Temple Of Saints - Massacred by Mixu

Bells League Division One 18/10/2003

Ross County 0 Saints 3 League Table Here

Team : Cuthbert, J-Ro, Flash, Bernard, Dods, Maxwell, Peaso, Reilly, Mixu, Sid, M-Ro
Subs : Nelson, Hay, Parker, Baxter, McLaughlin

Let's get one thing out of the way first - this was another game of two halves. The second was a pretty even scrappy game of football with Saints lacking any urgency and back to normal in their play. But the first half more than made up for it - it wasn't football as such, more a massacre of County's hopes with three deserved goals for Mixu and countless other chances. Just a pity we lacked the conviction / hunger to take it on into the 2nd period.

Saints managed in the end to field a fully-fit squad with St Bernard and Mavis both recovering from the flu and injury to take their place in the starting line-up. It was Peaso and Mixu up front again with the freshly-peroxided Parker on the bench alongside Hay, Beaky and Wee Brian. Foxy and Malone dropped out. For County ex-Saintee Stuart Malcolm lined up in the centre of defence whilst the git we all love to hate Jim Hamilton failed to even make the bench (despite an earlier team announcement that he was there).

From the first minute Saints looked lively and a great move in the first 60 seconds saw Peaso, Sid, Mixu and M-Ro combine to spread the ball across the park before feeding it out wide to an incoming J-Ro on the right. He blasted a narrow angled drive goalwards and it went just over the bar. Four minutes later and the Saints fans in the terracing behind the goal thought we'd taken the lead when from a Flash throw-in on the left, Mixu flicked the ball into the box for Bernard to lash an unstoppable volley goalwards - unfortunately it was stopped by the advertising hoardings as it sailed just wide of the post. County immediately broke up the park but Sid was on hand to make a clearing tackle and set up Flash for a run up the left but his cross cum shot went just over the bar. County had a corner which the Cat held as the game became more evenly paced although Saints looked the more dangerous up front and the midfield were finally getting their support act together.

We finally broke the deadlock in the eighth minute though. Mixu had flicked a neat ball to Sid's feet and his run and shot was brilliantly saved by the feet of Stewart in the home goal and deflected for a corner. From Mark Robertson's kick the ball came into the box, was half-cleared to the side and Maxwell headed it back in for Mixu in the six yard box to blast the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.

The game wasn't over though and County kept up the pressure on us - helped by Mark Robertson conceding a free kick on the edge of the Saints box. The shot beat the wall but went sailing over the bar. At the other end Donnelly had a shot blocked after Peaso had set him up and then a low cross from the right by John Robertson so Reilly saw another effort blocked. Sid had another shot held in the 13th minute although the effort was a pretty weak one. A minute later and Bernard almost increased our lead. Peaso was fouled on the left by Malcolm's elbow (well spotted by the referee as well). His free kick into the area went to the back post where Maxie crossed it back in and Bernard tried a spectacular bicycle kick only to sclaff the ball over the bar. We kept on pressing but failed to create any real chances and it was County who had the next effort in the 21st minute. Dods conceded a dodgy foul 25 yards out and the free kick again sailed over the wall but the Cat easily held it.

Saints hit back a minute later and J-Ro won a corner on the right. From it Maxwell had a great downwards header saved on the line but not held. Mavis hit the ball back into the box and Maxwell had a good low drive tipped wide. The home keeper was again in action on the half-hour mark when a J-Ro cross from the right was headed perfectly downwards to towards the corner by Bernard. Even he reckoned he'd scored but Stewart managed to get down to again tip the ball wide. From the resulting corner Peaso headed the ball at the back post to Dods but his shot went well over the bar.

Flash had a header go over before picking up a deserved yellow for a late challenge on a County player at the Saints byeline 10 minutes before the break. As usual though the free kick was easily dealt with by the Saints defence with the back four growing in confidence as the game progressed. With nine minutes to go to the break Mixu was again fouled on the edge of the box. Mavis took the kick and floated the ball into the area. Maxwell rose to header the ball downwards and Mixu was there to slot the ball home from a couple of yards out and finally ease the nerves a bit.

And four minutes later they were eased even more when Peaso won a free kick on the left after he was held. He took the kick but unlike Ochilview this time the ball rebounded off the bar. Luckily that man Mixu was there to complete his hat-trick with a simple header into the net with the County defence missing and their goalie totally wrongfooted. Cue the chants of "We want seven". Well not quite but we almost snatched a fourth a minute later when Peaso finally beat the offside trap and went for a run on the left. He hit a great shot from the edge of the box but it went just wide of target.

Now I'd love to say we came out in the 2nd half to continue the pressure but for some reason we took the foot off the pedal a bit and despite County upping the pace it was one of the more boring halves of the season. Not that Peaso thought of course after clashing with the County no3 five minutes into the half leaving him limping and the home player carrying a booking (along with Mixu being warned for dissent). Peaso got his own back later with a rash challenge and was lucky not to pick up a yellow himself. On the park the game was scrappy and chances at a premium. Peaso and Mixu had shots blocked before Keigan came on to replace Peaso on the hour. Within a minute he'd combined to set up Sid for a run in from the right but his drive was held.

County were trying to get back into the match but to be honest they had very little threat up front and Saints were in control. Mavis was replaced by McLaughlin with 20 minutes to go but the game was already dying down with some home fans heading for the exit. In fact the first County shot on goal didn't come until the 80th minute and even then the Cat easily got down to hold it. A minute later and they had their best chance of the half with a good low cross in from the right but Dods was there to make a great tackle and clearance in the box. From that he set up Parker but the striker's shot was well held. And the final piece of goalmouth action saw another Parker shot held after Chris Hay (on for Mixu) had set him up.

Overall there can't be many complaints (other than the muckle great youth academy behind the terracing blocking what was a great view when the games at Dingwall get boring). MoM for me (and the match sponsors) had to go to Mixu who played with all the experience of the mature striker as well as getting the first Saints hat-trick in several years. Peaso wasn't as effective but Sid, Mavis and St Bernard all played well whilst the back four were excellent with Dods and Maxwell doing their share of creating and Flash having another good game at left-back.

So another good away win - any chance we can try one at home now?

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