Partick 4 Saints 4 (aet - Saints win 4-3 on penalties)
Team : Cuthbert, Pamela, Stanic, McCann, Rustybitz,
James, Sheerin, Sheridan, Milne, Scotland , Peaso
Subs : Paston, Dobbie, Hannah, Janczyk, Stevenson
As Alex Ferguson once so aptly put it - "Football - bloody hell!".
While some might have considered tonight's game as just another match in a diddy cup, unfortunately events over the last week or so meant that the trip to Maryhill had taken on a rather larger significance for Saints season. Owen Coyle had to prove that we were capable of bouncing back from the shite we'd witnessed on the park in recent games (and to try and lift the air of gloom and depression ahead of the big league games coming up next month). And, just as importantly it was time for some of the players to stand up and be counted for the jersey. As it was, we won through eventually but by Rod we didn't half make it tough on ourselves - coming back from the dead at the end of extra-time and then performing heroics in a penalty shootout to scrape through. And it has to be said that a large part of the credit for the rollercoaster ride our emotions were put through. At least the neutrals would have enjoyed it.
Jason Scotland was available to play ahead of a transatlantic journey for World Cup duties. The same couldn't be said of Simon "Suicidal Pass" Mensing serving the last of his suspensions in the tournament. And with Kevin James falling into the "doubtful" category before the game, Rustybitz was on standby, while Peaso was given for a starting jersey given his record against the Maryhill Luvvies. As it was, James was passed fit and partnered Rusty with Campbell dropped altogether. McCann came in for Stevenson and Cuthbert was given the nod in goals ahead of Paston.
Saints went into this one of course with a decent record at Firhill and the tradition of four-nil wins to uphold. In front of a poor home crowd, Saints pressed from the start with Scotland playing in the hole behind Savo and Peaso. For all the early pressure, including a couple of freekicks and corners, it wasn't until the 11th minute that we had a shot on goal with Savo setting up Peaso but his shot took a deflection and was easily held. A minute after that, Goran the Iceman had a run and cross for Sheerin but his shot was unfortunate to go just over the bar. Saints were forced into an early change just after that as Kevin James limped off to be replaced by Hannah. The Davester went to the right back slot with Pamela shifting over to the middle of the defence.
We kept up the pressure with Scotland next to try his luck with a good run, rounded off with a rocket which went just wide of the goal. Then another freekick from the left saw Sheerin set up Jason but he mishit the ball, it broken to Rustybitz who shot just wide. Partick hit back a couple of minutes later with a good break that was only half- cleared by the Saints defence to a Partick player who hit a low drive from the edge of the box. The Cat was unsighted but got down in time to tip it wide. The keeper didn't look so good when the corner came in missing the ball and relying on the Iceman to clear the danger. Saints were enjoying the better chances with Scotland seeing a dipping volley held and in our best opportunity in the 25th minute, an unmarked Savo just failed to make contact with a Sheerin cross.
McCann was next to try but failed to run onto a Savo through ball. Then on the half-hour, Scotland and Peaso combined to force another corner. This one was played short to the unmarked Jason who fired an absolute screamer just over the bar. Anderson sent a back post header just wide and 8 minutes from the break Rustybitz got his bonce onto a Dazza freekick but his effort was just over the home goal. Partick had a couple of weak attacks dealt with (and saw one of their number booked for kicking the ball away) but we had the final chance of the first forty-five after some good patient build-up play eventually broke to the left from where Sheerin sent a cross only for Peaso's header back across goal to go wide.
After the half-time entertainment of watching Scrabble learn to respond to his official nickname, Saints began the second period pressing the home goal but unable to break down the Partick defence. Rustybitz got onto a McCann cross but his header was headed back off the line, as far as Savo but his overhead kick sailed over the bar. Cuthbert dealt with another couple of attacks but we still pressed with Sheerin finding the keeper with two crosses although Savo just missed out on the second one. Peaso broke through in 55 minutes but was ruled out for handball.
Partick saw one of their players stretchered off on the hour mark and a minute later they took the lead against the run of play. Mark Roberts went on a run up the middle and with the defence standing off waiting on a pass let rip from 20 yards out with a dipping shot that went past the Cat into the net. Saints weren't slow in hitting back though and two minutes later the Davester released Scotland down the right and when he cut into the box he was caught from behind. As soft one but as we saw last Saturday it doesn't take much for the ref to point to the spot. Peaso scored a cracker of a penalty to make it 1-1.
