Temple Of Saints - Apathy Rules

Bells League Division One 24/04/2004

Ayr 1 Saints 1 League Table Here

Team : Cuthbert, Baxter, McQuilken, Vata, Dods, Forsyth, Sid, Reilly, Hay, Bernard, Taylor
Subs : Nelson, Parker, Malone, Mixu, McLaughlin

So with the title hopes all but dead it was last-chance saloon time at Somerset Park. Unfortunately the Saints players had given up already with today seeing one of the worst, most apathetic performances I've seen under Stark's leadership. Weir and Robbo missed out again and Maxie had finally managed a suspension. So Baxter got to star whilst McQuilken returned on the opposite flank and Flash took over in central defence alongside Darren OG Dods. Malone got a sub spot beside McLaughlin with no place for Foxy or Stevenson which serves them right for scoring midweek.

Saints started playing agree a strong wind so of course our tactical genius of a manager elected to go for Route 1. And with the amount of sand on the park the first half at times resembled a game of beach volleyball so little time did the wee sphere stay on the deck. Actually that's not quite accurate - beach volleyball has a degree of entertainment associated with it. There was a degree of amusement in the first half though - unfortunately only the home fans were laughing.

It could have been different had Sid not missed an easy chance to open the scoring in the 2nd minute. A mix-up in the home defence saw the ball break loose for Sid to latch onto. He broke through with just the keeper to beat but Roy managed to block his effort. Ayr went straight up the park and hit a curling freekick just wide of the goal. Saints hit back and from a throw-in on the left, the ball was played to Chris Hay, who turned and hit a good shot which Roy did well to get down to and tip round the post.

Then came the shambles. Eight minutes gone and a seemingly harmless wind-assisted long ball found Forsyth in plenty of room but the Dods-effect took hold and he tried to head it out. However all he succeeded in doing was heading the ball over the keeper but under the bar and into the net. One-nil down and we weren't laughing.

And that was really it for the action as the Saints support began to get more and more frustrated with the apparent lack of effort and shape from the blue shirts. it wasn't even a case of too many passes going astray sincee we weren't even passing the ball, instead just hitting a hopeful ball up the park. Even when we got the chance there was a total lack of composure up front. In the 13th minute, Sid brilliantly controlled the ball on his chest but then managed to blast his shot over the bar and out the ground. And 4 minutes after that Rudi sent a freekick a mile wide of the goal - the man has all the set-piece talent of Craporuso. Something every Saints fan has known for weeks but has still escaped our genius of a manager. And while I'm on a roll can we please stop this short-corner routine - like the Saints midfield today, it's a waste of time and space.

Sid had another shot blocked in the 23rd minute then a minute later Ayr countered with a long ball which Vata failed to control - luckily for us the United player hit his shot wide of Cuthbert's goal. Hay had a run up the right but his cross was missed by everyone in the box. But we were dire, as were Ayr with the player's unable to keep the ball on the ground (or even in the ground for that matter).

The final chance of the half came four minutes from time when Reilly hit a cross into the box from the left. Sid flicked it on to the back post where Hay saw a good shot blocked by Roy, then failed to get the rebound.

After the half-time oranges and alleged bollocking by the Saints coaches and management the players came onto the park to more of the same. Even the cackling seagulls on the roof of the main stand looked like undercover vultures gathering round in anticipation of the demise of Stark's reign. And things weren't helped by Vata mucking up a passback with his eventual interception by an Ayr player ending when his angled shot going over the bar. It wasn't much better at the other end with a 55th minute Baxter run ending in a good cross into the area but no blue shirt was there to challenge the Ayr defenders. Saints were to put it bluntly absolutely shite with a worrying lack of interest on display.

Ayr had a corner which ended in a header going just over the bar whilst Hay headed a McQuilken cross over the bar. But the striker redeemed himself in the 65th minute. A long ball found Sid who knocked the ball down for Hay who fired in a fantastic first-time 20-yard shot which despite Roy's best efforts ended up in the back of the net. That was unfortunately about the only bright spot in the afternoon (other than listen to one of the locals try to slag off the Saints fans' fashion sense - the words pot, kettle and black spring to mind). Three minutes after that another long ball found Sid but again his shooting boots had been left at home and the ball sailed over the bar.

Mixu replaced the absolute mince Taylor in 70 minutes and started shouting at everyone but to little effect. Baxter, who had had a decent game, was the next fall guy and he was replaced by Keigan in the 78th minute. Which was followed by Parker being fairly tackled in the 79th minute and having a whinge at the linesman, ref and all and sundry - although it seemed as though the Saints support for a change weren't backing the prima donna.

Ten minutes from time Ayr should have scored a second when a cross was missed by Cuthbert and fell to the back post. But the Ayr player with an open goal in front of him seemed to either stand on the ball or catch his studs, giving the Cat time to come across and recover well. And four minutes later he had to look sharp again to punch a cross clear before finally catching the ball. The last chance of the game fell to us when Parker was fouled on the edge of the box on the right hand side. McQuilken took the curling free kick but it ended up in the arms of Roy once more.

So overall a shite game, shite performances with only Hay's goal to brighten up the afternoon, making him my MoM although only Sid, Cuthbert and Baxter challenged him. Mind you the apathy stretched to the sparse Saints support - we didn't even manage a chant for the manager to go today.

Three games to go then it will all change....hopefully.

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