Cowdenbeath 2 Saints 3
Team : Cuthbert, Stevenson, Stanic, Mensing, Campbell,
James, McCann, Sheerin, Milne, Dobbie, Janczyk
Subs : Hutton, Coyle, Pamela, Peaso, Hannah
The trip to Central Park always had the making of being a major banana skin, especially with confidence running at such a high level. No doubt the John Traynor's of this world were already getting the "car crash" and "demolition derby" headlines dusted down just to get us provincial sides back in our place. For most of the Saints fans making the trip to deepest Fife (and foregoing the delights of yet another bloody OF European game), there was plenty of optimism and faith that the good form from the last couple of games could be carried into another cup tournament. Well in the end, Saints met up with not just one banana skin but a whole truckload of Fyffes (Fife - geddit?). Oweny has his work cut out for the rest of the season because we sure as feck used up most of our luck quota tonight!
The debate pre-match had been all about whether Owen would rest some of Coyle's Crusaders from the weekend and give a few fringe players a runout. Both Savo and Dazza were subbed at the weekend after picking up minor knocks. As it was the latter didn't make it with Sheerin getting the nod. Both Savo and Goran passed their fitness tests to make the starting lineup with Pamela Anderson and Ravey Davey on the bench.
We started in pretty poor conditions on what has to be one of the smallest playing surfaces in Scotland. The wet pitch didn't help for the sexy football with our first decent chance from a second minute freekick totally wasted. A minute later Sheerin had a decent long-range shot tipped wide but the Blue Brazil were playing a tight marking game and frustrated most attempts by Saints to get their passing game moving and use the wide men. McCann tried to set up Savo but the move didn't come off. Then in the fifth minute it was Cowdenbeath's turn after Mark Campbell handled the ball. The Cat tipped the resulting freekick wide. And while Saints were struggling to get going we did manage to take the lead in the 10th minute. Sheerin squared the ball out to Scrabble who threaded a neat pass into the area for Dobs. Janczyk was looking for a one-two but Dobbie turned and hit a low drive past the goalie to make it 1-0. That was followed a couple of minutes late by a Milne run, but he shot over. We still seemed to be in second gear and it wasn't very pretty.
At the same time Cowdenbeath were trying to hit us on the break and although chances were kept to a minimum, the Saints defence was looking shaky and lethargic at times. That in fact contributed to the Fifers equaliser after 25 minutes. Mensing conceded a freekick on the edge of the Saints' box. That was deflected out for a corner. Over came the inswinger which was missed by the entire defence but met at the back post by Ward who headed it into the back of the net. 1-1 and the nerves began twitching.
They were eased within five minutes though as Sheerin played a nice pass to Savo. He used his pace to cut into the box but was brought down before getting a shot in. In a rare show of common sense, the referee pointed to the spot - a bit soft but a definite penalty. Dobbie stepped up to do the honours with a well-taken effort. 2-1 and to be honest I fully expected Saints to waken up and start playing to their strengths.
And while there were some decent attempts (Scrabble had a great shot through a crowded area well saved). But for the most part, it was a game of unforced errors and niggly fouls, not helped by an over-officious referee. Overall, it was pretty rank and Saints were still caught napping with the Cat making a great block after Stevenson went to sleep and let the Cowden striker through.
At the other end Scrabble set up Dobbie but his shot was just wide of the post. The bookings had started now with two home players booked in succession for trying to do a demolition derby job on McCann. Meanwhile we almost scored a third when a Milne effort was fumbled by the keeper - Dobbie tried an angled chip but the ball was headered off the line. The half closed off with another Mensing handball and freekick and corner but the Cat held firm. After the delight of hearing Stewart Duff win the half-time draw,
Saints started the second forty-five on the attack but we were far too casual with some of the play, and it was almost ten minutes into the half before we created any real chance with a Stanic cross headed over by Milne. Two minutes later Savo turned provider with a good run up the right but his cross cutback to Dobbie was intercepted although the striker was slow to react. Too often though the strikers were dropping back to do their own running with the midfield failing to press forward in any real numbers. Cowdenbeath meanwhile were hitting us on the break and the Cat had to look sharp a couple of times after the Saints defence was easily breached. Owen Coyle was losing patience by this time and the dugout felt his wrath!!
With Saints resorting to the long ball tactic at times and the game dying we were hit by the sucker punch. A long ball into their half was taken by the keeper. One long clearance back into our half and Mensing missed the ball. It fell to Darren Gribben and from 25-yards out the Cowden striker hit a cracking dipping volley which beat the Cat (and probably most keepers) and went into the back of the net. 2-2 and the BAD memories were coming back (you know the ones we don't talk about any more!).
Saints tried to hit back with a Stevenson run finding Milne but his sclaffed header went wide. Oweny played his first sub with Ravey Davey coming on for McCann to shore up a midfield that was singularly failing to deal with either the wet conditions or the hassle from the home side. And with 17 minutes to go the large Saints support erupted in fury. A simple clearance from Cowdenbeath found Campbell tangling with one of the home players. A simple 50-50 ball saw the Beath player live up to the Brazil tag with an impression of Rivaldo as though he'd been elbowed in the face. Up came the ref and Campbell saw a straight red card. Down to ten men Cowdenbeath obviously smelt blood and Saints defence began to look really shaky. They had a good header go wide whilst we had to settle for corners being wasted.
Peaso replaced the knackered Dobbie but Cowdenbeath had the next good break and it took some composed defending from Mensing to win the ball and clear the danger. Peaso tried a one-two with Savo but shot over when it looked easier to score. To be honest extra-time looked more and more likely - if we could hold out. But with seven minutes to go Peaso set up Milne whose shot went out for a corner. The ball came over and found Le Freak whose header down reached. Stevenson. His shot was deflected but only into the path of Savo in the 6-yard box who headed the ball home. Three-two but it was more relief than celebration.
Saints did begin to play a bit better and Peaso almost got onto the end of a Hannah cutback then Scrabble saw a decent shot blocked. Scrabble and Peaso linked well with five minutes to go but the shot was easily held. The controversy wasn't over though and a minute later Cowdenbeath's Fusco saw his second booking for a nasty challenge on Stevenson which I reckon should have been a straight red - it was the type of foul that could end careers. Ryan did recover though and had a good run and shot in the final minute - the ball went wide but also a mile behind the goal - just the sort of timewasting we needed.
Again it's hard to pick a MoM but for all the wrong reasons - Kevin James was the most capable of what at times was a bad bunch. We should have heeded the warnings at the weekend - perhaps tonight was the sort of performance and alarm call that might just sort things out for the tougher games to come. God knows we can't rely on the luck side.
Still, at least we're in the next round (makes a change!)
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