Temple Of Saints - Another Bloody Shambles

Bells League Division One 11/08/2007

Saints 2 Stirling 2 League Table Here

Team: Main, Lawrie, Stanic, McInnes, McManus, Rustybitz, Weatherston, Hardie, Daal, Peaso, Sheerinho
Subs : Cat, McCluskey, Dyer, Stewart, Jackson

Okay, so maybe last weekend had seen the pre-season bubble of faith deflated slightly (at least it wasn't completely burst) and I'm sure we've all had a few nightmares over the last seven days at Car-Crash Lawrie and co's defensive frailties being highlighted once more. But look, it was the first home game of the season, the sun was almost shining and going into this one on paper at least we had to be clear favourites to chalk up the first win of the campaign. Of course standing in the way was a newly- promoted Beanos side that had already taken a deserved point off Partick and come through a tricky away tie to beat Brechin in the cup in midweek. Added to that Stirling now had arguably one of the best up-and-coming burger-van-owning managers in the game in ex-Saintee Allan Moore but for all that, Moorie's side were still part-time and we should have done a hell of a lot better than the debacle we had to witness at times. In an almost identical repeat of last week's mess the defence along with the keeper again conceded two goals that were so soft Slumberland want to use them for a mattress while yet again we lacked a killing touch up front and barely deserved one point never mind that if we'd taken all three it would have been the biggest robbery since, well last week. Plenty of the side were given the benefit of the doubt after Palmerston - surely their chance is up now.

Ando was still forced to sit and endure the defensive nightmares in the stand as he completed his suspension while Wullie McLaren joined him as he went on three weeks of bed rest for his knee. There were more than a few niggles and knocks from last weekend with Kevin James being a major doubt for the game, with John Stewart also hardly training during the last seven days. There was the prospect of a new face or two going into the game (again). In the end there was no new face but the return of an old hand as Rustybitz was pushed to the limit to get a full ninety minutes alongside McManus in defence while on the bench, Mooner made way for Wullie Dyer. The only other change saw Daal given the starting jersey up front instead of Stewart. Not too many familiar faces in the opposition lineup with Flash and the Pope missing out although Derek Lilley started (a rarity for him).

From kick-off with the home support behind them, the boys looked up for it early on despite the pouring rain with Weatherston forcing a first-minute corner although Hogarth easily held Sheerinho's cross. We looked a lot sharper in the opening stages and some good play from Goran and Sheerin on the left saw the ball played to Peaso on the left and he cut the ball back in for Sheerin but his shot was held. Next up Weatherston tried his luck with a cross which was held and Hogarth also comfortably dealt with a Hardie chip. The Binos defence wasn't really troubled and we lacked punch in the centre of midfield and the defence for some suicidal reason was attempting to play the offside trap - a decision they'd be punished for later.

Stirling's first chance came ten minutes into the game when McManus and Goran both slid into mistimed tackles allowing a free run through for the opposition only ended thanks to a clumsy challenge 25 yards out by McInnes. The freekick rounded the wall but was tipped round the post by Main in a rare foray towards the ground for the Saints keeper. Three minutes later they had another good break which saw us split wide open and only a tackle from a backtracking Dyron Daal cleared the danger. The ball was eventually played back up the park and Daal was there to run onto it but his low drive was held by the keeper.

Despite the negative long-ball tactics which Saints were employing (with the Mullet rarely getting a sight of the ball, never mind a chance to run at the opposition), we managed to break the deadlock in the 19th minute after the Mullet was obstructed on the right touchline. Sheerinho's freekick was headed down for Hardie and his shot took a deflection before spinning past Hogarth into the net to make it 1-0. Suddenly we began to relax a bit with Sheerinho trying his luck with a long-range shot which again was held. We seemed to be getting more of the ball and forcing the Binos to make mistakes with Daal trying his luck in the 31st minute after McInnes latched onto a poor clearance. Dyron got through but the final shot was held.

Of course the trouble with relaxing is that you tend to go to sleep. And if your name is Andy Bloody Lawrie it's more like being in a coma. So it was that a minute later the ball was sent through the left channel with Lawrie and his defensive cohorts doing their statue impersonations. Even then there was time to do this tackling malarkey on McKenna but nobody really bothered and once in the box he sent a low angled shot across the goal past the defenders and the static keeper (Christ he could have tried to dive for it) and into the net. One-each and the nerves started - not helped by the discipline on the park which saw McInnes pick up a pointless booking for dissent a couple of minutes later.

The game began to get scrappy and Saints lost their shape big time with players seeming to do nothing else than whinge at one another with McInnes complaining to Daal, Peaso whinging at Weatherston, Lawrie complaining and generally the whole side showed the sort of petulant whiney behaviour that is the last thing we, as fans, want to see when we've just lost a goal and need to focus on the bloody game. McInnes had another go at Peaso after another pass went astray in the 39th minute but that was enough for a lot of the East Stand and the fans began to get restless. The lack of leadership and responsibility on the park really just followed on from the crap we had to witness for 85 minutes at Palmerston.

