Briggs,Thompson,Lynch,Noble
A good crowd turned up for the semi-final tonight and whilst the result isn't what we wanted there was enough skill and talent on show tonight to convince anyone that Saints have a youth policy which over the next couple of years at least looks set to provide the first team with plenty of new blood. In fact we probably deserved to win tonight and if it hadn't been for some poor finishing from Kiegan and a couple of defensive lapses (about the only Aberdeen attacks to be honest) we would be planning a trip to Hampden.
Even with Crozier suspended there was plenty of first team experience in the side tonight with Kiegan up front, Forsyth and Troy in defence (with Flash partnering Chris Conway in the middle whilst David Dodds took left-back) and Cuthbert in goal.
And as early as the 2nd minute we probably could have taken the lead as Kiegan linked up well with Nathan McConnell to go on a run through the Aberdeen defence only for his angled drive to go across the goal and just wide of the post. Saints were pressing constantly though with Fotheringham in the centre of midfield looking impressive and Maher and Kearney on the wings getting plenty of room. Fotheringham (who needs a nickname) was unlucky to see a well struck 20-yd effort go just wide. We had plenty of pressure but with Aberdeen content to sit back and hit us on the break it meant that openings for the strikers were few and far between. Some good work by Kiegan setting up Martin Maher on the right wing saw the move finish with a neat cross being headed just over by McConnell - who looks like an excellent prospect.
Of course in an attempt to mimic the first team Saints were caught on the hop and an Aberdeen break saw some neat passing end up with their no 10 (Tierna?) unmarked in the box and putting in a good finish to beat Kevin Cuthbert and put them 1-0 up. The rest of the half was pretty scrappy as Saints struggled on a heavy pitch.
Even worse was to come within seconds of the start of the 2nd half when a ball out to the right wing saw David Dodds being "Bollaned" (ie caught in possession). Left for dead the Sheep winger put a good cross in for their striker to slot away.
Credit to Saints though and they pressed back with the midfield starting to push forward and support the strikers. Unfortunately Kiegan up front might be one of the stars of the first team but he looked out of place tonight. Far too often he tried to go solo rather than pass to a teammate. McClune put him through in the box in 50 minutes but rather than square to an unmarked McConnell Kiegan elected to put the ball wide. It's been creeping into his play in the top team as well so let's hope the coaches deal with it soon.
Aberdeen had a couple of breaks up the park but McClune and Conway both looked capable of stopping anything whilst the rest of the team pressed forward. McConnell and Kearney were replaced on the hour mark by Barry Thompson and Peter Lynch with the latter going to the right wing and Maher moving to the middle (where it has to be said he looked better).
Two minutes later and we were back in the game. Kiegan won the ball on the left wing and after some good play cut the ball back to Mark Ferry only for his shot to be deflected wide. From the corner the ball was knocked down and Flash Forsyth was on hand to slot it home.
Saints were in control now and 3 minutes later a free kick on the right saw Kiegan head the ball just over the bar. At the other end Aberdeen saw a break end in a good shot by their no 9 which Cuthbert saved well. The game was getting niggly though and Saints seemed to tire a bit more which allowed Aberdeens physical side to show through with some nasty fouls taking place. Having said that the ref was easily up to the demanding standards of the SPL as he totally ignored blatant handballs and in an almost hilarious incident booked Lynch after the Saints player had almost been decapitated by the Aberdeen no 3.
Meanwhile Saints were still looking for the equaliser and with 15 minutes left we probably should have had it when Kiegan was sent through on goal only for him to shoot instead of pass. David Noble came on for Dodds towards the end as we looked for the 2nd goal but despite plenty of pressure the lads lost out.
MoM for me was probably Martyn Fotheringham who looks to be the next in line for a first team callup. McConnell, Maher and Kearney all look good prospects though and although we didn't get the win, the future looks bright.