Saints 3 Arabs 0
Team : Halliwell, Lawrie, Stanic, Mensing, McManus,
Pamela, Hardie, Sheridan, Savo, Jason, Sheerinho
Subs : Cuthbert, Peaso, Jackson, Ryan, Lawson
Okay, so going into this one and it wasn't exactly Real Madrid in terms of a cup-tie to be excited about, but the draw for the third round of the CIS/League Cup still saw us in with a decent shot at progressing in the tournament against Eddie Thomson's Sweetie Boyz who hadn't quite hit the sort of form the Arabs fans expected. And of course, there was the added spice of a number of Saints players out to prove a point to a former employer - Pamela, Owen and Jason for starters. The main thing for the home support was to see some evidence that the recent lacklustre performances were just a small blip and that we could match an SPL side. And on the basis of tonight's showing that's still a bit in doubt - sure we were brilliant and grafted for the 90 minutes but United were, to put it mildly, pish. Still tonight saw a lot of the hard work come together and we got the convincing win we thoroughly deserved - and it was nice to see it happen in front of a large noisy home support.
As expected, skipper Kevin James again missed out through injury while Oor Willie McLaren was cup-tied and forced to watch from the stand. Sheridan took over in midfield in an unchanged side. The bench saw Paul Lawson make his first appearance since joining on loan from TFOE
The opening minutes saw Saints face up to the faster pace that the SPL sides have although we made up for it with some blood and sweat typified by Dazza getting stuck in on Robson - something the Arab git didn't like too much. We carved out our first real chance a minute later when Savo sent Jason through but he managed to completely sclaff his shot in the direction of the main stand. Hardie was at fault next after the Saints midfield pushed up in a 5 vs 4 move but Mad Mental Martin hesitated and his through pass was blocked. United's first chance came in the fifth minute when Hunt broke down the right wing (about a mile offside though). His cross to the back post was a dangerous one but the final header went into the side netting.
Two minutes after that, the action switched ends as Saints almost opened the scoring. Savo released Jason and he forced a corner. Sheerinho sent the ball deep where it was headed down for Mensing who fired in a spectacular overhead kick that beat Stillie only to be headed off the line...almost goal of the season. Next up Jason set up Hardie but again he hesitated and the Arabs defence cleared. They broke up the park and won a corner off Goran. The ball into the box led to a couple of headers that caused some problems before Bryn snatched the ball. Kerr was next to try his luck with a dive in the box but referee Underhill was having none of it although he refrained from booking the cheat. Another dangerous cross came courtesy of a Lawrie error on the wing, but again the Saints defence was on top of things.
Saints next good move saw an 18th minute Arabs corner cleared. Goran set up Savo who laid the ball off to Jason. He got into the box and fired in a low angled drive that was deflected out for a corner to us, with Sheerinho coming in for a sliding finish. From the corner the ball came to Mensing at the back post but his overhead kick was headed off the line. The game was being played at a hectic pace with a rare Pamela mistake in the 22nd minute allowing Hunt in for a long-range shot that blazed over the bar. The play was going from end-to-end with attempts at both sides. United came close to scoring in the 25th minute when a long ball to an offside Hunt saw the sweetie boy get into the box for a low drive that Halliwell got down to turn round the post. A minute later another Tangerines break down the left was crossed over. Halliwell went to cover but the cutback beat him and found Brewster but the OAPs balance was off (possibly due to his zimmer remaining in the changing room) and the ball soared over the bar.
Saints were guilty of spending too long on the ball and while we were winning a lot of the ball with Hardie and Sheerin struggling to create anything. Jason was our most effective player and almost scored in the 30th minute. He got onto the end of a long ball and into the box where he almost chipped Stillie but the Arabs keeper somehow managed to tip the ball wide. Hardie picked up the first booking for a daft tackle in the 33rd minute and got a knock himself a couple of minutes later and struggled to shake it off.
Still he was smiling like the rest of us five minutes from the break when we took the lead in style. After breaking up another tinks attack the ball was played short to Sheerin at the halfway line and he in turn threaded a great ball behind the defence for Jason. Scotland took the ball into the box and despite the close attention of a defender barely broke his stride before slotting the ball under the goalie to give us the lead and send the East Stand wild!!
United tried to hit back but Ando dealt with a cross after Lawrie lost the ball. And then right at the end of the half, we should have had a second. Underhill eventually condescended to award us a freekick after some Arabs tried to assault Mensing. The ball came over and was headed out by Sheerin to Goran on the inside left. He tried a cheeky lob that found Mad Mental Martin's head but again it came off the line.
