Montrose 0 Saints 3
Team : Cuthbert, Webb, Forsyth, Hannah, Rutkiewicz,
Fraser, Fotheringham, Stevenson, Hay, Bernard, Robinson.
Subs : Nelson, Hardy(on for Forsyth), McConalogue (on for
Foxy), Moore (On for Hay), Malone (on for Robinson)
It was a meeting of two former St Johnstone greats at Links Park on Saturday afternoon when John Connolly and Henry Hall’s respective sides met in a pre-season friendly and it was Connolly’s new charges who opened their 2004/2005 account with win, 3-0 the final score in a match which brought a win which was certainly deserved although the final scoreline perhaps flattered Saints. With Colin Marshall and Mark Baxter nursing knocks and Ian Maxwell failing a 2.15pm fitness test, John Connolly had to shuffled his pack and he started with a central defensive pairing of Stephen Fraser and Kevin Rutkiewicz with Sean Webb and Ross Forsyth filling the fullback positions. The experienced pairing of Paul Bernard and David Hannah filled the middle of the park with trialist Mark Robinson and Martyn Fotheringham joining them in midfield while Ryan Stevenson and Chris Hay led the line. David Hannah was team captain.
Saints started the brighter of the two sides and almost broke the deadlock after just four minutes when Ryan Stevenson took advantage of a defensive lapse but his goalward lob over veteran keeper Jim Butter struck the base of the post and when Robinson floated the loose ball back into the box, Chris Hay’s header went onto the roof of the net. Stevenson looked hungry though and he opened his account in 12 minutes with a great strike from 22 yards, the dipping drive beating Butter and ending up in the postage stamp corner. Chris Hay tested the Links Park keeper with a 25th minute drive but Butter was fairly comfortable in gathering it and seconds later Hay was the danger man again, heading over the bar from a corner kick.
Saints had the bulk of the possession but Montrose were by no means out of it and broke forward dangerously on a few occasions and in 25 minutes Craig Smart was just inches wide with an effort from 22 yards. Eight minutes later and Kevin Cuthbert’s goal had an even closer call when Graeme Sharp stretched to get on the end of a Smart cross from the right and saw the ball hit the outside of Cuthbert’s right hand post. Just before the interval, David Hannah fired over the bar after being set up by Fotheringham who had pounced on a spilled Butter catch.
The second half saw newest recruit Michael Moore introduced for Chris Hay while left winger Lee Hardy replaced Ross Forsyth with Robinson moving back into the left back slot. The home side should have levelled matters within seconds of the re-start when they advanced on the Saints goal and had left Cuthbert stranded but they were over-elaborate in their attempts to get the ball into the net, attempts which eventually saw Euan Hall rattled the under-side of the bar before the danger was cleared. In 52 minutes David Hannah saw a drive from the edge of the box take a deflection and almost beat substitute keeper Hankinson while at the other end substitute Spink missed a gilt-edged opportunity to equalise when he blasted wide from point-blank range.
The Links Park side were to rue their missed chances because Ryan Stevenson got his second of the game in 55 minutes with a drive from just outside the box after the home side had failed to clear the danger.
Before the game re-started, Stephen McConalogue was introduced for Martyn Fotheringham and in 69 minutes Eddie Malone replaced trialist Robinson who had taken a knock. Kevin Rutkiewicz saw a header from a Hardy corner smothered by the home keeper but the lead was extended two minutes from time when Malone did the spadework for Moore who provided a neat left foot finish to make it 3-0. This was a good performance from a group of players who have been together less than a fortnight although the 3-0 scoreline perhaps does Montrose a disservice.
A sharper side than the Links Parkers may well have punished Saints to a greater extend from the chances they created. Kevin Rutkiewicz and Stephen Fraser looked very comfortable throughout and Sean Webb also played well in a right back slot that is not his favourite. The midfield worked hard with both Hannah and Bernard showing their experience with some neat passing moves and good vision. Trialist Mark Robinson had a very comfortable game in both his left sided roles while Lee Hardy showed signs of plenty ability in his 45 minute run out. Tiredness eventually got the better of Ryan Stevenson but his incisive finishing made the difference on the day.