Temple Of Saints - Rampant Rocco

Bells League Division One 15/03/2008

Livi 0 Saints 2 League Table Here

Team : Main, Irvine, Anderson, Morris, McManus, Craig, Wilson, Rocco, Jacko, Peaso, Sheerin
Subs: Cuthbert, James, Savo, Weatherston, Moon

The midweek comeback reignited hopes for the rest of the season amongst the faithful and it's fair to say that we went to the delights of the concrete jungle that is Livingston with a reasonable amount of confidence coursing through the ranks. Of course Livingston (or Gretna Mk1 as they should more appropriately be known) were, on paper at least, not going to be an easy team to beat, despite our earlier results against them this season. Almondvale despite it's recent desire to become some sort of Scottish New Town equivalent of the San Siro (albeit supervised by the Don Corleone-type boss in Davie Hay) is usually one of the more depressing grounds to play in and recent games there seem to have been dominated by rotten weather spoiling the so-called entertainment served up on the park. But under Del we've been showing some signs of improvement in the entertainment factor and there's no doubt that we have the ball players to win these sort of games if only we could kill teams off from the start - you only had to look at the way we fought back to take all three points on Tuesday night to see that. The message from the dugout had been a clear one all week. "No more slip-ups and work for the points" - especially with Accies and Scumdee hopefully murdering one another at the same time at Douglas Park. A simple enough philosophy one might assume but it seemed to be something we've forgotten how to do with the boys spending too much of their time during league encounters desperately chasing the game in an attempt to regain the lead. The killer touch is how it's known elsewhere.

Today's match was one of those affairs that could have been a big banana skin for us but while it took a while for Saints to get going and Main had more than a few saves to make, we always looked like winning the game from the moment we took the lead. The icing on the cake came with a second for Rocco with one of the goals of the season leaving us taking what turned into a fairly comfortable three points. A good performance throughout the side helped send the fans home happy and possibly give the manager a few more puzzles to work out ahead of the big cup replay on Tuesday night.

Injury-wise things were much the same. While we thought Goran had recovered from his Achilles knock to give us a natural left-back, he was still missing meaning Sheerin was called up to deputise in defence. Andy Jackson's wee trip in an ambulance to Ninesmells on Tuesday night had meant that there was some doubt over him but he's made of stronger stuff than some of the nancy-boys in the other teams these days and was back in training by Friday and up front alongside Peaso. That meant Savo was on the bench. For the rest of the missing, Hardie and McBreen had done some training but as usual it was still too early for them to be considered for a first team return. That meant Del went for a starting lineup in a 4-4-2 with Craig and Wilson brought in from the start while in defence we had Ando and McManus in the centre as Rustybitz, suffering from a back knock was rested (possibly with the cup game in mind). For the home side who had been dragged into the fight to avoid the play-off spot along with Morton and Clyde, Dorrans and Mackay were there to provide a token threat but the real laugh was the sight of poseur-boy Griffiths up front with the sort of peroxide hairdo that would put Debbie Harry in her prime to shame - mind you the day-glo boots made up for it.

From kick-off, Saints looked sharp and created their first chance in the second minute when Irvine made a good run down the inside right channel before a nice flick out to the wing for Barry Wilson. He sent a nice cross into the box that was headed down for Craig but he pulled his shot wide. Livi tried to hit back with a couple of freekicks, both soft awards and thankfully didn't come to anything but there was still a bit of early nerves about the Saints defence with Sheerin caught a couple of times for pace while the midfield seemed to be sitting back too deeply. We managed another good break in the sixth minute though with Wilson releasing Rocco on the right and his shot went out for a corner. That was played out to Jacko whose shot was deflected over for Wilson but his volley was held.

Two minutes later we came closer with Rocco breaking through the middle and playing a lovely one-two with Jacko before firing a volley which went just over the bar. Livi won their first corner in the tenth minute from a Griffiths shot but Snodgrass could only head the ball straight at Alan Main. Play was switching from end to end as both teams tried to find a breakthrough but the play was at least fairly entertaining. Barry Wilson probably had our best chance of the game after quarter of an hour when he broke through in loads of room but saw his long-range shot go out for a corner - unfortunately Craig wasted it. Overall though our midfield play was poor with Rocco and Jody in the middle unable to get decent tackle in and Saints tending to drop back and play far too deep. We were nearly punished in the twentieth minute when the defence went completely to sleep and allowed a cross in for Griffiths who turned beautifully in the box to close in on Main but Ando came back to make a brilliant tackle in the six yard box to nick the ball back.

We broke back up the park and Craig released Sheerin who played a lovely cross into the box for Peaso but his header was held. But four minutes later the deadlock was broken with some classy play. A quick ball forward for Jacko saw the Saints striker almost offside. He didn't bother chasing the ball and with the Livi defence static, through came Rocco to take the ball through to the edge of the box where he chipped the ball over the oncoming Stewart. It might have crossed the line anyway but Rocco made sure by running into the six yard box for a cool 1yard tap-in to give us the lead.

