Saints 3 Accies 0
Team : Cuthbert, Robbo, Russell, McCluskey, Dods,
Maxwell, McCann, Murray, Hartley, Stevenson, Keigan
Subs : Main, Peaso, McClune, Fotheringham, Maher
Was it really that long ago? 48 hours after Valentines Day 2002 - almost 6 bloody months ago that we last scored at home. Well never mind cos going on tonight's performance this Saints side looks totally revitalised and more than capable of scoring in every game from now on. Credit to Accies who put up a decent fight for the first hour but in the end they were lucky the score wasn't 6 or 7 as Saints threatened to run riot. Paddy, Reilly and Marco missed out through injury so in came Dods at centre-half with Murray moving forward, whilst Craig Russell took over at left wing-back (suffice to say he's not a natural at this position) and Ryan "Wide-Boy" Stevenson up front to partner Parker. Oh and a mention too for the ground staff for keeping the pitch in such a playable condition given the thunderstorms that hit Perth just before kick-off.
With a decent and almost optimistic Saints support (especially after Saturday) back in Gods Pasture, we only had to wait a couple of minutes for the first shot on goal with Parker making the first of many runs down the right and sending his shot across goal and just wide of the mark. Stevenson was getting some crosses in and JR taking control of the midfield as Saints pressed early on. In fact we should have taken the lead in the 13th minute when JR and Russell combined to cross the ball in from the left. The cross came into the box where an unmarked Parker just had to tap it over the line - instead he volleyed it over the crossbar from all of 3 yards out.
The game was fairly clean although there were some hefty challenges on both sides. Robbo took a bad head knock early on and the Accies no 7 picked up a deserved yellow for persistent fouling. As the first half wore on Accies began to get back into the game catching us on the break and with Russell looking more and more uncomfortable at left-back they began to get the odd cross into the box. The Cat played dropsy a few times but for the most part the Saints defence was solid enough and able to clear their lines easily - the support of a midfield willing to drop back helped as well.
10 minutes before the break we finally piled on the pressure. Russell had set up JR whose shot was blocked and then Stevenson (who was causing all sorts of problems) saw a shot well saved. JR saw a 25-yard free kick go just wide and then a Robbo cross saw McCann turn and shoot in the box only to see the ball go just the wrong side of the post.
But with 6 minutes to go a corner from the far side saw Robbo get a header in which was blocked on the line. The ball broke out to the right where it was knocked back across goal and found Stevenson in the 6 yard box. He had all the time in the world to turn and send the ball through the Accies keeper's legs to make it 1-0.
There was a quieter start to the 2nd half although Saints looked a lot more settled - the main problem though was that we kept on trying to walk the ball into the net. Stevenson had a couple of shots and McCann set up Stevenson whose cross cum shot went just over the bar. Russell was next up with a good long-range effort which went over the bar and then on the hour mark JR had another of his great runs although unfortunately this time his low placed shot came back off the post.
Accies were getting the odd break but to be honest after the hour mark they tired quickly. Parker and Stevenson were linking well and even Murray saw a diving header go just wide. But in the 67th minute a Kiegan run down the right wing saw him cut into the box and cut the ball back to McCann. He saw his first effort saved but when the keeper failed to hold the ball he nipped in to shoot home for no 2. Peaso replaced Kiegan for the last 20 minutes and with his first touch won a free kick which JR proceeded to blast over.
Maher came on for Russell as Saints started to up the pressure and with 11 minutes to go he nearly got a 3rd after some good build up by the Two Ryans (sounds like a dodgy comedy series) when his curving shot from the left was just wide. Fotheringham replaced McCann as the final sub for the last 10 minutes. Maher saw another good effort just tipped over the bar and then with 4 minutes left a loose ball found Peaso and he s sent a lovely left-footed drive low into the net to make it 3-0. Even then the floodgates could have opened with a JR deflected shot well saved, a Fotheringham free-kick just tipped wide and a pair of Robbo shots saved.
A good finish then and a good overall performance with no real weak links in the side - excluding Russell being so far out of position. MoM was surprisingly easy with Stevenson showing some good touches, scoring a neat goal and providing a bit more impetus up front to help Kiegan. McCann looked a sharper player tonight and got a decent goal and the 3 subs all looked the part. More than anything though we're definitely playing as a team.
Life is good...
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