The second half started with the Arabs pouring forth like cockroaches out of a Dundee peh bakery at the first sign of bleach. An early freekick (after another daft Hardie foul) was held by Halliwell - Saints were back up the park and Jason set up Savo on the break. His shot was blocked and the rebound fell to Jason but again it was cleared. You'd almost begun to think we were going to rue missing all these chances.
United threatened again with a freekick in the 53rd minute. It was half-cleared by the head of Goran with Halliwell slow to come off his line. The ball was punted up the park where the Arabs defence decided to have their horror moment of the night. One slack pass later and Savo had pounced running between two wooden tangerine-clad statues and in on goal. Stillie came out to try and narrow the angle and a quick-thinking chip saw Savo send the ball over the keeper and after what seemed to be an age, it came down in slow-motion just under the bar and into the net. 2-0 up, the home fans going mental, Courier sports page editors dusting down the black borders and a large chunk of the north stand crowd headed up the exit.
Jason tried to extend the lead a couple of minutes later after some great work involving Dazza, Savo and Sheerin on the left but despite squirming past 4 tinks his shot was blocked. For OAP Brewster time was running out and Colin Samuel was thrown in to replace Conway. They nearly pulled one back as well in the 58th minute. Another long ball into the heart of the Saints defence was missed by McManus and half headed back to the keeper by Pamela. In nicked the OAP like he'd just overdosed on viagra to smash a volley that went inches wide of the post. Saints hit straight back with their own long ball from McManus to Jason. He came wide right before sending a deep cross over for the unmarked Sheerin at the back post. His first time chip back in was met by a diving header from Hardie that was well saved. In keeping with the end-to-end style the tinks immediately went back up the park with Samuel forcing a good block from Bryn.
Hardie limped off to be replaced by Stevenson in the 62nd minute. He went to the right wing with Mensing moving into the middle of the park. The Arabs replaced Cameron with Robb much to the delight of the travelling support....not. With things turning desperate for the Juteopolis Junkies, Robson picked up a deserved booking in the 70th minute for a scything challenge that left Stevenson down (and no doubt forced to report for a rabies jab tomorrow morning). From the freekick Jason turned in the box and his shot went out for a corner. From that the ball went to the back post but Mensing (who was up supporting every attack) saw his shot blocked.
Two minutes later another corner saw Lawrie with a brilliant header that brought out a great save from Stillie to tip the ball over the bar. Saints were growing in confidence as time ran out for the SPL side. A great move on the left saw Sheerin, Stanic, Jason and Savo all link up to set up the latter for a powerful shot that went just wide.
The Arabs seemed to be running out of steam and a minute later Savo turned provider to set up Jason on the edge of the box who turned his man and sent a great curling effort that went just over the bar. Another goal at this time was not more than we deserved. There was more unrest in the away dugout when their final substitution saw Hunt throw a tantrum as he went off to be replaced by Robertson. On the park Samuel had a shot that Halliwell did well to hold while Lawrie sent down injured on his ankle after an awkward challenge - he recovered but it wasn't helped by Brewster having a sly kick on the same ankle late on in the game.
With ten minutes remaining Scotland was fouled out left. He took a short pass from the freekick and returned the ball to Sheerin. One cross into the box and a header from an unmarked Mensing on the edge of the six yard box later and we were 3 up. The home fans again did the let's go mental routine while the only silent bodies left in the north stand began to turn their anger towards the dugout (and the no16 - a certain OAP striker).
After that it was party time with the Arabs unable to create any real chances while Saints should have increased the winning margin (and we would have deserved it as well). Mensing had a shot go wide at the back post. Peaso replaced Savo to great applause from the home fans while Jason went off two minutes from time to applause from both sets of fans (and credit to the Arabs that remained for doing so) to be replaced by Paul Lawson. As it was Ryan had the final shot of the game with a decent attempt from the edge of the box blocked. But by that time we couldn't really care.
MoM for me tonight was difficult - certainly no one could be faulted for effort and the teamwork was excellent. But I'm going for Mensing again who scored one good goal and was at the heart of the midfield for the whole game. But everyone from Halliwell in goal through to the subs played their part tonight and made the difference. It's easily one of the best performances I've seen from a Saints side in a long time and for a change we should get some decent press out of it - for the neutral it was a cracking cup-tie. As for the Arabs - if both teams continue this form we'll see them on the way past next summer.
This time the smile will last for a while........
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