St Midden 1 Saints 3
Team : Main, Irvine, Sheerin, Morris, Rutkiewicz,
McManus, Rocco, Craig, Jacko, Savo, Peaso
Subs: Cuthbert, James, Wilson, Weatherston, Moon
With a couple of good league wins to boost the confidence, Saints headed west for the replay against St Midden and a chance to face up to Partick in the semi-finals. While our record against SPL opposition in the cups in recent seasons has been reasonably good, there was no denying the fact that most of the media reckoned we'd blown our chances and that Gus' mob were favourites for the title. Even so there was an expectation that the game would be a close affair and for the Saints fans heading through there was more than a faint hope that we'd be able to pull off the sort of result that would have the West Coast media throwing a hissy fit. And there was the added kudos to play for in that tonight's tie would be the last Scottish Cup game played at Love St before the Paisley side up sticks and head to Basra (or Ferguslie Park as the locals know it) next season.
The game itself turned out to be one of those nights where everything (well almost) turns out beautifully. There's no way any of the massive Saints support that made there way through to Love Street would have expected the one-sided opening period that saw us simply put the Methadone Men to the sword with three simply stunning goals all prime candidates for goal of the season. If you thought the quarter-final against Motherwell last year was a night to remember, it paled into comparison against tonight's game. Sure we were possibly up against it as St Mirren threw everything but the kitchen sink at us in the second period but we defended well with every one of the players on the park doing their bit to get us back to Hampden again. We fully deserved the win and the sheer joy on the players' faces at full-time tell their own story about the spirit and confidence that's back in the side. The only real cloud was Sheerin's run of penalties finally ending but right now he won't give a damn.
Ando was suspended after Corcoran's over-acting impressed referee McDonald at McDiarmid ten days ago. Elsewhere and both Goran and Rustybitz had missed on the salubrious delights of negotiating the roundabouts to get to Almondvale at the weekend thanks to Achilles and back injuries respectively. Only the latter returned to the fray tonight as Saints started with McManus and Rustybitz making up the central defensive partnership. Sheerin moved to left back while Savo started in place of Wilson who dropped to the bench. The Paisley mob had John Potter missing after a head knock at the weekend but otherwise were at full strength, although Zimmer-Frame Millen had been brought in to shore up their defence.
After enduring the pre-match hype from not one but two Paisley Pandas (double-barrelled shotgun next time please), Saints started brilliantly and a poor clearance from Smith in the home goal in the first minute almost led to a goal but Rocco was off-balance when he tried a speculative effort from his interception and his shot lacked the power to beat the goalkeeper. Liam Craig on the left touchline was finding plenty of room, but he was playing crosses that were too deep and too far in front of the strikers to cause any real threat. The game was never dirty but Mehmet was the first casualty forced to leave the field for a few minutes with a head knock. Not that he had had much to do anyway with the Saints defence looking solid and Irvine and Sheerin playing well on the flanks.
St Midden forced their first corner in the seventh minute after Liam headed a throw-in behind. Rocco cleared it but the ball was soon played back in where Irvine's poor control conceded another corner. This time there was more danger as the ball was floated in and found an unmarked Maxwell but luckily his header went just over the bar. The game in general was pretty scrappy but that chance had the home fans finally starting to sing a bit. It didn't last though.
Eleven minutes on the clock and Sheerin from defence played the ball out wide left to Liam Craig. He took it forward and fired over another high deep cross. This time the ball missed everyone and landed beautifully at the far side inside the box where an unmarked Rocco in acres of space didn't hesitate and fired a perfect volley before the ball hit the ground. The ball rocketed goalwards and over Smith's head before coming in just under the bar. A sweeter strike you couldn't imagine - a thing of pure beauty. And oh how we celebrated - even Alan McManus made a "shhh" gesture towards the home fans nearest him as they suddenly went quiet.
Of course St Mirren tried to hit back with the play flowing from end to end although with a lack of any clear cut chances. Both managers were out at the edge of their technical areas with Del urging Saints on and Gus looking furious. We came close to extending our lead in the 17th minute when a long kick out from Main found Peaso easily turning Millen inside out before bearing down on goal, but he opted for a lob and although he beat the keeper, the ball went just over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
It didn't matter a minute later though as the magic was turned on again. A simple ball from Sheerin in midfield seemed to be targeting Peaso but closed down by Millen, he played a brilliant dummy allowing the ball to go through his legs for Jacko to latch on to with a good run. Through on goal with just the keeper to beat he made no mistake with an excellent finish into the top corner from about 15 yards out. Simply perfection and suddenly it seemed like the Hampden dream was on.
St Mirren suddenly began to get desperate and rushed their time on the ball more and more. Their only real chances came from an angled Dargo shot in the 20th minute that went wide and a poor long-range attempt from Barron a couple of minutes later that was easily held by Main. Maxwell tried a shot as well but it didn't even come near the goal as Irvine headed the ball clear of danger. The play came back in though with another cross only half-cleared by the Saints defence and when the ball broke to van Zanten, he tried a dipping shot that went just over Main's bar.
Obviously we couldn't stand for this so it was time to teach the junkies another lesson. A simple ball forward a minute later found Peaso on the left and as he is want to do he decided to go all greedy and cut inside a couple of defenders. Well once in a while these things pay off and after beating two of them for pace, he fired in a curling shot that left Smith stranded, the ball in the back of the net, the Saints fans going mental and more than a few of the home support heading home for their methadone early.
