Temple Of Saints - No luck and no boots

Scottish Premier League - 17/11/2001

Arabs 2 Saints 1 League Table Here

Team: Miller, Murray, Tommy, Dasovic, Kemble, Dods, Lynch, JR, MacDonald, Paddy, Falconer
Subs Cuthbert, Pope, McClune, Russell, Rachid

Why oh why oh why oh why do Saints have to make it so bloody difficult for themselves. Never mind the problems of the opposition complete with Charlie "Bellyflop" Miller and their diving antics or the referee who seems to like to punish the trivial offences whilst allowing free kicks to be taken 10 yards forward of the offence, timewasting and assaults on Saints defenders. Oh no now we have the additional problem of the dodgy boot. Yup Darren Dods managed to take so long to tie a pretty bow when changing a boot that he forgot to get back in defence to mark the Elephant Man who then proceeded to score what turned out to be the winner. At least it won't happen next week thanks to Dods' deciding to tangle off the ball with Hamilton and pick up a red card. You just couldn't make it up.

It all started well enough for us though. An unchanged starting line-up and only one change on the bench as the Belly replaced Goalden Graeme saw us almost take the lead in the first minute. JR took a free kick and found Dods only for his header to go just wide. Then 3 minutes later Hartley ran almost the length of the pitch and out wide on the left before sending a great cutback into the box which Peaso managed to totally miss. It was all Saints at this time with Bellyflop and his Lux Loathers managing to resort to the usual fouling tactics.

We made several chances in what was a fast game before nearly going behind in the 10th minute. Dods was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball on the edge of the box. Griffin stepped up and sent a curling free kick round the wall and towards the goal. He runs off cheering whilst the tinks behind the goal start going crazy. Unfortunately for them nobody explained that the ball has to actually cross the line and a rebound off the bar and across the goal doesn't count. It was a lucky escape for us (and we liked to use up our luck today) but almost worth it to see the disappointment on the home fans' faces.

The game was pretty much end-to-end although Saints were controlling more of the midfield with Dasovic and Murray in the centre linking well with JR who seems to have taken up residence in "the hole". He had a 30 yard free kick well saved but as usual the game began to get a bit scrappy and dirty. MacDonald was clipped from behind when through on goal but referee Somers decided to let it go unpunished. Then in 24 minutes JR was fouled on the wing after some classy play. The Arabs broke up the park and despite Thompson's handball (that guy obviously hangs about with the wrong folk) won a free kick although justice was done when they missed it.

Twelve minutes later we had a good claim for a penalty turned down when Hartley sent a neat chip into the box for Paddy to run onto only to be shoved over. Of course no penalty and when Bellyflop made his umpteenth dent in the Tannadump pitch after Dasovic stood within a mile of him it was the Canadian that went into the book.

The second-half saw United start the livelier side although their lack of success up front saw the tactics get more and more desperate as Thompson made dive after dive with one effort a challenge by Miller looking like a penalty until you realised it was another Thompson splashdown. They nearly took the lead a minute later when Thompson headed off the bar as Saints struggled under some pressure. We did manage some attacks and series of corners but a lack of height up front meant they caused little problem and our best effort was from a Peaso shot which although on target was easily held.

United kept up the pressure and in 63 minutes took the lead when a corner on the far side wasn't cleared by the Saints defence and landed at Aljofree. Despite being stuck with his back to goal he managed an overhead kick past Miller and into the net. It almost shut up the Saints fans who had been singing their hearts out for most of the game.

Having taken the lead the Arabs seemed to settle back a bit whilst Saints began to fight back. Even the ref began to take some action with the Elephant Man going into the book for a nasty challenge on Murray. We broke up the park from the free kick and a Falconer chip forward into the box was met by JR but he was bundled over. It didn't matter though as the loose ball was pounced on by Paddy who sent a low shot into the net from 12 yards out. 1-1 and we began to believe another win was possible, especially as the pressure continued from the restart leading to both Hamilton and Miller diving more and more as the home side got more and more desperate.

With 15 minutes left Miller finally picked up a yellow despite winning a free kick. But whilst waiting on the restart on the halfway line Dods decided to change his boots for the 2nd time. Fair enough but it took him ages to get the laces tied and in the meantime the Arabs took the kick broke up the park and sent a high ball into the box. Kemble was marking Thompson but with Dods missing Hamilton came in at the back post totally unmarked to head the ball into the net. Total farce.

To their credit Saints tried to get back into the game but 3 minutes later it exploded again. Dods was elbowed in the throat by Thompson but no foul was given. Obviously suffering from red mist a clash a few seconds later on the touchline with Hamilton saw the Saints defender kick out. The ref didn't see it and showed Hamilton a 2nd yellow and the red card but after consulting with the linesman on the other side of the park, the red card came out again and we were also down to 10 men. No complaints about the card but if the ref had spotted the earlier incident neither sending off would have taken place.

Saints tried to get the equaliser and pressed for the last 10 minutes. Rachid came on for the ineffective MacDonald and put in a good case for a starting jersey next week with some neat touches. Hartley had a good shot held and with 4 minutes left a Hartley free kick from the left was almost deflected over the line. Russell came on for Paddy but our best effort in injury time saw Tommy make a good run on the wing cut the ball into the box and Rachid send the shot wide.

A rotten result but the performance was again a good one with the side playing more as a team. MoM for me was Dasovic with Hartley a close second while Murray, Paddy and Tommy all had good games. Defensively we weren't too bad but a bit shakier than before with Lynch not having the best of games.

Never mind, Killie next week and we know we can beat them.....

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