Temple Of Saints - FightBack

Scottish Premier League - 08/09/2001

BadFellas 1 Saints 1 League Table Here

Team: Main, Dods, Murray, Dasovic, Weir, Kemble, Wacko, Tommy, Kiegan, Falconer, Pope
Subs Cuthbert, McCluskey, BigMac, Paddy, Rachid

Another point and another goal but for the first five minutes we looked a total nightmare with a defence in shambles and a midfield which had about as much clue as a Craig Brown side. But if nothing else we showed a lot of fight in the game and in the end were unlucky not to sneak the three points. As expected Kano was missing with a calf injury but the big surprise was the absence of Troy McClune and Flash Forsyth - not that you could tell that easily with the delights of the Dens PA system. It meant a 3-5-2 formation again with Weir, Benny and Dods at the back and Tommy and Murray playing as wing-backs. Up front Kiegan returned to action whilst the bench saw a rare appearance by Rachid The Belly.

From the start though Saints were under pressure with the gangsters putting the ball into the net as early as the 2nd minute - luckily it was ruled offside. No such luck a minute later when Weir was caught and lost possession on the right. He failed to keep up with the Mafiosi that nicked the ball and could only watch as he skipped into the box and sent the ball across the goal to a totally unmarked Milne who put it past Main to make it 1-0.

We tried to get back into the game but the BadFellas cheating combined with Willie Young's failure to punish them (even when they tried to throttle Kiegan who was causing some problems up front) managed to kill the play. Even when we did get the ball over when Murray sent a cross in, Free Willie saw his header go past and Wacko missed the follow-up. Cue for some abuse from the moaners although the mood was lightened with a cry of "Ferfuxsake O'Halloran". Yup the good old days were back.

Saints had plenty of possession but were unable to make it count for anything. On the wings Murray showed he's not an out and out winger whilst Tommy spent all his time defending - no wing back he. Pope had faded from the game and Wacko didn't look too sharp. Dasovic was having a good game and it was him and Kemble that were holding the side together.

We nearly went 2 behind on the quarter hour mark but Main made an excellent save form Rae whilst at the other end Kiegan saw a shot deflected just wide as we forced a series of corners. The game was fairly uneventful in terms of goalmouth action (although the antics of the Ice Cream Boyz as they belly-flopped all over the park were more than entertaining) but we came closest before the break.

First up Murray forced a corner on the right. The ball came over, Weir knocked it down and Benny was unlucky to see his shot blocked. Then 10 minutes before the break, some good build-up on the left saw Pope square the ball to Dasovic who took his time before letting rip a 30-yard dipping shot only to see it come back off the base of the post. Even then Wacko came close to pulling us level with a 25-yarder that went just wide.

So the usual boos at half-time before we had some wonderful entertainment by a poor version of Sammy the Tammy with the really original soundtrack by the Wurzels. As usual you've got to ask yourself if they'd put on an appropriately entertaining show when the OF come to town. If nothing else it wound up the large Saints support to back the boys in the second 45.

Second-half began with Weir being replaced by Chopper McCluskey.The game was a lot more even and we came under a fair bit of pressure and only some timely blocks by Benny the Rock and Dods kept us in it. The hour mark saw Kiegan replaced by Big Mac but there was still no real hope for the loud away support. A couple of free kicks after Wacko was fouled came to nothing, whilst a good run by Tommy up the left saw a cross into the box to be met by a total absence of yellow shirts.

Then with 15 minutes left we got a break. A run up the left by Big Mac saw him take his time and cut into the box only to be tripped. It seemed to take an age but eventually Willie Young pointed to the spot. Up steps Wacko and given the amount of pressure on the kick I don't think I've seen a cooler penalty as he slotted it past Langfield to send us mental.

After that the confidence in the side soared - within a minute Tommy even skinned a hoodlum and as if we weren't wound up enough after Benny was left flattened by a knock the BadFellas continued to play without letting him receive treatment. He eventually got it but only lasted a minute or so before limping off to be replaced by Rachid with Murray moving to the defence.

The last 5 minutes plus injury time saw plenty of action. Big Mac picked up a booking for a stupid retaliation (and wasn't it nice to see a total lack of overacting by the Mafiosi next time he went into a challenge - such sporting behaviour). Then a goal kick found Free Willie who managed to head the ball down to Big Mac who then took his time dribbling round the defenders before firing in a low shot which Langfield saved excellently. Dods was next in the book for handball before Wacko saw an angled drive tipped wide and then in the umpteenth minute of injury time Tommy went on an amazing run from the halfway line through the Scum side before squaring the ball to the oncoming Big Mac only for the youngster to send the shot just wide when it seemed easier to score.

MoM for me was Dasovic - he was all over the place putting tackles in and winning the ball. Kiegan played well but Big Mac looked hungrier (and less selfish). Chopper had a good game as well and probably deserves the nod over Cap'n Jim next week.

At least the team were cheered off at the end though....

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