The half ended on as big a downer as you could want. Daal had a good run five minutes from time but with no support he lost possession. Peaso was bundled over a minute later at the edge of the box but his freekick went just wide of goal. But just when you thought we were beginning to make some headway, the defence decided they needed another wee nap and again went to sleep in a pathetic attempt to master the offside trap in the final minute of the half. Cue the Binos winger getting his dancing shoes on for a quick waltz past Lawrie and co once more before playing a simple square ball along the deck that everyone decided to miss once more allowing McKenna time to come in and get his second with Main again unwilling to get down to try and save the goal. Absolutely pathetic and the patience finally ran out as the boos rang out at half-time.

No changes at the break and little sign of urgency when the teams returned to the fray. Peaso saw a cross easily held four minutes into the half and a minute later was caught at the edge of the box only for the referee to waive play on. Sheerin had another long range effort easily held before Owen decided to shake things up eight minutes into the half with Daal replaced by John Stewart. Three minutes later and our favourite incompetent midfielder McInnes gave the ball away allowing Stirling to break into the box and only a last-ditch clearance by McManus prevented the scoreline becoming any more embarrassing.

That was enough and McCluskey replaced McInnes just before the hour mark with a fair old cheer in the East Stand for the change. He moved to the left wing with Sheerin going inside alongside Hardie. Suddenly there was a bit more life about the side and within a minute McCluskey had made the first brilliant run before crossing for Hardie who unfortunately ended up with his back to goal and when he went for the spectacular shot the defence easily blocked it. Two minutes later and the Mad Mental One was back in the thick of it getting on the end of a good Lawrie cross only for the ball to be apparently handled by a red shirt in the box, not that the referee, who to be fair, was having a decent game up until now, gave us the decision. But all was (almost) right with the world two minutes later as Peaso won a corner for Saints. Sheerinho sent the ball in and up rose Rustybitz near the back post for a brilliant 12-yard header right into the back of the net. Dinky was back and by Christ he enjoyed the celebrations.

Suddenly there was a bit more optimism and flair about Saints as we pushed for a third goal. Weatherston set up Sheerin for a low shot that went just wide of goal before Owen's final throw of the dice in the 70th minute as Jacko came on for Peaso. Stewart forced another corner next but again the cross was missed by all the white shirts although Ellis of Stirling picked up a booking for some mysterious reason. Weatherston won the next corner but this time McManus was adjudged to have climbed all over a defender. Then in a move which deserved goal of the season, McCluskey linked well with Jackson to pick up the ball on the left and go on a brilliant run like a hyperactive terrier before cutting inside two defenders and firing a brilliant rocket of a rising drive which looked destined for the top right corner before Hogarth got across to make an equally good save to tip it over the bar. At least it gave the home fans something to compare to the entertainment we've been promised. From the corner the ball fell at the back post for the Mullet but his shot was deflected into the keeper's arms. The Mullet started the next move with a run down the right before crossing in for Jackson who just missed the ball. McCluskey got the ball on the other flank and crossed in for Weatherston who set up Hardie who stuck the ball home only for the goal to be chalked off for offside.

Jackson was next to be upended on the edge of the box after another good run down the left with Stirling's Graham picking up a yellow card for the challenge - not that we bothered to do anything with the freekick. But the defence had to get back in on the act and two minutes later a simple long ball was fluffed by Lawrie and deflected off Rustybitz by Gribben for a corner. That was eventually punched clear by Main but the Saints back four didn't look too comfortable dealing with it although Rustybitz by now was limping a bit from an earlier knock. Back up the park and another good McCluskey cross found Lawrie but his header went over the bar as time began to run out.

Stirling hit back and two minutes from time they broke through the middle only for Rustybitz to get in for the tackle. Unfortunately the referee saw it the other way booking Rusty for the challenge and ignoring the handbags with McKenna. The freekick was quickly taken and Saints were still arguing amongst themselves with the ball falling for McKenna in the box and he shot over the bar. A minute later we were back up the park and a cross into the area saw Stanic shoved - again no penalty. Stirling broke back and Rustybitz was out on the wing only to be clobbered and left flattened, although he eventually recovered after treatment.

We lacked urgency as the game drew to a close with even the likes of Main and McManus reluctant to try the long ball game when it was required. McCluskey had a good run up the left in injury time and his excellent deep cross found Hardie in the box but his decent attempt at a header was held by the keeper - no last-ditch heroics this week unfortunately. Cue the final whistle and more boos and hopefully a lot of thinking for the manager to do.

No doubt we can all come up with the shopping list for the manager to try on the transfer market this week but the fact remains that today's performance just highlighted more the failings shown on the park last Saturday. A MoM was hard to pick but for his goal and the fact he was the only one apparently capable of showing leadership on the park, Rusty gets the welcome back vote. Hardie, Mullet and McCluskey all did well and the strikers tried but sorely lacked support from midfield especially in the first half. As for the midfield, we looked slow at times but the real problem has to be the lack of, well anything contributed by McInnes to the effort - he rarely tackles, can't pass and is just too slow. Defensively as well we lacked shape too often and while Lawrie at least tries, too many of the team were again off form (even Goran mistimed more tackles today than in the whole of last season). At least there was a plus in the performance of McCluskey when he came on with his back of tricks inspiring the side in the closing stages.

Owen has a lot to sort out now and he has to get it done soon before we end up in another bloody chasing pack. Today was simply not good enough.

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