Temple Of Saints - Saints Slaughter Accies

Bells League Division One 25/10/2005

Saints 5 Accies 1 League Table Here

Team : Cuthbert, Mensing, Goran, Stevenson, Rustybitz, James, Henry, Sheridan, Milne, Scotland, Sheerinho
Subs : Paston, Oweny, Dobbie, McCann, Pamela

After the trek at the weekend and the three points from Dumfries, tonight's match against the on-form Accies suddenly took on a bit more of a crunch game tag with McDiarmid now playing host to 3rd v 2nd. Add to that the wee bit of spice as we went looking for revenge for the shite performance in the Challenge Cup tie and the game had the makings of a cracker - especially with the St. Midden trip to Stranraer giving the added possibility of a winner tonight going to the top of the table. Well that didn't happen but the other part of the plan came off in spectacular fashion with Saints simply destroying Accies and if it hadn't been for some excellent form from McEwan in the away goal it could have been twice that. Add to that another outstanding performance from Sheerinho the Wizard and a candidate for goal of the season from Stanic you have a lot of happy Saints fans tonight!!

Saints had pre-match doubts over a few players with Goran (not the most popular player in Dumfries these days), Rustybitz and Henry all facing late checks after picking up knocks at Palmerston. Only the latter had been giving serious concern though, but even he recovered in time to allow Oweny to field an unchanged starting lineup. For Accies, Mark McLaughlin was missing along with ex-Saints winger Lee Hardy.

The rain over the last 48 hours or so meant that it was a heavy pitch but at least it was a grass surface which hopefully meant a wee bit of an advantage for Oweny's boys. The game was open from the start but w carved out the first real chance in the 4th minute when Scotland was on the receiving end of the first of many fouls. Dazza's freekick was cleared back to him and he played the ball back into Ryan who turned but shot just wide. Accies hit back immediately with a cross finding Tunbridge. His header beat the outrushing Cat but James was there to clear the danger. Back up the other end and another Saints freekick into the box was headed down by Le Freak. It found Jason but he couldn't make room for the shot instead laying the ball off to Ryan but he sclaffed his effort well over the bar. Next up was a Rustybitz long-range drive that sailed over the bar and caused havoc in the North Stand seats.

The game was pretty even though with the greasy wet pitch causing a few problems. Sheerinho had been pretty subdued until now but he came to life in the 16th minute getting onto the end of a Stevenson cross. He hit the ball wide but he used his new-found confidence to chase the ball down and, from the byeline, hit a curling chip back in across the goal and was unlucky not to see it end up in the net. Two minutes later we were lucky when an Accies freekick into the box was headed over by Keogh. But the striker only had himself to blame in the 20th minute when Rustybitz ballsed up a clearance. Keogh pounced on the loose ball but somehow managed to blast it into the side netting. They had another chance just after that when Mensing was caught out. The cross came in from the left to an unmarked Ferguson but he slipped in the box and missed the ball. Then in the 25th minute Rustybitz was adjudged to Have fouled Neil. The freekick rounded the wall but the Cat sprang across the goal to tip the ball wide. The real fun was about to begin though.

27 minutes gone and Stevenson had a good run up the right wing firing a cross over to the far side where Stanic was involved before the ball eventually fell to Scotland in the box and Jason made no mistake from 12 yards out. Saints had the bit between their teeth now and four minutes later a sublime Henry through ball from the middle found Savo. He turned and fired in a good shot that McEwan did well to block. The ball broke free to Ryan who squared to Dazza but his effort went wide.

The game had turned scrappier after we took the lead and Ferguson was booked for a nasty tackle from behind on Ryan. He was followed in the 36th minute by Mackenzie who went in heavily on Henry (not that it stopped the Accies thug from becoming involved in several niggly battles for the rest of the night). The floodgates were about to open and from the freekick Henry sent the ball into the area where James headed the ball to Jason. He was blocked from turning but slid the ball to Ryan in the area who despite being off-balance succeeded in blasting it into the roof of the net. 2-0 up and the confidence was oozing out like grease on a coagies hair.

Accies tried to hit back from the restart but their best effort was a low drive that was blocked in the box. Gilhaney came on for Wilson in the 40th minute but moving three up front cost Hamilton dear and within seconds Stanic won the ball in the midfield and released Savo who set up Ryan for a shot that was held. Mensing had to make a last-ditch tackle on Keogh in the box but in the 43rd minute we increased our lead.

