Temple Of Saints - Smilin' In The Rain

Bells League Division One 27/11/2004

Saints 3 Clyde 0 League Table Here

Team : McGregor, Baxter, Tait, Hannah, Webb, Maxwell, McCann, Sheerin, Moorie, Peaso, Hardy
Subs : Cuthbert, Hay, McConalogue, Keyring, Forsyth

Going into this one, it was probably fair to say that most of us (well those that witnessed last week's surrender) had given up on this season being anything more than rare victories amongst the dross of a "transition". Unfortunately, Clyde have also undergone a similar rebuilding exercise, albeit with a tad more success - at least they're still playing for something other than mid-table security. However, after today there was little sign of that from Clyde as Saints dominated the game and only some poor finishing prevented us winning by a bigger margin.

Saints went into this one minus the suspended Rustybits (or is that an alleged suspension?) but into the squad came the return of the prodigal son in the form of Keyring who was on the bench. Webby Webb replaced the suspended Rusty while Flash was dropped with Beaky back in the side alongside Tait. No change in midfield and just as surprisingly it was the same pairing up front.

The game started in pissing wet dreich conditions. The first-half was pretty poor with chances about a numerous as a salad in Bugger Bollan's fridge. At least in Wullie Young we had a referee willing to let the game flow rather than make himself the centre of attention unlike certain other officials we could name. Any early attacks ended in freekicks for the defence, offsides or efforts going well wide of the target. The biggest danger came from our own defence with a nice spell of arsing about in the tenth minute ending in a pass to Sheerin. Naturally he lost the ball and it took a Beaky tackle to end Harty's run through on goal.

Three minutes later we came close after an Airbags throw-in was flicked into the Clyde box by Moorie to Peaso who fired a low drive that went across the goal and only just the wrong side of the post. That was followed by some rank play from both sides and signs of some frustration in Saints began to show in the 19th minute with Sheerin involved in a shouting match with the home dugout. For Clyde, Mensing became the first name in Willie's book for reacting to a Hardy challenge by raising his hands - that would have been a sending off offence last week. Six minutes after that, Moore was on the receiving end of a hefty challenge from Wilson. The ball broke free and found Peaso in the box but his sclaff was tipped wide by Halliwell. The resulting corner was cleared for a throw-in. That was played to Peaso and his cross was flicked on by McCann to Moorie who somehow put the ball wide from about 4 yards out - cue the traditional doubts as to whether or not he'd ever score! Credit to Wullie Young for booking Wilson for his initial challenge.

Tait got his name in the book for a late challenge as t e game died down a bit. Clyde seemed content to just hit us on the break while we suffered from a lack of movement off the ball and an apparent inability to string two passes together. Baxter had a good run in the 37th minute but his final shot went over. Clyde hit back and their corner a minute later ended in Ryan McCann having to go off for treatment to a head knock. As it was 10-man Saints had their best chance three minutes from the break. Beaky played a short pass back to Peaso on the right, and his cross was blasted inches wide of the goal by Lee 'Ardy. At the other end, Wilford did well to shake Webby and turn in space to shoot over. Then Moore set up Tait who cut in from the left and fired an angled shot just wide. The half ended with Harty breaking through but his shot went well over.

The second half began with Saints looking hungrier although Clyde seemed to be tiring. Two minutes gone and Moore made a good interception and tried to set up Hardy on the break but Mensing got back to cover. But in the 50th minute we broke the deadlock. Peaso won the ball and set up McCann on the right. He sent a low cross into the box which found Moore. He turned and laid the ball off to Sheerin who blasted the ball into the roof of the net from 15 yards out. One-nil up and there was no looking back.

Moore headed a corner wide in the 56th minute. Clyde broke up the park and after RobRoy flapped at a cross Hardy was there to clear. And two minutes after that, Clyde's pressure ended up in a close-range shot which RobRoy palmed clear. Sheridan was booked for a foul on Moore on the hour mark. And a minute later Hardy was replaced by Keyring. The game definitely died down a bit with both defences well on top. Saints freshened things up further with Hay coming on for Peaso. Keyring was having plenty of success down the left flank. A 71st minute corner ended in another Moore shot Being blocked. Then two minutes after that another Keyring cross was fumbled by Halliwell, but he recovered to block Moore's follow-up shot. from the corner Moore fired in a header which was blocked on the line despite most of the East Stand already halfway out of their seats. The ball broke to Sheerin at the edge of the box but his shot went just over.

Saints were well in control by now although there were still some nerves at the single-goal lead. But with ten minutes left those doubts were removed in cracking still. Moore made a run to the byeline and fired in a cross to the back post where Hay rose up and somehow sent a simple header across the goal where it went out for a corner. With the nagging doubts starting to rise up again, the corner was floated over and Moore came in with a cracking header that this time hit the back of the net to make it 2-0. Two minutes later a Tait run down the left found Hay in the box but his shot hit the side netting. Then with only five minutes to go, Chris Hay went on a great run up the left after winning the ball. His cross was chested down by Hannah in the box to Moore who beat his defender, took his time and slotted the ball home to make it 3-0. After that it was easy street although RobRoy did well to tip a cross-cum-shot over the bar and Moore saw a header saved at the other end preventing him getting a deserved hat-trick.

A cracking performance all round although the first-half saw us look pretty lethargic. But there wasn't really a weak link in the side today with Webb and Tait doing well and the midfield coming onto a game. For the doubters, Keyring looked pretty fit and certainly caused problems. MoM for me though had to be Moorie who ran his guts off all afternoon and should have got a hat-trick.

Still halfway to the two-win target, an excellent performance from the lads and Gary Bollan getting the smirk wiped off his ugly face does make for a decent afternoon. Even if it was raining.

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