That lifted Saints and we chased the game but Livi almost drew level after half an hour with a low shot from Mackay which Main got down to hold. Back up the park Wilson found himself through in plenty of space but with only the keeper to beat, his shot was blocked for a corner. That was cleared but a Sheerin cross was headed out for another one ten minutes from the break. This time shte ball was half-cleared as far as Craig at the edge of the box and he hit a sweet curling shot that was only just headed off the line.

The closing stages of the half were a frantic affair. Livi pressed back and a one-two ended in a good low shot that Main held. Then Craig played the ball into the home penalty area finding Jacko who tried a cheeky backheel into the net but the keeper was quick enough to react and precent the goal. Livi forced a corner next which was only just cleared to Griffiths and he got into the box but luckily Sheerin was there to do his best Goran impression and make a great tackle to clear the danger. The half ended on a sour note though with Sheerin winning the ball from Dorrans but the Livi player going to ground and managing a kick out at the Wizard - only picking up a warning from referee Conroy for his retaliation though.

Saints started the second period poorly with Livi pressing early with a quick cross missed by everyone in the box. Five minutes into the half and another good cross saw Walker unmarked with a header that went just over the bar. A minute later though and Saints pressed with Irvine releasing Wilson on the right wing and his cross found Peaso in on the keeper to win a corner. That was sent over by Rocco with a good cross targetting Jacko but his header was saved. Livi were trying to get back into the game though with another good cross which was turned into a free header but Main earned his bonus with a good block. That went out for a corner and when it came over Main almost palmed the ball into his own net but made a good recovery. Play soon went up the park and Rocco played a lovely header on for Peaso through the middle but his volley was wide of target.

A freekick in the 57th minute though had a much more enjoyable outcome as the ball was played forward into the box for Peaso. He couldn't get on the end of it but it broke clear where Rocco was in loads of room 25 yards out. With one touch to control it, Rocco let rip with an absolute scorcher of a shot that blasted through the crowded box and looked to have gone wide (at least the keeper was stationary) only turning the Saints fans into cheers when we saw the back of the net almost burst with the power. Two-nil to Saints and the confidence began to flow through the side.

Del made the first change on the hour mark with Mooner coming on to replace the ineffective Wilson. A couple of minutes later Mooner had his first shot but it went wide. Both sides exchanged corners but with Saints in a commanding position, we seemed to be well in control of the situation. Griffiths tried a shot from inside the box but sent the ball well wide, while Peaso's effort from a similar position was easily held. The second change in the 67th minute saw Jacko withdrawn with Savo coming on to take his place. Livi had a chance a minute later with a free header for Griffiths but it went over while the travelling fans contented themselves with ripping the pish out of James the Livi no 3 who had let rip with a torrent of abuse at the near linesman.

As the half wore on, Saints began to press more and more. Peaso won the ball well on the wing and sent a cross over for Craig but he was just too late to reach the ball. A corner five minutes later found McManus with a header at the back post but it went back across the goal where it just required a mere glance to knock it into the net. A minute later Mooner released Sheerin who sent a deep cross over where Rocco sneaked in at the back post. His cutback was blocked but with the ball sticking in the six yard box, Peaso managed to get in for a shot but that was put out for a corner.

Livi were throwing everything at us in an effort to get back into the game and Walker had a good shot that Main got down for an excellent save. With ten minutes remaining though another good move from the midfield saw Mooner and Craig combine to release Rocco down the right and his cutback for Mooner ended in a shot that the keeper tipped wide. Another good ball forward from Mooner in the 84th minute found Irvine but he was brought down by James - the no3 seemed to be letting the slaggings from the Saints fans get to him and he went into the book for dissent. Gave us a laugh anyway. Craig's inswinging freekick went across the box but was missed by everyone.

Saints made their final change five minutes from time with Davey Weatherston coming on for Peaso but the closing stages were fairly quiet. Weatherston had a good run two minutes from time to win a corner. That ended in the ball being played across to the other side where McManus crossed it back in for Craig but his header went wide.

Despite the lack of goals, Saints were never in danger of throwing away their lead and while we should have scored more, the overall play throughout the side was excellent. Sheerin settled in well at left-back while McManus and Main probably had their best games for a while. In midfield Wilson looks lacking in match fitness and while he started poorly, Rocco came on well and gets my MoM for two good finishes. Up front the two-man strike force led to fewer chances for the strikers but both Peaso and Jacko were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. From once being our bogey team, Livi and Almondvale has fast become a happy hunting ground for us and while we'll need to up the pace for the cup game during the week, I can't complain about the performance and effort shown today.

Still in the hunt then!!

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