Clyde 0 Saints 1
Team : Cuthbert, Robertson, Lovering, El Sid, Dods,
Maxwell, Parker, Reilly, Mixu, Bernard, Malone
Subs : Nelson,McCluskey,Baxter,Stevenson, Fotheringham
Okay so it wasn't pretty for most of the night but against one of the tougher teams we're likely to meet this season Saints just shaded a hard- fought cup tie against a physical Clyde side and a shite referee - I mean as bad as Dougal level as well. But in the end we won through thanks to a strong fighting second-half performance and a cracking winning goal. Nice entertainment for the massive Saints support - who as usual were crowded into that wee corner of the stand. With Flash suspended, Lovering (or Nutter as he's likely to become known) took over at left-back and with Foxy recovering from injury Bernard moved to take over from him in the centre of midfield with Eddie Malone getting a starting jersey on the left side of the park.
The early stages were pretty scrappy with Clyde threatening on the break and Keogh and Harty up front causing all sorts of problems. In the 3rd minute Harty managed a good run through the middle but a combination of Cuthbert blocking the shot and good covering from Dods helped block the attack. Saints first attack came 4 minutes later when Robbo had a low drive held. Robbo was involved with the next move and linked with Parker before the eventual cross was headed wide by Malone at the back post. Keogh picked up a knock and went off with 10 minutes gone but they didn't lose their momentum and forced a couple of quick corners with the Saints defence and midfield looking lethargic. But in the 11th minute we came closest. Parker won a corner on the right and from El Sid's effort, Malone crossed the ball back in. The ball was cleared but only as far as Bernard and he let rip with a cracking long-range shot which Halliwell just held.
The game by now was real end-to-end stuff and being played at a cracking pace. Clyde's next chance came from the first of several dodgy free kicks. A mix-up in the box as Saints failed to clear their lines nearly cost us dear but in the end the ball rolled free to the Cat. Another couple of corners were easily dealt with by Mixu's bonce although he was struggling to win anything in the air at the other end. In 21 minutes a foul on Mixu in the Clyde box saw no foul awarded - the home team then broke up the park and a cross went into the side netting much to our relief. But a sign of things to come came a couple of minutes later when Clyde's no 12 was backtracking and suddenly dropped clutching his face - luckily MacDonald saw some sense (about the only time all night) and refused the foul - mind you there was no booking for diving either.
Saints were struggling to piece together any real attacks. A nice through ball from El Sid was just missed by Mixu and Parker was being bundled off the ball all night - although to his credit he refused to go down. We had another escape in the 32nd minute when a cross from the left saw Harty with a free header from 6 yards out - luckily his thick skull deflected the ball over the bar. Another dodgy free kick saw the Saints wall hold and in 37 minutes a Clyde counter attack saw the Cat make an excellent save after Maxie had totally missed his tackle. Five minutes from the break we began to threaten and a Reilly free kick into the box was headed on by Maxwell and Halliwell only just beat Mixu to the ball. Then El Sid set up Parker on the right for a good run past the offside trap. His narrow angled shot was tipped wide by Halliwell but he perhaps should have squared for an unmarked Reilly in the middle.
After the customary boot up the arse at half-time Saints came out fighting in the 2nd half. Unfortunately so did Clyde but in a more literal sense and the game soon threatened to boil over. Malone and Lovering were both on the receiving end of some challenges but gave as good as they got and then McConalogue and Lovering clashed heavily in what looked to be a 50-50 challenge. It ended up with several players playing handbags at dawn as the ref failed to control the situation. Seven minutes into the half and the ref failed to play a good advantage after Mixu was sandwiched but Eddie was clear.
Still from Reilly's kick Maxwell had a header go just wide. Clyde countered with their best chance of the game and Harty was set up in the middle for a long low drive which went wide with the Cat stuck still. Five minutes later Robbo had to limp off with what looked like an ankle injury to be replaced by Baxter. The continual fouling and refereeing had Saints well fired up and Bernard and Sid were starting to link well although a late tackle from behind on the hour mark saw Bernard booked. Baxter cleared a header at Saints end before the play went back up the park and Maxwell saw his header saved at the other from Bernard's free kick.
But Saints kept pressing and in the 68th minute got our reward. A Mixu flick for Parker saw the wee striker win a corner. From that the ball came over to the back post where Malone flicked it down for Keigan. He cut back inside, round 2 defenders and let rip with a low angled right-foot shot from 11 yards out past the keeper and into the net to send the fans wild and Lovering on a Weiresque display of passion!! The game wasn't over by a long way and Clyde went for broke. But Saints were looking more and more dangerous on the attack and in 71 minutes Malone and Reilly were both fouled. From the kick, the ball was floated over for Sid to knock it back across goal where Malone fired a belter of a volley just wide of the target.
Reilly picked up the next booking as Clyde countered again only to find Darren Dods blocking their every move. As the game wound down, Sid and Parker both came close. Stevenson replaced the knackered Lovering with 7 minutes to go with Malone dropping to left back. And with 3 minutes of normal time remaining we should have wrapped it up. After good word by Parker, Bernard took the ball to the byeline and cut inside. His low square pass was just missed by Mixu though. Clyde kept pressing all through the rest of the game and the lengthy injury time but the Cat was easily in control. And in the 92nd minute our last chance came with a Sid free kick into the box which both Mixu and Bernard failed to head in.
It's hard to judge this game in the context of the league. Keogh's removal obviously affected Clyde but they looked as dangerous as last year albeit a lot more physical and Airdrie-esque. Saints weren't as on fire as Saturday. Mixu for one was crowded out of the game and it wasn't until the midfield started to press that we were able to make some more chances. Bernard for me was the best Saints player on the park although Donnelly, Parker, Malone, Reilly and Dods all played well. Lovering needs to watch his temper - mind you once riled he fairly got stuck in about the opposition.
Quarter-finals here we come!!!
Remember to vote on todays ref Dougie McDonald send marks out of 10 to refvote@grange.demon.co.uk or just select a rating and press the button below ::
This Match Report is copyright Temple Of Saints - not to be reused without permission. Contact webmaster@grange.demon.co.uk.