Dobbie replaced Savo, which seemed strange given how shagged out Scotland looked. He moved to the hole with Scotland pushing forward to partner Peaso. And Scotland should have scored in the 67th minute when Dobbie released him in the box but he was well tackled. Sheerin saw a shot deflected wide from the resulting corner and then on the second corner Peanut headed the ball down for Scotland but his angled shot went into the side netting.
The game had turned into a real end-to-end cup-tie now and Partick were starting to cause more problems although Cuthbert dealt with any shots. Rustybitz picked up a booking for a late foul as we tried to hit back with Scotland seeing another couple of shots blocked and McCann one saved. Partick had a header go worryingly across the goal and then Peaso, Scotland and Dobbie linked but the latter's chip went just over the bar. But ten minutes from time we took the lead. McCann was fouled wide right and Dazza's freekick floated into the box where Rustybitz got the slightest of touches on it to stick it past the keeper. 2-1 and there was a feeling that we might be able to ever so slightly relax. Pity Partick had other ideas! Mind you Scotland, Dobbie and McCann all had chances to wrap up the points whilst Sheerin had a neat chip cleared. But in the final seconds of the final minute Stanic, who looked very slow at times was beaten on the left, the cross came over and sub Santala used his height at the back post to header the ball home. 2-2 and the hearts went into the mouths.
Partick had the bit between their teeth for the start of extra time and within a couple of minutes some pressure and a cross found McConalogue and his low drive came off the post before a panicky clearance eased the danger. A minute later and Santala had another back post header beat Anderson but Rustybitz was there to clear the ball off the line. For Saints Peaso had a run into the box, riding a couple of tackles before Arthur beat him to save at his feet. The rest of the Saints side looked half-beat with Scotland plainly knackered. But it was Sheerin who was the final change with Scrabble coming onto replace him.
Four minutes before the break Rustybitz suffered a deadleg after a nasty challenge from Santala and then in the 103rd minute the ball was played into the box for McConalogue who turned and fired a narrow angled drive into the top corner with the Cat just failing to get his fingers to it. Hearts in mouths time. With 15 minutes left to save ourselves Saints went on the attack but that left us wide open at the back and Partick had a good shot go wide in the 107th minute. Sixty seconds later we drew level after Hannah set up Scotland on the edge of the box. He cut in and slipped the ball to Dobbie who took his time beating his man before firing a low drive into the bottom corner. 3-3 and there was plenty to come.
Scotland should have scored a couple of minutes later when Scrabble and Peaso combined to set him up but he dithered too long and the shot was blocked. Scrabble picked up a booking for a shirt pull and then with three minutes to go Partick were denied a penalty claim. Saints broke up the park and found Dobbie through with just the keeper to beat but Arthur blocked his shot. Partick pressed back and a cross from the right was held but Cuthbert only for Dougie McDonald (who didn't have too bad a game) to spot something and point to the spot (and given the argument from Stanic he may have been the culprit). Kilgannon sent the Cat the wrong way. 4-3 down and with seconds left Saints went straight back up the park. Scotland cut in and fired a cutback across a crowded goal where Scrabble was there to almost sclaff it past Arthur and into the roof of the net. Four-all and at least one part of the tradition was kept up! Peaso picked up a yellow but the last chance fell to Partick with a dangerous cross that the Cat held.
So to the fun and games of the penalties. Partick scored first and then Dobbie equalised for us. Murray scored for them before Scrabble stepped up and totally skyed his shot. But the Cat saved the next one to even things up and then Scotland scored the easiest penalty ever to make it 2-2. The Cat almost got to the next one but it slipped. Peaso made no mistake and it was 3-3 with only one pair of kicks left. A word for the fans though with plenty of backing for the Saints keeper throughout the shootout and I'm sure it helped as he got down to save Partick's final kick. Up stepped the Davester for the loneliest job ever and went a long way to redeeming himself with a low drive into the net. We won 5-4 and suffice to say a lot of Saints fans managed to start breathing again.
After a game like that it's hard to pick a MoM. We dominated for long spells in the game but silly mistakes and fatigue almost cost us. There wasn't a weak performance though with every player giving the proverbial 110%. My award though is going to Dazza who put some of the youngsters to shame with his running and fight in midfield. But players like Sheerin, Rustybitz and Hannah all came through with flying colours. And it was good to see the fans get right behind the side even when things weren't going according to plan. It would be nice if we tried to keep the tension and emotions until the Euro ties though guys.
The future is just that wee bit brighter tonight.
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