Saints 4 Brechin 1
Team : Cuthbert, Irvine, Stanic, Moon, McManus,
Anderson, Weatherston, Sheerin, Deuchar, Jackson, McLaren
Subs: Main, Stewart, Daal, Doris, Lawrie
Ah the joys of a midweek encounter sitting in the main stand whilst listening to the echoing noises around an empty stadium - yup it can only be the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup (or the not-sod-diddy-now- we're-out-the-CIS Cup to give it it's Sunday name). Saints went into this one as clear favourites (well about as clear as we've been all season) but of course we all know that pride comes before a fall and other such clichés especially against a Brechin side that have improved a lot over the last year or so under ex-Saintee Michael O'Neill. At least the other Powers-that-be actually gave their bloody permission for the game to go ahead, with the lights bright enough to show their embarrassment at cocking things up last week. And with a semi tie against Morton awaiting the winners (including more crushed kneecaps in that bloody stand of theirs) tonight had all the makings of a good honest tie. As it turned out though it was game over by the half-time pies were even serves with all four Saints goals coming in the first forty-five minutes with some solid open entertaining play. While the second period didn't live up to the billing and felt more like a friendly at times as both sides eased up, the overall performance is bound to give the manager a nice warm feeling.
Owen had a big decision to make re the starting lineup with most expecting a younger starting eleven with more of the fringe players getting a runout, especially given the injury worries and the big Accies game at the weekend. Either way the home fans were looking for an attack-minded Saints side to hit the Glebe Park men from the off with none of this faffing about showing the opposition too much respect that we saw against Partick. So it was that Kevin Moon finally started a home match while elsewhere in the side, Rusty, McInnes and Rocco all missed out. Up stepped Wullie McLaren for his first start of the season with Sheerin moving into the middle as Owen shifted formation to a 4-4-2 with Weatherston taking up the right wing duties.
With a crowded main stand (all beautifully lit up tonight), the game started fairly quietly and while Brechin didn't do too much in the early stages, Saints weren't exactly sprinting off the blocks either. The early play from the boys saw the ball spend too much time in the air and with Brechin packing their defence, there was little room for any real football to be played. It wasn't until the sixth minute that we even threatened when McLaren picked up the ball on the left wing and sent a good cross over into the box targeting Weatherston at the back post but the winger was just a second too late to make contact with the ball. The Cat was called into action for the first time a couple of minutes later when a miskick from Anderson allowed Brechin to break through and a good low drive was held by the Saints keeper.
As the half wore on though we settled quickly and soon began to dominate the play. Some early corners came to nothing with the best chance coming in the ninth minute as a corner in found Deuchar but his turn and shot went just wide of the goal. Brechin had the odd shot but for the most part we were pressing the play and won several set pieces - unfortunately we couldn't turn them into clearcut chances. Another corner in the 18th minute ended with a McManus header going over the bar. Then another corner was half-cleared back to Deuchar who played the ball down to Sheerin. He played a quick one-two with Jacko but his final ball was cleared by the defence.
The game sparked to life midway through the half with some great individual pieces of skill. First of all Weatherston showed some brilliant skill on the right wing to beat his marker before sending a deep cross over that the Doc got his head to only for the keeper to hold the ball. A minute later and an Irvine freekick from the right into the box was headed down by the Doc for Wullie and he tried an overhead kick which went just wide of the goal. Needless to say Wullie's attempt encouraged the Doc and a minute later another Weatherston run saw him cut inside and send the ball into the box which found the Doc 12 yards out who went for the overhead kick this time sending the ball into the bottom corner to give us the lead. It wasn't hard to feel sorry for Wullie though after his earlier effort didn't quite come off.
The goal settled Saints and we began to relax more coming forward. Mooner, looking impressive in the middle of the park, set up Weatherston in the 25th minute for a run down the wing. The defence cleared his cross but only as far as Goran and he played a one-two with Wullie before crossing for the Doc but he couldn't find the room for the shot. Irvine forced a corner that the City keeper held before Brechin had a rare foray up the park in the 33rd minute with the defence standing off Geddes who had an easy shot that luckily didn't have much power and was no trouble for the Cat to deal with. Back up the other end Sheerin saw a long-range effort go over the bar while Jacko had a decent turn and shot do the same thing as for all the pressure we were still finding it difficult to hit the target.
But Saints eventually doubled their lead in the 38th minute in style. Irvine and Weatherston again linked up well on the wing before the latter went on another mazy run into the Brechin box before sending a sublime chip across the six yard box from practically the byeline. The ball sailed over the keeper and landed perfectly for Jacko to head home from about six inches out.
