Temple Of Saints - Calm Before the Storm

Bells League Division One 05/04/2003

Saints 1 Ayr 0 League Table Here

Team : Cuthbert, Baxter, Murray, M-Ro, Dods, Maxwell, Peaso, Reilly, JR, Paddy, Noble
Subs : Miotto, Parker, J-Ro, Hay, Marco

Not the most convincing win of the season but the good news is we got the points despite a tough opposition and an absolute stinker of a referee who seemed to define flowing football in periods of 2 seconds. And despite some players having howlers it was made up by Peaso probably putting in his best 90 minutes in a Saints top and only Nelson in the Ayr goal keeping the score to the single goal. No changes in the starting eleven today but the bench saw injury victims Troy McClune and Tommy drop out with Kiegan "Honest I'll be a Good Boy Now" Parker and John "Baxter understudy" Robertson making an appearance.

For once the game started at a cracking pace and both sides showed plenty of hunger in the early stages. As early as the 2nd minute Noble had latched onto a through ball and forced Nelson to make a good save. A minute later Paddy made a rare run but left it too late to get a cross in and ended up forcing a corner. From JR's kick Dods header was punched clear but with this being Saints of course the ref had to blow for a foul on the keeper.

Two minutes later and the ref was silenced along with the 65 Ayr fans who bothered to make the trip (yup I counted them before the game). Mavis won the ball in midfield and passed to JR who played a 1-2 and then ran up the right wing. He got to the bye line and sent a cracking low cross into the goal which the onrushing Peaso blasted into the net leaving Nelson helpless to make it 1-0.

Saints were keeping the pressure on as the game was played at a hectic pace with Maxwell winning everything in the air and Reilly and Noble closing down the opposition. In fact it wasn't until the 11th minute that Grady was able to get his first dive in. Of course the ref gave the free kick but it was easily dealt with.

Saints pressed though and forced a series of corners before in the 17th minute Maxwell broke down an Ayr counter attack. He cleared the ball to Noble who went on a great run and rounded Nelson. Unfortunately he took the ball just a tad too wide and by the time he got a shot in Nelson had recovered to save. Reilly was next to try his luck as Saints next attack saw him driven wide to try a cross-cum- shot which Nelson held. And in the 23rd minute Peaso should have doubled his tally. Paddy linked well with JR who ran up the right wing and released Mark Baxter on the overlap. His perfect cross found Peaso unmarked in the 6 yard box but the striker's header came back off Nelson's right hand post.

The Ayr keeper made another good save a couple of minutes later after Maxwell and JR had sent the ball to Noble in the box and the teenager had a decent shot on target. Signs that Saints were still a bit jittery came a couple of minutes later after we won a corner. From it the ball came over into the box and hung in the air. Up rose the ubiquitous Darren Dods for the header along with 2 United defenders. They collided with themselves and were left flat out whilst Dods just walked away. Both had to leave the park for stitches and you'd have though that against a 9-man opposition Saints would try and up the pace and pressure. But nope - it was almost as if we wanted to be sporting about it all and wait until they came back on. Just too nice that's our trouble. With both players missing for about 10 minutes there was still plenty of action though.

Peaso picked up the game's first booking for a nothing challenge and then a couple of minutes later a great ball up the park saw an M-Ro 25 yard drive deflected for a corner. From the corner the ball was floated to Dods at the far post and his header was tipped over the bar by a great save from Nelson. And with five minutes to go before the break a neat long ball from JR found Paddy who went over in the box - cue for the ref to wave play on giving more credence to the theory in the home stand that he was just back from Lithuania in midweek.

Of course after all that pressure and nothing to show for it you expected the worst. And it seemed like we got it when another dodgy decision against M-Ro in the final minute of the half saw United win a free kick on the edge of the box. Saints pulled everyone back and when the ball went over the wall the Cat made a great reaction save to keep it out. Unfortunately he couldn't hold it and when it fell to a United foot the ball went in the net. However much to the 65 cheering voices in the North Stand's dismay up went the linesman's flag to correctly rule it offside.

Second half started with Mr Richmond being just as shite as Saints struggled to get any moves strung together and were unable to get forward in enough numbers to support Peaso and Noble.

Not that we didn't have the chances though and 7 minutes into the half we won a free kick 30 yards out. M-Ro dummied it and JR send a good effort over the wall - trouble was it went over the bar as well. We had a few corners but no clear-cut chances. Peaso had a 20 yard effort go just over the bar and a Paddy cross into the box in the 62nd minute was clearly handled by a defender - don't even ask about the decision. If anything though, that seemed to fire Saints up a bit more. Five minutes later and Paddy was floored by a heavy tackle from behind (which went unpunished). Noble went off to be replaced by Hay and from the free kick Nelson dropped the ball and had to rely on his defender putting it out for a corner. From that Dods eventually shot wide of target.

Hay managed to get onto a Peaso flick in the 72nd minute but his shot was far too weak and easily saved. Then a minute later JR, Paddy and M-Ro linked up well with the latter shooting well wide. M-Ro had another 35-yard drive go well wide a few minutes later and in the 78th minute Paddy slipped the ball to Baxter making another good run and from his cross the ball came off a defender then an unaware Peaso to go over the bar with the Saints striker looking like he'd suspiciously prevented an own goal.

And with 10 minutes left a JR corner was headed goalwards by Maxwell. Nelson got the ball but dropped it and relied on a defender to clear. The ball came back to JR on the near side and from his cross Peaso put in a great header which Nelson tipped over the bar. United weren't out of it and with 7 minutes to go a rare attack saw them beat Baxter and get a decent cross across the goal only for the United striker to put the ball miles wide of the target. Parker came on for Peaso with 3 minutes to go and had a cheeky attempt at a goal in the last minute when he got onto the end of a cross and tried an overhead kick - pity he missed the ball.

A good win overall against a decent side (who look like they will be better next season) with Nelson in cracking form. MoM for me is Peaso with mentions for Maxwell and Baxter. Both Noble and JR had a good game as did the rest of the defence but Reilly faded, M-Ro struggled at times on the left side of midfield and as for Paddy - he needs rested badly.

So next week's the Big One then......

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