Temple Of Saints - Finally Down

Scottish Premier League - 06/04/2002

Well 1 Saints 1 League Table Here

Team: Cuthbert, Dods, Tommy, Murray, Weir, McCluskey, Lynch, Pope, Jones, Paddy, JR
Subs Devlin, Maher, Panther, Peaso, Forsyth

So that's it - in the end the fat lady finally got to exercise her lungs as the torture we've had to undergo the last few months finally ended. But at least we didn't hear her thanks to a large travelling support singing their hearts out with a parting rendition of "We'll have fun in Division One". The team saw one change from last week with JR returning from his suspension and replacing the Panther in midfield with the latter dropping to the bench.

We started brightly enough and as early as the first minute JR went on a good run and won a free kick. Pope took the shot and in the end JR shot well wide. It wasn't the rosy start that we had at Swinecastle though and within a couple of minutes the panicky nervous defending set in as Well won their first corner although we did at least clear our lines.

The action was pretty much end-to-end. Dods had our next shot after a Pope run on the left saw him send the ball to Jones and Lynch who crossed the ball out to Darren whose half chance was gloriously sclaffed wide. Then a minute later JR had a good run and shot as the Well keeper looked more and more dodgy. But we still looked slow to react to the ball and to get forward in support of the attackers. Tommy had a good build up on the left and set Paddy up but his shot went over the bar.

Well nearly took the lead in the 21st minute when Ferrere won a very soft free-kick 20 yards out. He curved the ball round the Saints wall but Cuthbert pulled off the first of a series of good saves with and tipped the ball wide with Cap'n Jim getting back to block the rebound.

But a minute later it was all smiles and plenty of cheering as we took the lead. Tommy broke up the left and send a ball into the box. It was knocked out to Hartley and he send a low 22yd shot into the bottom corner of the net. 1-0 us and the songs really started.

For the next 10 minutes we totally dominated and played some great possession football with Well pinned into their box and Saints not letting them get a sniff of the ball. Unfortunately the final ball was usually lacking. That was until the 29th minute when Paddy got into the box and sent a high chip over the keeper's head only to see the ball come back off the bar. That's when I got an inkling it might not be our day. Within a minute Cuthbert had to make a good save from McFadden although it was interesting to see the Butcher training methods go on show with the Well wonderkid getting a late kick in on the Saints keeper. The ball went straight up the park and a good Hartley effort was fisted away by the home keeper.

Then Hartley saw a free kick go just wide before Well decided to go for the scrappy spoiling tactics. McFadden had a shot go just over the bar as the Saints defence stood off him but before half-time Adams put in a couple of disgraceful challenges on McCluskey and Weir with neither warranting even a comment from Kenny Clark. Add that to the constant punishment Jones was taking and one challenge on Murray which saw the Saints player booted up into the air and it's a wonder we got to the break without a card being shown.

Second-half started well enough for us with Paddy getting an early shot in which (just for a change) was easily held. Then the same player won a corner which saw Jones get a header in and Weir a shot only for both to be blocked by a poor Well defence. And a minute later Jones went on a good run down the right and put a cross into the back post for Paddy to header. Unfortunately he was off-balance and sent the ball straight to the keeper. At the other end Well began to get back into the game and with the Saints fans singing songs about a certain ex-manager and his habits of self-abuse, Ready sent a good chance a mile over the bar. Then the defence slipped up again and stood off Ferrere letting him get a shot in which Cuthbert did brilliantly to tip over the bar before letting the back three know exactly what he thought of them.

Saints were looking shakier and shakier with Lynch the worst offender and being skinned at right back time after time. McFadden came close with a shot just over on the hour mark before Hammell demonstrated his thuggery on Jones leaving the Saints striker flat out. He recovered though to set up JR with 25 minutes to go - a good run on the right and a cross saw Hartley just head over the bar.

But with 20 minutes to go the roof caved in. A break through the middle saw them get a shot in which was deflected past Cuthbert. Luckily it came off the post only for Elliot to reach the rebound and despite some good recovery by Cuthbert, he got the ball into the net to make it 1-1. Only Saints could be relegated by such a sclaffy fluke of a goal.

Peaso replaced the Pope as the game got scrappier (with Lynch somehow allowed to stay on the park). With 15 minutes to go he had a great chance to give us the lead again when he broke down the left and got the break of the ball. He cut into the box but with Jones and Paddy queuing up to shoot tried to score from a narrow angle only for his shot to be saved. And from the corner Paddy knocked the ball back and Tommy saw a volley go just over.

Cuthbert made a good save after Weir was skinned as we tried to get back into the game but to be honest the heads were down. The ref wasn't helping as usual and even the introduction of Panther and Maher for Paddy and JR didn't make much of a difference and despite having a lot of possession and pressure it just wasn't to be.

MoM for me had to be Kevin Cuthbert - he lost a rotten goal but made some good saves throughout to keep us in the game and looks more and more mature with each game. Apart from Lynch who just didn't look bothered the rest tried but the spirit and hunger that was there at Tynecastle was sorely missed. Maybe they just can't handle a bit of pressure.

So it's farewell to the delights of Fir Park - can't say I'll miss it that much. Besides as the song goes "We'll have fun in Division One".

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