Saints 0 Motherwell 2
Team : Samson, Cowan, Fozzy, Bagan, Rustybitz, Maxwell,
Trialist (Cash), Sheerin, Dobbie, Moorie, Sloan
Subs : Cuthbert, Anderson, Forsyth, Hannah, McCann,
Keyring
Cheer up, despite the scoreline it wasn't all bad news today with some decent performances from Cash on the wing and Dobbie and Sloan showed plenty of promise. However given the break and the rejuvenation of the side it was still a big worry that we hardly managed a shot in goal, especially in front of a decent Saints crowd, and possibly a bigger concern was the simple way we conceded the goals - the second especially is the sort that could end a player's career (are you listening Mr Rutkiewicz
Saints started with Webb rested and Rusty and Maxie in the middle. Trialist Brian Cash went to the right wing and Robbie Sloan on the opposite flank whilst Bagan and Sheerin made up the central pairing as Moorie and Dobbie (who certainly looks like he could do with losing a few pounds) went up front. As early as the first minute we could have taken the lead when the impressive Cash (I refuse to refer to him as a trialist) went on a run down the right wing showing plenty of pace and skill before setting up Dobbie who fired a low shot which BarryJohnCorr (obviously the forgotten member of the band) managed to hold. The early stages saw Saints have plenty of pressure forcing a couple of corners and both Cash and Sheering hitting shots just wide and over the goal.
Unfortunately it's at times like this the ole sucker punch takes effect. So it was in the 15th minute that Motherwell won the first of many soft free kicks (to say the ref was baffling is an understatement). It was taken quickly and a chip into the Saints box found McDonald who fired a cracking volley over Samson into the net. Sort of knocked the stuffing out of us it did.
Still we were playing some neat passing football only to lack the killer touch. Sloan was having a field time down the right and looked a lot more impressive (and fit). But for all that too many moves broke down either due to dodgy offsides or a pass just wasted. The closest we came was in the 19th minute when some slack play in the Well defence saw Dobbie pounce on a loose ball before sending a curling shot just wide. Elsewhere Sheerin seemed to fade from the game and Bagan was caught out a few times. Defensively as well Fozzy wasn't getting forward enough and too often we seemed to be caught flat-footed on the left flank. And I should point out that Samson wasn't the best keeper I've seen today - certainly he handled the few crosses well but his general command of the area left a fair bit to be desired and on several occasions this afternoon it led to a real mix-up between the defence and keeper.
The half ended with some pressure from Saints but little in the way of real chances. Cash and Moorie combined well down the right to set up Bagan in the box but his final shot was a weak one. And to round things off we were awarded a rare free-kick on the edge of the box which Sheerin duly wasted by chipping straight at the keeper.
Sheerin and Fozzy went off at half-time and were replaced by Keyring and Flash with McAnespie taking over an unaccustomed role in the left central midfield position. We definitely seemed to liven up a bit and put a fair bit of pressure on the Well goalmouth. An early corner was cleared and then in the 49th minute a Flash cross found Dobbie who laid the ball back to Moore but he leaned back too much and his effort sailed over the bar. Keyring was making a difference through the middle as well and seemed to be at the heart of a lot of the moves. Cash just missed a Sloan cross and then another Sloan corner eventually came to Keyring but his shot went over.
Just after the hour mark Hannah and McCann replaced Bagan and Cash with the latter definitely looking like the sort of player we need on the right wing. But a quick word about Hannah - the highlights just have to go. It's bad enough having an assistant manager whose gone all bleachy blonde, but the skipper has to be seen to uphold the standards. Absolute disgrace!! In fact I'm convinced it was the shock at seeing the skipper's highlights that led to the 2nd goal as 2 minutes after they came on, Rustybitz managed a total cockup of a ball from the defence playing it straight to McDonald who had a simple run into the box before a low shot made it 2-0. We tried to get back into the game and McCann set up Keyring for a shot that went wide and then Sloan had a good run and cross which McCann flicked onto Dobbie only for the striker's shot to go just wide of the post.
Anderson replaced Rustybitz for the last 20 minutes in a substitution that went down well with the West Stand Moaners (just for today mind). We didn't make much progress in the last 20 minutes though with the ref finally coming to everyone's attention. First of all Flash picked up a yellow card for a late challenge and then with 10 minutes to go a ball was played towards Moorie in the box. He was shoved and bundled over and the ref blew. We all presumed it was a penalty but instead he awarded a free kick right on the edge of the area. Even worse was after he did so, the linesman raised his flag and called the ref over. They had a wee chat and the ref returned to the ball. Again we presumed the linesman would have indicated how far in the box the foul occured - but nope and the freekick stood. Cue Highlights Hannah to stick it over the bar.
Despite the scoreline though there were a few good performances today. Cowan and Maxwell were both good and Cash and Sloan (the latter my MoM) were impressive in midfield whilst Dobbie looks certain to score plenty of goals in the First Division. David Bagan looked ok but seemed to lack fitness. As for the rest well suffice to say their replacements had a bigger impact in the 2nd half.
At least there's some hope though....