Saints 5 Raith Rovers 1
Team : Cuthbert, Mensing, Iceman, Paterson, Campbell,
Rustybitz, McCann, Hannah, Savo, Scotland, Sheerin
Subs : Paston, Moon, Stevenson, Coyle, Dobbie
For a change, Saints were actually in a cup quarter-final as favourites although none of the home fans needed reminding as to how costly that tag has been in recent years. Besides the Kirkcaldy visitors of tonight were a much changed and improved side over their counterparts from the last meeting as they showed at the weekend sticking give past the Beanos. For all that though Saints are also a much better side under the new manager and despite an early setback some great finishing and a resurgence of the confidence in the side saw us comfortably through. Certainly not the best performance and there were some areas still giving concern but we're through and back on scoring form.
There were some changes to the weekend side that drew with Ross County. James, Scrabble and Henry were still missing and they were joined on the sidelines by Pamela and Dazza. Willie Dyer and Kevin "The Mooner" Moon were drafted into the squad but only the latter made it to the bench. And of course Jetlag Jason was finally available to make his home debut. Peaso's knee meant he was doubtful pre-match and Owen decided not to risk him ahead of Saturday's clash. In came Scott Paterson to make his debut in defence alongside Rustybitz and born-again Mark Campbell who was made skipper for the night.
The game started in typical scrappy fashion although at least tonight we avoided losing a goal in the first couple of minutes - be thankful for small mercies. With conditions best described as "blustery", silky football wasn't exactly prominent. An early Saints corner was easily held by Brown in the Raith goal and it wasn't until the 8th minute that we made a real chance after Scotland went wide right and set up McCann whose cross was headed goalwards by the Iceman but saved. Saints were looking reasonable at this time without being the awe-inspiring heroes we've been waiting on. Too many players in the side lacked the bit of creativity or plain cheek to try and entertain. Instead it was a series of high wind-assisted balls, a midfield that practically sat on the edge of the Cat's 18-yd box leaving Savo and Scotland to do all the running, and yet again a lack of penetration on the flanks with Mensing especially having what could only be described as a shite game - Dazza was sorely missed.
Back to the game and our best chance came on the quarter-hour mark after some pressure won a throw-in. Goran took it quickly and found Scotland who hit a cracking dipping angled volley that Brown did brilliantly to tip over the bar. Raith hit back quickly and Fairbairn broke through but the Cat came out to make a great save at the striker's feet. But Cuthbert was beaten in the 21st minute. Rovers broke down the right and Rustybitz was beaten again. The cross came in low and McManus sneaked in at the near post to poke the ball home. Sucker punch time again.
Saints tried to hit back quickly but both Savo and Jason were being closed down well and with the midfield not getting forward enough and suffering from a bad case of forwardpassophobia (Reilly's Disease as it's more commonly known). And just to add to the heart-in-mouth feeling Rovers broke up the park from a corner in the 28th minute and Campbell pulled back an opponent off the ball - luckily the referee failed to spot the incident. Rustybitz had a shot blocked and Savo stuck the rebound a mile wide but the Saints striker was smiling in the 31st minute. He intercepted a headed backpass from a long ball forward. Savo nipped in and fired an angled drive into the net for the equaliser.
Now we had a way of beating the Raith defence Saints' second goal came in much the same manner three minutes later. It was the other flank this time and a long ball for Jason beat the Raith offside trap. Our favourite internationalist cut into the box, rounded the keeper before slipping in a cool-as-fcuk finish to make it 2-1.
Raith had a spell trying to get back on level terms and with Saints sitting back so deeply we were making it easy for them. But just to prove that the Fifers hadn't learnt their lesson, two minutes before the break we scored our third. Almost an exact copy of our opener as another long ball found Savo timing his run to perfection, beating another offside trap before another cool finish made it 3-1.
Rovers put Scott Crabbe on at the break but three minutes into the second period we scored our fourth with this one going into the Fluke File. Some pressure from Mensing (who improved greatly after the break) found him firing over a powerful low cross which somehow eluded the goalie and slipped into the net. Think Gerry McMahon against Aberdeen all those years ago to give you an idea of how flukey this one was.
After that Raith tried to play football but the stuffing had been knocked out of them and Saints began to dictate the play with the midfield venturing over the halfway line. Goran and Mensing linked to release Savo but he had to settle for a corner, and Mensing tried another cheeky cross that hit the roof of the net.
In 61 minutes Ryan had a great run through the middle before slipping the ball left to Sheerin but his shot went just over the bar. Three minutes later, Goran was replaced by Kevin Moon making his first-team debut. He came on in time to see the Cat make a good save from the feet of Eddie Annand. Saints wrapped up the scoring with a well-worked fifth in the 68th minute. Sheerin played a nice one-two with McCann who set him up for a run across and into the box. A short pass to Savo followed and despite taking the ball a tad too wide as he rounded the keeper, he slotted the ball into an empty net to make it 5-1 and clinch his hat- trick.
As expected Dobbie came on for Savo for the last twenty minutes or so, but it was the Mooner who nearly scored a sixth. Some good work on the left from Sheerin found Moon in the centre of the area. The youngster tried to go for a spectacular half-bicycle kick but unfortunately the keeper managed to block the shot. Still at that stage of the game it was worth a go and certainly Mooner showed plenty of skill and determination during his debut. McCann got onto a Mensing cutback, but his shot was saved as we kept up the pressure.
Saints final substitution saw Owen The Gaffer replace Scotland for the last quarter hour although he made little impression on the game as it began to die down. Raith were still making some chances. McManus beat the solid Paterson but shot over and then a Crabbe freekick from the edge of the area beat the wall only to be well saved by the Cat. In between Mooner won the ball in midfield and set up the Dobber but unfortunately when Dobs tried to place his shot he failed to get enough power behind it and Brown saved what should have been the 6th. Fittingly the closing stages were all Saints with McCann setting up the Gaffer on the left and his cutback fell to Mensing at the back post. He beat his man but the final rocket went just wide of goal. Oh well I suppose we'll settle for five.
It's hard to pick a MoM from this one. Certainly players like Hannah, Rustybitz, and Mensing and Sheerin in the first-half weren't too hot. Scotland was crowded out a lot and Campbell still doesn't inspire confidence. But really with three classy finishes and a pile of running it has to go to Savo. It's good to see him hitting scoring form at just the right time.
Bring on the Scum!
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