Dargo picked up the first booking of the game for a late foul on Jacko just as he was about to be released by Rocco following a neat one-two as Saints dominated the midfield play. Even Rustybitz got into the action as the freekick went forward and when the ball broke, he tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the box that went just over. The St Mirren defence seemed to have completely lost their shape with Smith looking almost shell- shocked. A clearance ten minutes from the break was almost blocked by Savo as the keeper looked more and more nervous.
The rest of the half was almost an anti-climax with St Mirren rarely threatening (one corner in the 40th minute was well punched clear by Main) - Dorman lacking the influence he showed in the earlier game with one loose ball simply hit out. Even most of the Saints fans had hit that plateau of sheer joy mixed with boredom as thoughts were already moving onto bus bookings for the semi-final. That was how confident we were.
Gus made his first change at half-time withdrawing Barron in place of Keane and they were at us from the restart. A poor clearance from Sheerin was played back in but Morris (who had so far enjoyed another quiet game) was there to mop up the danger as the home strikers tried to crowd out the Saints penalty area. Our first break saw Jacko get room for a run down the right and he played the ball in for Savo but before he could get the return, Milne was tackled in the box. St Mirren on the other hand seemed to be happy to play long balls into our box all night long but Main was turning into Public Enemy No 1 in the home stands as he caught cross after cross. Even when he failed to catch the ball as in the 50th minute, he was still there with a brave punch clear.
We should have wrapped things up six minutes into the half as a break from defence saw Rocco play a great through ball for Savo running through the middle. He was tackled but the ball broke to Morris there in support and when Jody went into the box he was caught from behind. No complaints from the home fans and referee McDonald pointed to the spot. Up stepped Sheerinho with the Saints faithful behind the goal but finally it seemed his luck had run out. The penalty was well enough struck but Smith guessed correctly and got down to his left to tip the ball clear. The Buddies keeper was almost caught out four minutes later though as another good quick break from Saints saw the ball played deep for Savo and he went wide right before sending a deep cross over that the keeper only just caught on the line. He was off-balance though and spilled the ball but only just collected it from the feet of Jacko closing in.
That was the end of Jacko's game and he went off to a round of cheers as Mooner replaced him and Saints went to a more orthodox 4-4-2. We were creating plenty of chances with some flowing play but rarely threatened the goal. A good break in the 55th minute found Rocco on the right and he made plenty of room before cutting in but the final shot was...well woeful doesn't even begin to describe it. A minute later and Mooner sent a good cross over but found no takers. The ball was cleared but Saints defence played it wide for Craig and he took it up the park before crossing for Mooner. He in turn laid it back for Irvine but the defender rushed his shot and the ball went high into the stand. McGinn replaced Millen as St Mirren chased any chance and he was followed by a final change in the 63rd minute as Carmen Miranda came on for Corcoran after Corcoran took a freekick from a Craig foul but hit the ball straight out the park.
Peaso had a good break but his 20-yard shot at Smith was well held and then in the 68th minute another Saints break ended with a van Zanten handball. A quick freekick found Peaso but he was up-ended by that man van Zanten who earned a booking for his trouble - all the more frustrating for him given that the referee also awarded a freekick to St Mirren as Peaso was offside. Our second substitution in the 68th minute saw Rocco go off to applause as Wilson came on to replace him. Unfortunately a minute later the home side got a token consolation goal. A ball into the Saints area saw shouts of handball - not sure who committed the offence but nobody really argued. Mehmet stepped up and sent Main the wrong way to make it 3-1 and while we were all still singing the Fergie-esque squeaky bum time had arrived early. Main had to look sharp to hold a cross a couple of minutes later but there were also signs that the home players were getting desperate and Mehmet went into the book for a foul on Sheerin just after that.
We seemed to have lost our concentration a bit and while the defensive punts were all well and good, there was little creativity or attempts to feed the likes of Mooner or Craig. Peaso had a good run and cut inside in the 76th minute but his low shot was easily held at the post. Back at the Saints end another deep cross saw Rusty end up catching Kean at the edge of the box. Dargo's freekick was a good one and beat the wall but it still went over the bar as well. Peaso went off two minutes after that as Kevin James was brought on to shore up the defence while Craig dropped back and Sheerin went to left midfield.
St Mirren also managed a late change with the sudden appearance of about another twenty ballboys all round the ground - strange they were all missing during the first half eh Gus? We were under almost constant pressure now as the home side went for broke. Ten minutes from time a poor James clearance ended in another cross back into the box and an unmarked header that clipped the bar as it went over - no real danger to Main's goal but the bus booking phone calls were being put on hold. The closing stages saw St Mirren get another corner that was cleared and Saints trying to kill the game off - Wilson, who doesn't look fit yet, had a good run up the wing to kill some time. Craig had a cross blocked and van Zanten had a shot blocked two minutes from time. That was followed up by another break into our box but Morris was there with a great tackle. A minute later Irvine was caught late and from the freekick, Mooner showed some great control at the corner to set up Morris inside. Jody played a great ball into the box but Savo had been suffering from cramp for a while and he lacked the energy to reach the ball. The inevitable lengthy spell of injury time followed but St Mirren had given up by now and had little to show for their possession.
The final whistle was almost a relief and the look of delight on the players (especially Rusty and Savo who missed out last year) shows what making the semi-final means to them. It's hard to pick a man of the match - all of them were excellent at times but Gary Irvine gets it for me, mainly for his excellent tackling and constant running. But there were no failures tonight - well at least not amongst the Yellow Army!!!!
Hampden Here We Come!!!
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