Gloriously Classy Saintees 3 Jambo Failures 0
Team ::
Main,McQuillan,Bollan,Dods,Kernaghan,Dasovic,O'Neil,Preston,
Kane,Georgio,Simao
Subs :: Lowndes,Legend,McMahon
The subs say it all really. By leaving out any sort of defender, St. Sandy laid his tactics out on the table from the start - we were here to win the match. Saints went in as favourites thanks to some wonderful attacking displays in the last few weeks whilst the Jambos have failed to live up to their reputation by getting humped at every opportunity. Nice to see some things don't change eh?
With St. Sandy keeping the same starting line-up for the third game in a row Saints stuck to their usual 4-4-2 formation. However the first period was fairly scrappy with the Saints midfield and defence struggling to string a few passes together (Christ even Il Biscotti looked mortal). Miguel had a good chance early on but shot over whilst the Jambos saw Scumdee reject and all round smirking git Hamilton break through only for Father Dougal to bring him down on the edge of the box and earn a yellow card in the process. Still the Jambos stuck to form by missing every chance in the first half.
Kane also picked up a booking as the Saints midfield struggled to cope with the close marking of Jeffries Failures. Meanwhile Georgio and Miguel weren't getting the same service as they had last Saturday which saw them come back more. Still after the first half-hour Saints began to take control with only the Jambos offside trap saving them on several occasions. Del was first to get a really good shot as Saints forced a series of corners. The first goal came in 41 minutes from one of these when the ball was knocked clear to Dasovic who sent in a volley which the Jambos big French git could only palm into the top of the net to send the away support wild.
Even better was to come when on the stroke of half-time Il Biscotti broke down the left. With everyone crying out to him to pass to Bollan who was clear on the left, the Immortal took over and from 25 yards out sent in an angled drive to the top right corner of the net. Oor Erchie on the telly later described it as the piece de resistance for Saints - crap it was the goal of the season.
Second half saw Jeffries the Panicker send on Diver Quitongo for the Roman Reject Salvatori. Jose looked dangerous for all of 10 minutes as the Jambos had some pressure but with his inability to get past Bollan without diving or keep the ball in play their attacks didn't come to much. In fact the only save Main had to make came from his own cock-up when he sclaffed a Dods pass back and was forced to make a fingertip save from the Jambos attack.
St. Sandy sent on Nat King Goals for the tiring Simao and he was able to put some pressure on the Jambos defence resulting in several crap clearances. With 3 minutes left and the Saints fans already starting to chant 'Bring on the Rangers', oor Nat broke down the left. He cut back inside to square the ball to Georgio who slotted it home through the French Gits legs to make the score 3-0.
There was still time for St. Sandy to replace Il Biscotti and Georgio with McMahon and Legend before Nathan was booked in the last minute for not kicking Roussets head in. By that time we were all past caring though (as were the 'home' support who had left in droves as though they were followers of TFOD - never!!).
MoM for me was easy - all 14 Saintees including St. Sandy. As for the best bit of the evening. It was coming home to rewind the video to watch the post-match summary and see a certain aurally enhanced Judas looking sick as the proverbial parrot that an attacking Saints side would make their first cup final in 30 years.
Mother, where's me rosette ?????
Remember to vote on todays ref - Willie Young (Clarkston) send marks out of 10 to refvote@grange.demon.co.uk