Temple Of Saints - Ref Luck Strikes Again

Bells League Division One 19/11/2005

Saints 0 Clyde 0 League Table Here

Team : Cuthbert, Pamela, Goran, Stevenson, Rustybitz, James, McCann, Sheridan, Milne, Scotland, Sheerinho
Subs : Paston, Dobbie, Dyer, Hannah, Coyle

After the disappointment at slipping up last weekend to the cheating scum at Dens, today saw us get a chance to put the Saints challenge back on track with a game against one of the on-form sides in the league who also suffered from a cheating opponent. There was the added incentive of trying to keep all eleven blue shirts on the park for the finish although with Simon Mensing suspended the chances of that happening had improved greatly. And in the end, about the only surprising thing was that we didn't witness a red card after a plethora of bookings throughout the ninety minutes. But what got the home support really fired up was Saints being on the wrong end of another penalty decision with Jason Scotland denied an absolute stonewaller. Even allowing for that, we made enough chances that it has to be seen as two points dropped, with too many players off the pace.

The training kit had hardly got a sweat stain on it over the last five weeks due to the casualty list holed up in the treatment room. But we did have our lucky talisman in World Cup star-to-be Jason Scotland returning to the fold and a Lazarusesque revival for the Cat (now down to about seven lives). But with the injuries from Dens still being treated for rabies etc, it meant another reshuffle in defence. Scott Paterson dropped out and James was passed fit. Elsewhere Ryan McCann came in for Henry while Dobbie dropped to the bench where he joined Dyer.

The game saw what had to be the fastest booking at McDiarmid for a while with Clyde's McGregor the first name in the book within 60 seconds for a nasty challenge on Jason - no way to treat a World Cup star. The opening stages were pretty quiet with Saints struggling to get going (and looking well off the pace) and Clyde happy to sit back and hit us on the break. Saints played plenty of high balls but the strikers struggled to reach them. Savo had a decent run in the 7th minute but there wasn't much support. The Saints midfield were sitting far too deep and Clyde made a decent chance in the 11th minute when one-time Saints target Tom Brighton tried a long-range effort which went just over the bar.

However it wasn't long before the wee niggles and grudges began to show with Sheridan coming in for a lot of attention from his former club with a clash with the Clyde no. 6 followed by Alex Williams Being warned for a late foul on Pamela. Savo came close in the 17th minute when he got onto the end of a long Cat clearance. The bounce was an awkward one though and the keeper cleared it as far as Sheerinho but his magic deserted him as his hopeful shot went wide. Two minutes later a quickly taken freekick (following a heavy Williams foul on Dazza) found Stevenson wide right and he got the ball to the byeline. His cutback found Scotland but his effort was blocked in the box. Ryan turned provider next with a short pass to Jason. He turned his marker before slipping a neat reverse pass to McCann who'd made a good run through the middle, but his final shot was a weak one.

Overall though we weren't at our best with Saints play scrappy at best. The midfield were second to everything and there wasn't enough movement off the ball. Stevenson summed it up by picking up a bloody nose after stopping a clearance with his face. He was able to continue after treatment. As it was, our best chances came from set pieces with Kevin James threatening at corners. For Clyde Brighton was their biggest danger but Rustybitz and James limiting him to the odd long-range attempt. James got onto a corner on the 30th minute but his close header was cleared off the line, with the attack ending with a clash between Dazza and Eddie Malone.

Saints made their first change a minute later with Savo being replaced by Dobbie. He didn't look hurt but that can be the only reason for the change. Clyde's no 6 finally picked up an overdue booking for pulling Sheridan's shirt. Dazza hit the freekick into the box and found Kevin James who headed the ball down but it was cleared without a blue shirt threatening. Clyde broke up the park and Harris had a decent effort but the Cat did well to tip it over the bar. The corner was floated in for a near post header flicked on but it was cleared off the line. The ball broke wide and was belted back in across goal and missed by everyone - easily the most nervous moment of the first half.

The second period started a bit better for Saints with an obvious half-time roasting from the manager having some effect as we forced an early corner - needless to say it was cleared and a minute later Stevenson became the first Saints player booked for a late foul on O'Donnel. We had a good spell of pressure and after Dobbie was fouled the freekick into the box found James who tried to head it down but failed to find Dobbie for the finish. There were still too many passengers in the side though and it has to be said that Dobbie was struggling for pace, although he did set up Jason with a great ball in the 57th minute only for our World Cup star to fall victim to another poor refereeing decision as he was ruled offside. Malone picked up a booking for a bad foul on McCann (obviously the delights of Cumbernauld has done nothing to cool his hot-headed attitude) and from the freekick Dobbie saw a shot blocked and when the ball broke to Sheerin wide left his cross went across a goalmouth again lacking in blue shirts.

We won a corner a minute later thanks to Sheerin. The ball came over and Rusty rose up for a free header but put the ball over the bar. But the game arguably turned in the 66th minute. Jason was released on the right and got up and cut into the box where he was blatantly brought down from behind. A stonewall penalty or so we thought. Unfortunately Mr Murray decided to boost his votes for Arse Of the Week by waiving away the claims and even taking his time before allowing Jason to receive treatment for the knock he received when brought down. Easily as bad a decision as the one at Dens last week.

McCann picked up a booking for persistent fouling in the 68th minute but Saints were making the better chances and enjoying more of the play by now. With twenty minutes left Jason had a good run down the right and got into the box only for his cutback to Dobbie to be cut out. Seven minutes later Dobbie won a freekick on the edge of the box. The ball found James who laid it back to McCann. His cross went into the 6 yard box where Rustybitz was there again with a beautiful free header - pity it went the wrong side of the post though. Sheridan picked up a harsh booking with 11 minutes to go despite winning the ball. From the freekick the ball came into the box and was headed towards goal but the Cat pulled off an excellent save to tip the ball over. Jason got through three minutes later but his shot was blocked by a backtracking defender.

Owen threw caution to the wind replacing McCann with his own good self a minute later (although I'd argue Stevenson was the poorer player as the game wore on). As it was Stevenson had our best chance five minutes from time as we kept up the pressure. A Sheridan freekick found James in the box who headed the ball down for Ryan but his shot again lacked power and was easily held. Two minutes later Dobbie made a good run and cutback into the box but with both Owen and Jason in space elected to go for a tight-angled shot that was blocked. And if the ref hadn't annoyed us too much so far Jason was through a minute later when he was again brought down on the edge of the box. Perhaps not a penalty but a definite freekick and arguably a last-man offence. Dobbie picked up what we all thought would be our last booking a minute from time - another harsh one for what was his first foul. Clyde mounted one last challenge in the closing stages but it was easily dealt with and from the goal kick Scotland was fouled from behind. The freekick went into the box and broke for Scotland but his angled shot was just wide of the post. Even then we had a decent claim for a handball in injury time and at the final whistle Owen wasted no time in telling the referee what he thought earning himself a yellow card (and it could have been worse had Rusty and James not led him away).

We were a pretty poor side today but still deserved the three points. Only a lack of finishing and sharpness (possibly due to a lack of training) along with some bizarre refereeing decisions prevented us from taking the three points. As for MoM the defence was pretty solid but it has to be Jason Scotland who was the only real creative threat that we had. There's a few players who had a chance to stake their claim today and missed out and the likes of Dobbie need to get their act together if they want to have a sniff of the first team when the rest of the squad is fit.

At least we're a point further ahead of the Scum.

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