Temple Of Saints - Just Not Our Day

Bells League Division One 01/10/2005

Stranraer 1 Saints 1 League Table Here

Team : Cuthbert, Mensing, Goran, Stevenson, Rustybitz, James, Scotland, Sheridan, Milne, Peaso, Sheerin
Subs : Paston, Dobbie, Pamela, Scrabble, McCann

After the highs and lows of last week (if you can consider scraping a solitary goal win at Broadwood a high), Saints went into this one determined to get three points from what was always going to be a difficult away trip. Of course the more demanding of us were also looking to see the boys finish a game with the same number of players on the park as started it and a bit of the old entertaining sexy football wouldn't go amiss either. Not much to ask really. Well we got all that but for the next outing we need to add some finishing skills and some concentration to the defence so we don't lose a stupid late goal - and just to rub salt into the wounds, it was Michael Moore that did the damage. Plenty enough for the manager to sort out over the break.

It was Scott Paterson's turn to sit in the sin bin today with Simon Mensing returning from his spell on the wrong end of the club's code of conduct. Dazza recovered from his infection to continue in midfield. Of the other injury victims, Kevin James and Scrabble were both in the side although the latter had to settle for a place on the bench. Peaso was brought in to partner Savo up front with Scotland dropping back a bit while Ryan Stevenson was the surprise introduction as Saints lined up. But for Campbell, Keyring and Lazy Davey Hannah there was no room, perhaps showing just how pissed off Coyle was in midweek.

The game started in pissy wet conditions and from the kick-off, Saints went on the attack in a 4-4-2 formation with Scotland on the left and Ryan on the right. Unfortunately the ball was still showing the same allergic reaction to contact with the playing surface that has been evident in recent games with only Dazza able to master the "keep the ball on the bloody deck" style of play. For all that, the defence weren't under much pressure although both Rustybitz and Mensing were having their share of physical relations with ex-Saintee Michael Moore whose recent suspension hasn't done much to curb his enthusiasm for that side of the game.

Despite the Cat being the first keeper into action to deal with a Stranraer freekick, Saints were enjoying most of the possession even if the final ball was lacking - certainly there was a lot more movement in the side. Dazza and Scotland saw an early run broken up by the numerous Stranraer defenders but the best chance came in the 9th minute. A Rustybitz freekick found Le Freak in the box who headed the ball down for Savo who volleyed the ball across the goal and wide. We kept up the pressure with Dazza, Stevenson and Sheerin forcing a corner but as usually happens Dazza's inswinger was easily dealt with by the opposition. Savo just lost out on a Peaso cross to Corr in the home goal (who had an excellent game for the Stair Park side), then Savo and Peaso turned provider for Jason but his shot was blocked, and when he got wide to cross the rebound back in Stevenson's shot went wide.

Then in the 17th minute Peaso was fouled 30 yards out. He took the freekick himself and hit a cracking drive that the keeper did well to punch clear. Saints saw another couple of corners cleared but we still lacked the final ball. Halfway through the half, Jason moved forward as we switched to three up front. It still didn't help matters much with Mensing seeing a header go across the goal and then Peaso hit an angled shot across the goal after some good build-up play from Stanic with Savo's follow-up header saved. Scotland held up the ball well in 30 minutes before threading a neat pass through for Peaso who hit a low shot just wide. Two minutes later, Peaso and Stevenson linked well to set up the former but his shot was saved. Sheerin hit a follow-up cross that went behind for a corner - no need to elaborate on what happened to that is there?

Stranraer weren't causing the defence any real trouble with Hinds the biggest danger with a late challenge on the Cat. Back at the other end, Scotland hit a shot over and the saw another blocked for a corner. Even as the first half drew to a close, we were still making chances. Stevenson saw a shot blocked (which ended up in a Stranraer break terminated by Moore tripping over the ball). The last chance of the half saw Peaso play a one-two with Dazza who set up Scotland. Jason broke into the box but his cutback was saved.

Stranraer started the second-half more brightly with a long-range shot from Moore forcing Cuthbert into an early save. But a minute later Peaso won a freekick at the other end. The ball was played in and half-cleared to Jason who had a run and shot that was held. Mensing played a cross in for Peaso but his effort was saved. But we should have taken the lead in the 51st minute when Peaso played a short ball for Jason. He was unmarked in the box and headed the ball down to control it before somehow contriving to screw his shot wide of goal. S

till we kept up the pressure. Goran set up Peaso but his shot was weak. Then Mensing conceded a soft corner. The Cat punched the first one out for a corner and when that came back in Moore decided to pick on the Saints keeper with a nasty challenge that earned the striker a thoroughly deserved booking. The next attack came after some good build-up play from Mensing and Scotland on the right who linked to set up Peaso but he shot wide. Then on the hour Simon released Stevenson up the right. His low cross was held by the keeper but only after a challenge from Peaso which earned him a booking. The half was wearing on though and with Stranraer sitting back in numbers, Saints were starting to run out of ideas with the effort of the Accies match starting to tell. Passes were going astray and we were being caught in possession too often.

But with 18 minutes to go, we finally broke the deadlock thanks to some good persistent work by Sheerin on the left wing. His efforts paid off and he got to the corner flag before sending a high cross into the home goalmouth. Savo was there to beat a couple of blue shirts to the ball and head it down where Ryan Stevenson was coming in to blast the ball into the roof of the net.

Saints looked a bit more relaxed but with Stranraer finally venturing into our half, we couldn't capitalise on our lead. James headed a Goran cross wide and after Peaso flicked on a long ball from the Cat, Savo's shot was held. We were also struggling to hold onto the ball with the defence not exactly being the most over-elaborate in clearing their lines even at the cost of possession. The most puzzling thing though was the lack of action from the manager as all three strikers were visibly tiring. Eventually, we had a break in play five minutes from time, thanks to a late James challenge on a Stranraer sub, which earned Le Freak a booking for his troubles. That enabled Pamela to replace Goran - not the switch most of the travelling support expected. The freekick was played into the box and punched clear, but not before Moore put in another heavy challenge.

Worse was to come a couple of minutes later when a throw-in for the home side was played in from their left. The ball flew into the crowded Saints penalty area and somehow found Moore who was given enough room to send a looping header over Cuthbert's head and into the net despite Mensing's attempt to block. The Cat will no doubt get some of the blame but I honestly don't think he could do much about it, although perhaps the defence should have cut out the ball before Moore's thuggish bonce met it.

There was still time for almost another twist in the tail though. Saints headed back up the park from the restart where Dazza was brought down on the edge of the area. After the ref finally forced the defensive wall back the required ten yards, Scotland stepped up and hit a cracking drive round the wall only for the ball to cannon back off the bottom of Corr's right-hand post. Just one of those days I guess.

It's difficult to pick a MoM since there wasn't really a bad performance on the park. But I'm going for Sheerin for his work in setting up the goal and his general effort. We deserved the three points today at what will be a tough ground for most teams this season.

Hopefully the goal machine will be back in full working order in a fortnight.

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