Temple Of Saints - A Bit Better

Bells League Division One 09/04/2005

Saints 0 Clyde 0 League Table Here

Team : Samson, Cowan, Dyer, Hannah, Anderson, Maxwell, McCann, Sheerin, Peaso, Dobbie, Keyring
Subs : Cuthbert, Hay, Sloan, McManus, Webb

It's hard to deny that things have changed quite a bit off the park for Saints since we sat in the Wendy House seven days ago watching what was to be a momentous game for Saints. Since then we've seen one legend end his spell as manager and another take over, albeit only in a caretaker role (complete with Mafia-style wiseguy suit). Ahead of today's vital home match against the runners-up-elect, Jim The Janny had promised that the players would put in the effort on the pitch to ensure that, whoever the new man-in-charge might be he'd be guaranteed 1st Division footie next season. Add to that the usual pleas for the fans to back the players and it was always going to be an interesting atmosphere. Unfortunately by full time it was a pretty flat atmosphere as Saints failed to capitalise on umpteen chances or provide any sign that the fight, passion and hope that the long-suffering Saints support badly need - it will take a lot more than this to get the missing season ticket holders back this or next season.

Weir even had a full squad to pick from (well, apart from the usual suspects list of Fozzy, Bernard and Rustybitz). But that didn't stop him making some changes as experience returned to the side that lost heavily last week. Dobbie replaced Sloan as we went for a 4-4-2 and Sheerin returned from exile to start ahead of McManus who dropped to the bench. Baxter and Flash dropped out with Webb and Hay coming into the subs lineup.

After coming out and applauding the home fans, the game started with the wind behind Saints and it seemed that there might have been a bit of fight reinstated to the blue shirts. As early as the third minute, Dobbie played a neat one-two with Peaso before trying a snap volley that took a bounce and forced Halliwell into a good save. From the resulting corner Maxie had a couple of headers but couldn't find a way past the Clyde keeper. The next chance came in the 5th minute while Anderson was off getting treatment for a bloody nose (courtesy of ex-Saintee Graeme Jones). The ball was spread across the midfield and eventually found Keyring wide left. He sent a floating cross into the 6yd box but the incoming McCann just failed to make contact. A minute later Peaso set up McCann through the middle but after rounding his marker, the shot was blocked by another yellow shirt. Dobbie had another long-range effort go over the bar a couple of minutes later as we kept the pressure up. At the other end, Jones had a curling shot go over while for us a freekick into the box found Keyring unable to make any room for a shot.

That was about it for the early chances as the high punts began to creep back into the play. Of course it wasn't helped by a pair of strikers who failed to link together and spent a lot of the time arguing with one another after yet another misplaced pass - that last part wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't for the fact they did it while play was continuing about them. Clyde's best chance of the game in the 24th minute when a break was allowed after Maxwell fouled Burns. Harty got into the box but his low drive went wide of target. Maxwell became the first name in the book for his foul. Saints still had plenty of chances though. Anderson linked well with Hannah and set up McCann who forced a corner - he needn't have bothered as yet again we wasted a corner kick. Next up was an Anderson flick to McCann. He played the ball through to Peaso and his pass found Dobbie who let fly with a drive from 25 yards which went just wide with Halliwell stranded. However the suicide option was still there and Hannah brought down a Clyde player on the edge of the Saints box. Memories of the last game at Broadwood came flooding back but Burns hit the effort over the bar.

The game was dying down and badly needed a goal. For Saints our passing was very poor, especially in the opposition half. But we kept pressing. Sheerin, playing behind Hannah in the centre of midfield was playing some great balls from defence but the wingers weren't making the sorts of runs that were required to cause the Clyde defence problems. The half ended with some of the niggles boiling over. Potter was booked for a late challenge on Peaso (the freekick, as you'd expect was easily cleared). Then Harty continued to endear himself to the Saints fans by throwing the ball away and starting a shoving match with Cowan - both players getting a warning from the referee for their troubles.

There was some hope after the break. Dobbie went on a good run before sending the ball wide to Ryan McCann breaking down the right. His cross came over to the back post where it was headed clear, but only as far as Keyring. He hit a cracking volley which brought out a brilliant acrobatic save from Halliwell to tip the ball wide. The game soon settled into a scrappy mess though, not helped by the swirling wind which made a lottery of some of the play. Saints had a lot of the play but were leaving themselves exposed at the back at times. For all that, Dobbie had a couple of shots go wide of target before Harty's break on the hour mark saw him chip the ball over the bar, when it seemed easier to score. But there was a real lack of urgency in the play from both sides which was a real surprise and caused some cries of frustration in the East Stand (some things never change).

Our best chance (after Hannah's half-shot had been held) came in the 68th minute. From a Keyring throw on the left, the ball found Maxwell at the near post, who headed the ball down to an unmarked Dobbie who volleyed the ball over the bar when it seemed easier to score. Keyring was next to try his luck with a run after a pass from Hannah, but again the final long- range shot sailed over the bar. With fifteen minutes to go and nobody looking like breaking the deadlock Dobbie was replaced by Chris Hay. A minute later Anderson became the next booking for a soft foul - something that's starting to become a bit of a habit for him. With 12 minutes to go, Dyer, having another solid game, played a lovely ball down the left wing to Peaso. He let rip from the edge of the box and Halliwell failed to hold the shot but Hay was just too slow in the follow-up. Three minutes later and a Maxie punt found Peaso in the same position and another run to the byeline ended in a chip across the goal which, though it beat the keeper, was missed at the back post by McCann.

Clyde began to press back as the game wound down with a couple of breaks and shots over. For the most part Samson wasn't really troubled and Cowan and Anderson were dealing with the attacks comfortably. For Saints, Peaso had another run to the byeline, where he turned and shot the ball across the goal only for Hay to miss the ball in the 6-yard box. At the other end Clyde had a free kick out on the left which came into the box and bounced about rather alarmingly before being held by Samson. With the clock running down Saints went for broke. Sheerin found Peaso with a great ball in the 89th minute but the striker was too selfish and Clyde cleared the danger. Then a Sheerin run ended in a decent shot being held. Jones and McCann picked up niggly bookings in injury time before the last action saw another McCann run and cross missed by Hay in the box.

If anyone deserved to win today it was Saints but too often the movement and fight was missing. MoM for me had to be Anderson who looked rock-solid in defence but the whole back four and Sheerin all played well while Dobbie and Peaso need to develop an understanding up front - unfortunately it's too late this season to see that happening this year.

At least we're a bit nearer safety.

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