Temple Of Saints - Simply a Slaughter

Bells League Division One 04/12/2004

Partick 0 Saints 4 League Table Here

Team : McGregor, Anderson , Tait, Hannah, Webb, Maxwell, McCann, Sheerin, Moorie, Peaso, Keyring
Subs : Cuthbert, Hay, Dyer, Hardy, McManus

Firhill for thrills and all that. Well, Wegieland's poorer relation's ground has changed a bit since our last visit, way back in the days when we were romping home to titles and able to take the piss out of Rab C Nesbitts favourite heroes. So today saw us back in the salubrious surroundings of Maryhill (byraway) looking to keep, or rather start a run going to build on the heroics from last weekend. Wegieland itself hasn't changed that much - still pissy wet and bloody freezing. Oh aye and we still gub the home side. At least we got seats this time, once the Turnstile Taleban deigned to grant us admittance.

Despite the pre-match news, John Connolly made several changes to last week's heroic eleven. With Rustybitz still suspended, Spiderman kept his place in the starting line-up. Baxter was out entirely as was McConalogue with Pamela Anderson in at right-back and youngster Willie Dyer on the bench. Keyring and Lee Hardy swapped over with the latter replaced in the starting lineup by the former. Flash's injury kept him out of the side with Steve McManus stepping up to the subs bench.

The wind played havoc from the start. Partick had it behind them for the first-half and caused the Saints defence a few problems without creating any real clearcut chances. Pamela and Webb in particular struggled for the first ten minutes or so. However it was Saints that threatened with a McCann cross cleared in the 4th minute and Keyring threatening with a good run a minute later.

After the dull, shaky opening stages, Saints took the lead in the 13th minute against the run of play. A nice patient build-up in midfield eventually found Peaso who played a neat chip over the defence for McCann to run onto. Ryan seemed to have taken the ball too wide but instead rounded the home keeper and slotted the ball home. 1-0 up and the large Saints support started the singing that was to last until the final whistle.

It could have been different two minutes later when a quick Thistle break was played across to their left where Airbags Tait was caught out of position. But the first-time shot was brilliantly blocked by RobRoy's legs. That seemed to knock the confidence out of Partick with only Hinds causing us much in the way of problems. Saints on the other hand were starting to find their rhythm with the midfield putting on their best performance of the season - Ravey Davey Hannah and Keyring in particular.

The latter set up our next real chance in the 20th minute after he was fouled by Fatboy Fulton (who looks like he's been getting stuck into the Xmas turkey since the summer). The freekick sailed over to the back post but Maxie just failed to connect with the ball. Two minutes later and Spiderman did get his head to the ball but missed the target. Partick had a couple of corners but didn't cause any problems and in fact Saints were playing some neat football from defence. Moorie and Peaso both had chances but ten minutes from the break a great flowing move ended in Saints second courtesy of Pamela's first goal for Saints. Ravey Davey played a brilliant pass to the left for Keyring. He had a run before passing to Jordan on the overlap. His high floating cross landed at the back post where Pamela had the simplest of tap-ins.

Two-nil up and we were coasting - so much so that Mekon and his chum in the home dugout hinted at their desperation by putting on Andy McLaren - suffice to say this is a player not so much in the twilight of his career as the pitch-black darkness. The action was still all Saints though with Peaso just missing out on a Keyring cross and then Anderson and Ryan combined to set up Keyring on a run but despite some lovely footwork that warranted an appearance on Strictly Come Dancing (as opposed to Fulton who's more likely to debut on Celebrity Fat Club), Arthur came out to clear.

The second-half started with wind-assisted Saints pressing although Partick were out to make a game of it. Within a minute of the restart though a Ravey Davey freekick had been flicked on by Maxie for Peaso but his shot was ruled offside. Pamela picked up a booking a minute later when he went in late but it was warranted and overall Rowbotham had a pretty good game. The freekick came into the box and Webb cleared but a shot came back in and seemed to be cleared off the line by a Saints defender.

At the other end, Moorie had a good run and cross but Ryan, Peaso and Sheerin all managed to miss the ball. Moorie had a weak shot saved and then Keyring got on the end of a corner at the back post but should have taken his time over his shot - instead it was hit first time and went over the bar. Then Sheerin played a one-two with Peaso but his effort was blocked, and that was followed by a great McCann run to the byeline but his cutback was missed by Keyring. Webb had a header blocked before Peaso had a brilliant run in the 65th minute which was only terminated when he was hacked down on the edge of the box. Keyring's freekick was deflected off the wall.

Two minutes after that we should have been three up when a ball into the box found Moorie and his low angled drive went across the goalmouth and just wide. We didn't have long to wait for the third though. Seventeen minutes from time, Peaso, who was tiring had a run and cutback that went behind Moorie in the 6yd box. We got the corner though and it came into the box, was gently flicked on and found Peaso unmarked in a whole pantomime stage worth of space from which he bulleted a header into the net. 3-0 now and the luvvies in the home stand were exiting stage left. It wasn't over for Thistle though and ten minutes from time, a Partick corner cannoned back off RobRoy's post, with the rebound headed back in and forcing another great save from the Saints keeper.

Peaso left the field in the 82nd minute to be replaced by Chris Hay. A minute later and the sub got our fourth. McCann had a good run and shot deflected over the bar. The resulting corner was cleared as far as Hannah at the edge of the box and his shot took a deflection before landing at the feet of Hay who made no mistake from 8 yards out. Cue another massed exodus to the Maryhill wine bars as the Saints fans started chanting for a fifth. And we came close as well. First of all, a neat Ravey Davey one-two with Hay set him up for a shot that went just wide. Then Hardy, on for Keyring set up Moorie who had a brilliant effort deflected just over the bar. And to round things off in injury-time, Anderson should have tried a shot after running almost the length of the pitch. Instead he slipped the ball to Hay but his attempt went over.

I don't think any Saints fan expected such a convincing performance on the day. Partick were certainly tougher opponents than Clyde but in the end we had confidence simply oozing through the side and like last week, the biggest disappointment of the day was not scoring more. As for the individual performances, again there was no faulting the effort. Perhaps some of the positioning could have been better but that's just a minor moan, especially when you think that three first-choice defenders were absent. Man of the match was relatively easy as well with Hannah simply outstanding in midfield. As for Partick they've gone downhill big time and must be candidates for the drop.

Another happy Saturday nightmare beckons for Saints though. Maybe the dawn is getting brighter.

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