Savo set up Scotland who crossed for Sheerinho only for the Wizard to be bundled off the ball. Stonewall penalty although Billy Reid threw a tantrum about it that earned him a talking to from the referee (and no doubt a Bill from Saints after he kicked out at an advertising board). Back on the pitch and Sheerinho didn't let these shenanigans bother him with a cool, classy rocket of a spot-kick to make it 3-0.

The first-half action wasn't finished though and from the restart Accies broke up the park only for Ole Rusty to make a good tackle that the Accies players reacted to. Cue bust-up and James leading Rustybitz away as the Saints defender looked ready to rumble. And then we finished the half in style. A Dazza freekick found Rustybitz but his header went just wide. Then on the stroke of half-time, Saints pressed with Jason finding Savo in the box. He was brought down but the referee waived for the advantage as the ball fell at the feet of the caped pointy-hat wearing God that is Sheerinho. One waive of the wand and he slotted the ball home for our fourth to round off as good a 20 minutes you're ever likely to experience outside of a hotel Jacuzzi and a spell with J-Lo and the baby oil!!

The second-half begun with Saints looking for more although the fight seemed to have gone out of Accies. Still they were making a go of it but we created the first chance five minutes into the half when some great one-touch play from most of the Saints midfield ended in a James cross from the left for Stevenson only for Ryan to miss the ball completely when a simple touch would have been as classy a goal as you can get. Stanic set up Sheerinho next but his shot was held. Then with an hour gone Accies got back into it. Scotland seemed to be fouled but the referee waived play on and with Saints having stopped a cross got behind the defence and found Keogh who stuck a powerful header past the Cat.

That acted as a wake-up call for Saints but Fleming almost made it two for Hamilton when he cut inside after leaving Mensing for dead on the touchline - the shot sailed just over the bar though. Stevenson picked up a yellow card for a late challenge and in the 65th minute McCann came on for Henry, with ex-Saintee Graeme Jones replacing Keogh for Accies a few minutes later. Saints were still cruising along in second gear and while we were making chances the three goal cushion was still a very comfortable one to be sitting on. But the introduction of Jones definitely added a physical aspect to Accies play and the challenges were going in thick and fast with frustrations starting to boil over. We kept making chances though and in the 72nd minute James released Scotland who had a good run, rode a tackle and squared the ball to an unmarked Savo in the box but somehow his shooting boots were missing and McEwan made another good save at his feet.

Two minutes later it was sheer joy for the home fans. After riding a nasty rugby tackle and getting advantage from the referee (who seemed to play that rule a lot tonight helping for an entertaining game), our Goran took a few more steps and from fully 35 yards and just to the left of the goal out let rip with a belter of a curving drive that beat McEwan and went into the net off the underside of the junction of post and crossbar. As good a goal as you'll see all season and simply summed up the class on the park tonight.

That killed the game off and Saints began to chase the cricket score (or at least get Sheerinho that elusive hat-trick). Neil was finally booked for a heavy challenge on the Wizard who then set up Savo only for McEwan to make another good save (in fact he was possibly their best player on the night). Scotland replaced Dobbie for the last ten minutes and just after that Sheerin was fouled just outside the box. James got a header on the freekick and set up Savo but his volley was just over the bar - it was that sort of night for the Saints striker.

Six minutes from time Sheerinho again showed off his mazy magic with another great run to set up Dobbie but his shot was pulled wide. Then he combined with McCann to release Dobbie for another miss. Coyle replaced Savo for the last few minutes but the final touch belonged to Sheerinho again after a great McCann run released him in the box. He put in a good left-footed angled low drive but it was an inch the wrong side of the post, putting the hat-trick on ice for another week.

We were simply superb tonight and while Accies were a much stronger team than our last game against them, tonight Saints simply took control of the game and displayed the clinical killer instinct we've been crying out for. If it hadn't been for McEwan's form we'd have been in double figures (and Savo might have even got his name on the scoresheet). As it was only Mensing IMHO had an off night but that's a minor quibble. And while I'd love to give the Wizard his MoM award that strike from Stanic and his solid game just edges Goran in front. But there were no failures tonight.

Right, who's next?

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