Temple Of Saints - Another Clean Sheet

Bells League Division One 31/08/2002

Saints 2 Alloa 0 League Table Here

Team : Cuthbert, Robbo, Tommy, McCluskey, Murray, Maxwell, McCann, Reilly, Hartley, Paddy, Peaso
Subs : Main, Keigan, Stevenson, Dods, Russell

Well it wasn't the 6-1 our main rivals managed but given the number of chances we missed and the very occasional shaky defensive moment, today has to be seen as a real stroll in the sun for Saints with 2 first-half goals making it easy for us in the end. No place for new signing Chris Hay in the squad with the only change in the side being a starting slot for Peaso ahead of Keigan who dropped to the bench.

With conditions windy but sunny, Alloa managed the first effort on goal with Scott Crabbe getting a shot in in the 2nd minute which the Cat held easily. Unfortunately the control in the rest of the side was pretty poor with far too many balls being played up in the air and Saints taking ages to get moving. We made some chances though. In the 4th minute a good JR run (one of many) saw Paddy make a diversion and allow JR to send a low shot towards goal which was tipped wide by the Wasps keeper. Despite all the pressure though we lacked the final touch although Paddy, Peaso and JR were all playing well.

In the end we took the lead in the 10th minute when a corner was sent over and poorly cleared after a stramash in the goalmouth. Peaso got the ball and sent a shot in from the right and Ryan McCann was on the line to tap the ball home to make it 1-0.

But with the home support expecting us to turn on the pressure, we ended up living dangerously with some slack passing in defence between Hartley and McCluskey almost allowing the Wasps to pull one back. Saints were sitting too deep at this point and allowed Alloa far too much room ending up in a couple of chances which although not causing too many problems didn't exactly inspire confidence in the stand. Saints began to get back into the game and Peaso saw a good shot blocked in the 19th minute when he got on the end of a Tommy cross (one of only a few the Great Dane managed today in a poor performance).

A couple of minutes later JR set up Peaso who worked a 1-2 with Paddy before sending a good shot just over the bar. And a minute later the Paddy jinx struck again when McCann set up Peaso who sent a great cross into the 6-yard box. Paddy was there but a couple of decent touches still ended up in a sclaff. Alloa began to get back into the game a bit and Saints seemed to be caught on the ball several times and unable to piece together any attacking moves with Reilly in particular the main culprit. The game was pretty scrappy at this time with some niggly fouls going in although referee Mike McCurry managed to keep the game flowing as much as possible.

The last 10 minutes before the break saw Saints putting the pressure on. McCann was first up with a good run and cross finding Robbo only for his header to be blocked for a corner. Then after another couple of corners Tommy saw a good shot blocked and then Peaso sent the ball just wide. Alloa counter-attacked with 3 minutes to go and forced a corner thanks to a mix-up between Murray and McCluskey. Saints eventually managed to clear the box and JR got the ball breaking up the park. He sent the ball wide to the right where Tommy (yup the left-winger on the right) got to the byeline and cut in sending a low ball into the box where Paddy was on hand to tap the ball home and make it 2-0.

Saints started the 2nd half a bit livelier and almost increased the lead within a couple of minutes when a great JR run into the box saw a low pass to Paddy only for the Wasps keeper to make a good save. Then Paddy had a header wide, Peaso saw a header saved and Ryan McCann just lost out on a through ball with a great tackle in the box. It wasn't all flowing stuff though - Tommy arguably had the best chance when he broke through with only a couple of defenders to beat on the hour mark. A great run to the edge of the box, supported by Paddy and Peaso saw him end up stopping short and taking an age before a pathetic attempt to pass the ball landing at the feet of a defender 2 yards away. Four minutes later and he was replaced by Russell.

Saints were still forcing plenty of corners. McCann hit a shot just wide and then after Paddy had a good shot blocked after Robbo set him up, McCann saw a great volley go inches wide of the far post. Paddy missed the next chance after a decent 1-2 with JR as Saints took control of the game and Alloa seemed to tire. Not that we didn't have the usual hairy moments in defence and in the 73rd minute Alloa sent a cross into the box which Robbo did well to head over the bar to prevent a sitter being put into the net and keeping the clean sheet record going.

Stevenson came on for Reilly with 15 minutes left but despite the veritable plethora of attack-minded players on the park (including Keigan replacing McCluskey for the last 5 minutes allowing Robbo to go to defence in a 3-4-3 formation) our attacks were limited to a Russell volley going over the bar and a couple of Parker efforts as he forced a decent save in the 89th minute and then was unlucky not to get the 3rd when McCann set him up and he cut across goal and let loose a cracking 20yd shot which came back off the post with the keeper beaten.

Not the goalfest we expected but a decent performance. The clean sheet remains intact and we're making plenty of chances. For all that there were some players off form today - Tommy and Reilly were poor and the midfield seemed to sit back too much. On the plus side the strikers both looked lively and JR was full of running. But my MoM award goes to Ryan McCann who had his best performance in a Saints shirt so far and put in plenty of tackling, running and creativity.

Unfortunately it won't be as easy as this for the next few games but there's still plenty to be optimistic about.

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