Temple Of Saints - Lovely Day

Bells League Division One 14/02/2004

Saints 3 Ayr 0 League Table Here

Team : Nelson, J-Ro, McQuilken, Vata, Weir, Maxwell, Hay, Reilly, Sid, Taylor, McLaughlin
Subs : Cuthbert, Dods, Parker, Forsyth, Stevenson

Why does it seem like ages since I've been in the East Stand at McD? Still it was good to be back and see Saints keep up the form with, if anything , an even more convincing win than any this season. Ayr can have no complaints and in fact were pretty damn lucky it wasn't 8 or 9 - expect Ludovic Roy to pick up the man of the match awards in the papers. Thanks to the Flying Nun's torn thigh muscle and Peaso's sair feet, it was left to Hay and Sid to lead the attack against the (allegedly) Honest Men. The big surprise was that there was No starting jersey for Paul Bernard with Stevenson getting the nod for the spot on the bench.

From the start Saints showed no signs of rustiness from the age since the Raith win and we were on the attack from the start. A second minute ball into the box from Maxie found Stuart Taylor who, despite being held back still managed to force Roy into a good save from his header. That marked his card with the Ayr defence and within 60 seconds he'd been heavily tackled from behind. From the freekick, Vata eventually fired the ball into the box for Weir to head down - pity there was nobody there to get on the end of it.

But we didn't have too long to wait for the early pressure to pay off and in the 7th minute we took a deserved lead. Jazza slipped the ball to McLaughlin and from his cross Weir headed the ball down to Chris Hay. He had a close-in shot which Roy blocked. But he failed to hold onto the ball and it rolled across the 6 yard box for Maxwell to stick over the line. Weir headed a corner wide a couple of minutes later and then a veritable stramash followed in the 13th minute ending in a Hay shot being blocked and Sid's effort at the rebound being saved. Hay had another shot blocked a couple of minutes later but there was a real sense of purpose and confidence about Saints play with the midfield linking well and the Saints defence easily coping with the rare Ayr forays into our half.

Robbo had a 20-yarder go wide next then the same player nutmegged the United defender before cutting the ball back to McLaughlin who shot wide. And in 28 minutes Robbo had another good run up the right before slipping the ball into Hay who controlled the ball with his chest, turned and hit a first-time volley which went just wide of the goal. There were another couple of long-range efforts before Maxwell went down with what looked to be a bad knee injury. He recovered after some treatment thought. Then Mavis and Ramsay squared up to one another.

But we managed another goal two minutes before the break with some nice play. A series of neat passes ended in Sid playing a short pass in the box to Hay. He went wide and played the balk across the goal. Roy missed it but McQuilken at the back post didn't and slid the ball home for the 2nd goal. Even then there was still time for Hay to hit a cross just over the bar.

The second-half got underway with Saints in total control. Flash replaced Maxwell at the interval and within four minutes of the restart he'd hit a cross over for Sid but his shot was blocked. Then Taylor, who was excellent in midfield, had a header go just wide. Two minutes later, Sid set up Hay who despite being surrounded by United defenders managed to turn and hit a low shot which was well held by Roy. Ryan Stevenson came on to replace Robbo in 54 minutes moving to right midfield. A minute later Sid had one of the worst misses of the season. McQuilken played a lovely chip over the defence to McLaughlin who broke into the box and squared the ball to an unmarked Sid who had all the time in the world but somehow contrived to sclaff the ball a mile over the bar. Stevenson was next to have a shot blocked before Roy had to look sharp to tip a McQuilken cross over the bar.

The continual pressure paid off on the hour mark when we made it three. After another good build-up, McLaughlin passed to Hay who got to the byeline and crossed over Roy's head for Sid to head home at the back post from about 6 inches out.

For the remaining half-hour Saints showboated in some style with Ayr settling for damage limitation - which ended up in Roy putting on an excellent performance. He saved two shots from Hay in 67 minutes after he got onto the end of a McLaughlin cutback. Then in 70 minutes Sid passed to Hay who had another turn and shot which Roy did well to get down to save. And a minute later the Ayr keeper surpassed himself. Flash played a long ball to Stevenson who played a neat 1-2 with Sid (including a cheeky backheel - we were that confident) before letting rip with a cracking shot which was matched by an excellent save from Roy to concede a corner.

Keigan came on for the knackered Hay in 74 minutes and a minute later Jim Weir picked up the only Saints booking of the game for a late challenge (although he had an otherwise excellent shift). Nelson was called into action just after that when he let a cross drop but McQuilken was there to clear the danger - to be honest that was as good as it got for Ayr all afternoon. Meanwhile Taylor cut out a loose pass at the other end and sent a shot over the bar. Then Sid had a ball go well over the bar after a good Parker run down the right had set him up. Stevenson had a good run but shot well over the bar as Saints kept up the pressure. There wasn't much more in terms of real goalmouth action (Parker was pretty disappointing) but the passing and play from the midfield was outstanding with Saints finally showing how to keep possession.

Overall it was one of the best performances of the season - MoM for me was Brian McLaughlin who was outstanding - although there wasn't really a poor performance on the day with Sid having one of his best games for Saints and Taylor and McQuilken looking excellent in midfield. As for the defence - they strolled through the game.

See Valentine's Day and it's all sweetness and love at Saints!!!

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