Saints 1 St Midden 1 League Table Here
Team : Cuthbert, J-Ro, Flash, McCluskey, Dods, Maxwell,
Baxter, Reilly, Peaso, Paddy, Ferry
Subs : Miotto, Noble, Parker, Maher, Malone
Welcome to the future and unfortunately it ain't too bright. Yup a typical end of season bore-fest from Saints - we know a lot of players will be moving on in the summer but today the defensively-minded starting line-up (it was 4-4-2 but only Paddy and Peaso are out and out attackers) along with the lack of teamwork on show led to a poor game overall although we probably deserved a point overall. Out went JR (injured allegedly but not even in the stand), Murray, M-Ro and Hay and in came Flash, McCluskey, Ferry and on the bench Martin Maher and Eddie Malone with the latter earning his first appearance for the first team after scoring for the U-21s midweek.
With the atmosphere almost non-existent and the crowd around the 2000 mark the opening stages set the standard for the rest of the game. The game was even enough to start with but despite some early pressure Saints couldn't turn it into any sort of a scoring chance with the Paisley defence winning most of the balls in the air. It took until the 12th minute before Peaso made a good run up the right and turned the ball across an away goalmouth noticeable for it's lack of blue shirts. Even the corners were being easily cleared. At the other end Cuthbert had to look sharp in the 18th minute to make a good save from a Gillies effort after the Paisley Prat had managed to get behind the static Saints defence.
Three minutes later Maxwell picked up the first booking of the game for a late challenge - Rowbotham seemed reluctant to dish the cards out after that though despite some hefty tackles on the home players. After a Dods header was cut out from a decent Ferry cross into the box, the 25th minute saw Peaso limp off (no doubt it's another foot injury) with Keigan taking his place. He was just on the park and a St Midden break down the right saw McCluskey pulled into a soft foul in the box. Rowbotham didn't hesitate to point to the spot though and Gillies sent the Cat the wrong way to make it 1-0. Hey at least it meant it wouldn't be a boring goalless end of season affair now. Saints tried to get back into the game but there was simply nothing doing.
The half-hour mark saw J-Ro set up Baxter in the box but the youngster (playing his 4th game in 8 days and putting some of the other professionals to shame) saw his shot tipped wide by Kris Robertson in the Paisley goal. The resulting corner came over but only ended in a Parker shot being blocked. With 6 minutes to go until the break, a St Midden attack down the left ended in a cross which the Cat had to look lively to tip over the bar. From the corner, Saints broke up the park and Maxwell (linking well with Flash on the left side of the park) crossed for Paddy to shoot. His effort was blocked but came back to Reilly who set up Baxter only for his shot to be tipped wide. From the corner the ball came out to Flash but his effort was well over.
Second-half saw Eddie Malone make his debut in place of Dods. It meant Maxie moved to the centre of defence with Flash at left back and Malone on the left wing. St Midden had an early long-range effort go wide but in 50 minutes we should have drawn level when Paddy set Parker up brilliantly with a defence-splitting through ball. Keigan ran into the box and rounded the keeper only to be far too casual and try to pass the ball into the empty net from the left side allowing just enough time for a Paisley Junkie defender to get back and clear. Five minutes later and a Parker attack was cleared. The ball broke to J-Ro but he missed his tackle and allowed St Mirren to break down the left. The cross came into the box at the back post and Cameron missed an absolute sitter of a chance to kill the game off. It was fairly even at this point - Maxwell had a header go wide for our best chance but despite looking a helluva lot more fired up for the second period we never looked like scoring.
With 22 minutes left Noble came on for J-Ro allowing Paddy to move to the right of midfield and Baxter to take over at right-back. St Mirren had another good chance to increase their lead. Reilly slipped on the ball and they broke down the left. The cutback came across goal only for the ball to be blasted over from12 yards. But in the 72nd minute Noble was fouled on the edge of the box and he sent the resulting free kick round the wall. Robertson in the Paisley goal got a hand to it but only helped it into the net to make it 1-1 and finally give us something to smile about.
Well for all of 2 minutes. From the restart Saints were caught napping and a free kick into the Saints box was handled. Not sure by whom but Rowbotham reckoned it was a defender and pointed to the spot. At least this time the Cat guessed correctly and saved Gillies' spot kick.
Despite both teams putting in a fair bit of effort the goalmouth chances were pretty rare - Ferry had a shot blocked for a corner and despite Parker and Noble linking well the final shot was always missing. McCluskey had a decent low drive from a free kick on the edge of the box deflected for a corner in the 80th minute and from it Maxwell headed wide of the target. Of course the grudges were starting to show and some nasty challenges went in as well as Malone endearing himself to the away support in front of the west stand by standing up to some rough handling. Saints had the better of the chances before the end. With 5 minutes left Malone set up Parker at the left byeline and Keigan cut inside his man to cross to the back post where Paddy rose to head the ball across the goal and wide. Parker had a low long-range drive go inches wide after that and Reilly and Maxwell had decent efforts go wide before Rowbotham put us all out of our misery and blew the final whistle.
It's hard to take much positive away from this game - both teams looked jaded and killing time. For Saints Baxter (my MoM), Maxwell, Parker and Ferry had decent games. The Cat had a good match and Reilly was solid in the middle. Flash was OK and it's too early to say re Malone. Noble made a real difference when he came on but the overall feeling you were left with is that a team like that will struggle to do anything next season. Saints badly need to get some flair and creativity into the middle of the park - shows like today don't win back the fans and don't get the points.
Soon be summer though......
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| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Points |
| Falkirk | 34 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 76 | 28 | 78 |
| Clyde | 34 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 59 | 35 | 66 |
| Saints | 34 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 47 | 27 | 64 |
| Caley Thistle | 33 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 70 | 40 | 62 |
| Queen of the South | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 43 | 48 | 42 |
| Ayr United | 33 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 32 | 37 | 42 |
| St Mirren | 34 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 41 | 65 | 37 |
| Ross County | 34 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 38 | 44 | 32 |
| Alloa | 34 | 7 | 8 | 19 | 34 | 72 | 29 |
| Arbroath | 34 | 3 | 6 | 25 | 28 | 72 | 15 |
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