Temple Of Saints - Another Two Dropped

Bells League Division One 17/09/2005

Saints 1 Scumdee 1 League Table Here

Team : Cuthbert, Anderson, Stanic, Paterson, Rustybitz, Mensing, McCann, Sheridan, Milne, Scotland, Sheerin
Subs : Paston, Dobbie, Peaso, Stevenson, Hannah

Overconfidence is a very dangerous thing to have going into a football game. God knows how many times Saints supporters have been victims of their own dreams over recent years. But just for a change we went into today's big game (so big it even dragged Scotsport's top camcorder crew to Perth in successive weeks), with not only our own form looking good but our opponents attempting to emulate Partick's campaign of last year - aided and abetted by Alan Kernaghan. Unfortunately Saints decided to be charitable again and the visitors nicked a point (Dundee and thievery!?). Another early goal lost meant that we were chasing the game and even though we dominated most of the play the cutting edge from midfield was missing again.

After the gubbing of Raith midweek (and the media fuss about Paul McManus being carted off to solitary for daring to score against us), today saw Oweny get a chance to tweak the team once more. Mark Campbell was forced to sit this one out as he served the second game of his latest suspension. And of course we weren't short of injury victims. But Anderson came through to replace Campbell while Dazza forced Hannah onto the bench. Peaso joined Dobbie on the bench. For the Scum, new boss Cartman, brought in ex-Saints player Stuart McCluskey to aid him in planning Dundee's campaign to do a Partick.

The game started in pretty windy conditions with silky football kept to a minimum. That wasn't helped by our apparent intent on playing keepie-uppy and avoiding ball-to-pitch contact as much as possible. We made some half chances but the height of the inbreed's defence meant that they mopped up most of the balls like lines of coke at a Kate Moss dinner party. Scumdee were limited to an early corner that Rustybitz headed clear. But in the 8th minute Scott Paterson was penalised 20 yards out. The freekick beat the Saints wall but the Cat did well to get down and tip the ball wide only for a Scumdee shirt to get there and chip the ball back across the goal where Craig was there to head home. One day we'll play a game where we don't concede an early goal.

Saints weren't slow in hitting back though. within three minutes Jason set up Dazza for a long-range effort that went just over. But a minute later Scotland was fouled on the left. Dazza's freekick floated into the box where McCann's header was blocked but Rustybitz was there to nod the ball over the line. One each and it was game on.

The game livened up (along with the usual fun in the stands) even if the skill level didn't. Sheerin set up Pamela who cut in but pulled his shot wide. Anderson and Stanic both had crosses held as we pressed but the Coagies height advantage meant that Savo and Scotland were living off scraps. There was some controversy in the 25th minute when referee Ritchie denied Saints a strong penalty claim when a cross came in from the left and Pamela was bundled off the ball - no joy though. T

he Scum broke up the park and Lynch made room but shot just wide. Rustybitz wasted a long-range shot that went over. At the other end, Mann went in heavily on Scotland leaving him needing treatment for an ankle knock (and the mandatory tetanus and rabies shots). Scott Paterson's powerful freekick was blocked by the wall. Meanwhile the Scum were limited to a corner courtesy of Sheerin but any danger there was removed after an assault on Cuthbert in the box. Saints caused Jack some trouble ten minutes before the break. A Rustybitz cross found Savo and the keeper took several touches to save the ball. Scumdee broke up the park but that was ended by a daft challenge from the Iceman ending in a booking for the Saints player.

The half finished with a chance for each side. The Cat was quick off the mark to come out and beat Lynch to a loose ball. Then on the stroke of half-time, a Saints freekick found Rustybitz and his cross was dummied by both Savo and Sheerin for Goran at the back post but his shot went just over the bar. Saints must have paid some attention to the half-time lecture as we began to play the ball along the ground more.

Two minutes into the half, the ball was squared to Sheerin who played a nice wee chip into the box for Jason but he was unable to fully shake off his bodyguards and his final shot was held. Kernaghan's relegation candidates hit back up the park and after Rustybitz missed a header, it let Craig in but his shot hit the side netting. Saints kept the pressure up but we struggled to get the ball into the box as Scumdee stuck nine men behind the ball. Even when we got a freekick in the 55th minute after Dazza was fouled, Jason's effort came back off the wall. Pamela picked up a soft booking on the hour mark for a late challenge.

Saints were still pressing though. Sheerin had a couple of crosses held, while Scotland and Savo both had shots held. Our best chance came in the 65th minute. Rustybitz sent another good cross into the box. The ball was cleared as far as the edge of the box where McCann fired in a cracking volley that Jack did well to get down to and tip wide. The corner broke as far as Paterson but his long-range shot....well the less said the better. Two minutes later we came even closer with a McCann break down the right. His cross found Sheerin in the box but his header(!) went just wide of the target.

The game was getting pretty scrappy as Saints struggled to break down the 11-man opposition defence. We lacked pace on the wings and the midfield seemed reluctant to get into the box and cause any trouble while the strikers were being marked out the game. Oweny made the first change with twenty minutes to go as we switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Rusty making way for Stevenson as Pamela dropped back to the right-back slot. A minute later it looked like Anderson was in trouble himself after aggravating his calf injury when he fouled Craig. The freekick ended up going just wide of the Cat's goal and Pamela was able to carry on after some treatment.

Scotland went off a few minutes later and Peaso came on. Our next best chance came from McCann again after he was set up by Sheerin. But his shot was deflected just wide with the keeper going the other way - it was that sort of day for us. Saints were well in control by this time with the defence looking solid and Paterson mopping everything up. In the end though the Scum were settling for a draw as they retreated further into their shell and Saints just seemed to run out of ideas with plenty of balls being sent into the box courtesy of Stanic and McCann but the final touch was missing - Stevenson had a shot go blocked and Savo, who ran his arse off again just failed to get onto the end of a couple of passes.

It was a decent enough performance from us and certainly we didn't look in much danger but it also has to be seen as two points dropped for the second game in a row. MoM for me was Scott Paterson but Scotland, Sheridan, Rusty and Savo all did their part. As for the Scum - they looked like they're going to struggle this season lacking any skill or ability.

Next time!

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