The half finished in even more dramatic style. Three minutes before the break we should have had a third when another good cross by Weatherston was headed down by the Doc for first Sheerin and then Jacko to miss. Even then the Doc had the third attempt only for City goalie McCluskey to make a good block. His joy was short-lived and within a minute he was picking the ball out of the net. A deep Irvine freekick from the right floated into the box and the Doc rose up from eight yards out for the simplest of looping headers over the keeper into the net to make it 3-0. Most of us would have settled for half-time then but Saints still weren't finished and within a minute had their fourth goal. This time it was some good pressure down the left with the ball breaking to Sheerin who took it to the byeline before a lovely cutback found Weatherston coming in at the back post for another simple header to make it four. Ironically, the half finished with Brechin on the attack and forcing a couple of corners the second of which led to an unmarked Geddes at the back post firing in a shot from about ten yards out that was brilliantly blocked by the Cat.
After the exciting finish to the first period, there was a bit of an expectation amongst the home fans that there would be more of the same after the interval. As it turned out we started reasonably well with Irvine and Weatherston doing their double act on the right wing in the 48th minute before slipping the ball in for the Doc in the box but his attempt at placing the ball only went wide. Brechin had a couple of early chances with a header just wide of the Cat's goal and a slack passback from Ando requiring a quick clearance from Cuthbert. But some sustained pressure from City paid off for them ten minutes into the half. Saints were unable to clear their lines properly and the ball eventually broke to substitute Smith in the area and he prodded it home from 12 yards out to pull one back.
Kevin Moon had been having an impressive debut in the middle of the park. He rarely misplaced the ball and put in plenty of tackles. Unfortunately that also led to a booking for him after 57 minutes in strange circumstances. Having been pulled up by referee Allan for a foul, he got up only for Brechin to try and take a quick freekick that cannoned off him. Cue the referee awarding a retake and booking Mooner for not retreating the full distance - harsh to say the least with the Saints player totally blameless. Saints almost increased their lead on the hour mark. With Jacko and Wullie swapping over, Weatherston latched onto a deep crossfield ball before cutting in and instead of going for goal he slipped it into the box for Wullie but the final shot for McLaren went out for a corner, although it has to be said that his play on the night deserved a goal. Irvine then linked with McLaren on the right who played a one-two with Weatherston before firing a lovely cutback across the goal but again the City defence managed to clear the danger. Stanic was next to send a cross into the Brechin box with the Doc again heading the ball down, this time into the path of Sheerin but his volley went well over the bar.
With twenty minutes left on the clock Owen swapped the strikers round with Jacko and the Doc replaced by Daal and Stewart. Unfortunately despite Daal's efforts, neither had much impact on the game and the Saints attack suddenly had about as much life to it as that cemetery behind Glebe Park. The whole pace of the game dropped noticeably and while there was some excuse for the midfield who had run their arses off, the lack of fight from the replacement front men did them no favours at all. The game was turning into a friendly with Brechin unable to get forward to really threaten us and Saints more than happy to run the clock down which seemed strange given that you'd expect Dyron and Stewart to leap at the chance of some first-team action. Daal had the odd touch but his first touch let him down although at least he showed some sign of wanting to get involved in the game. As it was Saints were relying on the likes of Wullie and Weatherston to break down the defence while Mooner and Sheerin saw shots blocked from the edge of the box.
The final ten minutes were just as poor. Doris came on for Weatherston and had a reasonable ten minutes on the right wing with a couple of good crosses and runs. On the other flank, Goran had picked up an earlier knock but seemed to recover although understandably he was taking it easy. With seven minutes left a good move deserved to end in a goal when Mooner played a brilliant ball wide left for McLaren and his cross was inch perfect - if Daal had risen another couple of inches off the ground that is. Another good run from Doris in the final minute saw his cross met by Daal this time but the header was just wide of goal. The final effort of the game fell to us as well but Stewart's attempt to walk the ball into the net had about as much chance of increasing our lead as he does of starting a game at the weekend.
So overall it was a solid win and I don't think anyone would have complained at the scoreline. In terms of individual performances of the starting lineup every single player played their part with the goals all excellent (both in build-up and execution) and Weatherston and McLaren both putting in good shifts and providing the sort of service our strikers have been crying out for. At the back we were just as solid with McManus and Anderson having a good game and Irvine impressing more every time I see him. But MoM for me goes to Kevin Moon who had as good a game as I've seen from a Saints midfielder this season - nothing fancy just ninety minutes of good running, passing and holding onto the ball. Just what we needed.
And hey - it's the first semi of the season next week!!!!!!
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