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SAINTS BREAK PARS

Last updated : 29 October 2003 By Richard Jones

Tonight’s performance was always going to be difficult to predict. Pre-match injury reports were concerning, however, the eleven Saints that took to the field never looked back. Mixu and Reilly were missing, although Mixu did make the bench. Mark Robertson moved inside to central midfield, and McLaughlin stepped in on the left wing. Mixu was deputised by Keigan, and his pace caused perpetual concern for the Pars defence. From the off, Saints were playing the more intelligent football, with Dunfermline, lacking in inspiration in midfield. They relied on the strength of veteran Brewster and trickery and pace of Crawford. But with, Dods and Maxwell came wrestle and guile, and they coped admirably with the threat.


From the kick off Saints were charged. Parker too, was looking sharp and after 2 minutes, he danced round Bullen and Wilson and won a free kick. 2 minutes later, he ran onto a precision Donnelly pass, and was only nullified by a last gasp lunge by Wilson just inside the left
hand corner of the box. With 9 minutes on the clock, Saints were rewarded with the opening goal. Bernard, won possession mid-way in the Saints half. He spotted Parker sprinting forward and played a looping ball over the top for him to chase. With Parker cruising past Wilson, Derek Stillie, the Pars keeper elected to leave the safetyof his box and attempt to clear. He attacked the ball, but his header was weak, and fell between Parker and the oncoming Donnelly. Stillie was caught in the floodlights and could only turn to watch as Donnelly’s looping, guided volley floated into the top left corner.

11minutes in, and again Parker was irritating Wilson. This time, the nippy striker, jinked beyond Wilson from a through ball by MacDonald. He appeared to be through, but was caught on the heel by Wilson inside the box. To the surprise of the home fans, he resisted the temptation to fall and his attempted shot was weak, and picked up by the keeper.

Dunfermline, had their first attempt at goal after a quarter of and hour. Barry Nicholson sauntered unattended through the Saints midfield and attempted to chip Cuthebrt, but his strike was too high. Maxwell, came close with a header from a corner after half and hour. The Pars keeper was under more pressure after 34 minutes. John Robertson’s diagonal cross was cleared straight into MacDonald. This time, Stillie just beat MacDonald to the ball.

Brian McLaughlin had a good chance to make it two before the break. Parker’s cross from the right was missed by all in the box. The wee winger had time to control the ball, but his drive was high of the left top corner. On 45 minutes, Saints came close again. Another shaky moment by the Pars defence, resulted in a sloppy back pass by Bullen. Again, Stillie was just quick enough to beat Peaso to the ball, this time with a desperate sliding tackle.

Saints continued to press forward after the break. 10 minutes into the second half, McLaughlin and Peaso had combined well to play in Parker. Parker decided to lay it back for MacDonald, when perhaps he should have been more direct. Dunfermline were still struggling to create in the midfield and were reduced to speculative long range efforts. Second half substitute Grondin fired a lay off from Crawford over the top right corner after 60 minutes. 65 minutes gone, and Dunfermline were claiming a penalty. For once holes appeared in the Saints defence, and Grondin passed in front of Crawford who went to ground. However, the referee did not view it as culpable enough to justify a penalty, nor fraudulent to warrant a yellow card.

In the 70th minute, and Saints deservedly doubled the lead. A tricky ball into the corner by Bernard for MacDonald had resulted in a corner for Saints. Robertson delivered a deep in-swinger from the left, Bernard headed back across goal, and Darren Dods headed into the top corner. Whilst renditions of "Darren Dods Dods" and "What division are you in?" echoed from the East Stand, Saints delivered the hat-trick over the Pars. MacDonald won a header, mid-way in the Pars midfield. He then volleyed the ball first time, wide over Parker’s shoulder. Parker, beat Grondin a couple of times, and whipped in another low cross. Mark Robertson was inches away from connecting with a diving header, but the ball fell to Peaso, who took one touch and volleyed beyond Stillie. Cue more excitement amongst the home support, and disgust in the North stand as many elected to head home. Now the East Stand were calling for Billy Stark to give them a wave, and singing "Sandy Clark’s a so and so etc." But, they did not forsee, what was coming next.

There was some diluted venom in the Pars side after all. With ten minutes remaining. Stevie Crawford brought a pass down on his chest, 35 yards out, and hit a speculative volley goalwards. His timing was perfect and looped high and under the cross bar leaving Cuthbert static. Enter Chris Hay. He looked sharp, made an immediate impact and won a corner. Yet two minutes later, and Dunfermline scored another. This time, Crawford laid the ball off to Derek Young. He powered a curling left footed shot round Cuthbert and the post into the right corner again. Once again, a high class strike, and perhaps Saints could be criticised for not closing down quick enough. However, neither strike was deserved, and there was some concern that they might produce a third.

With 90 minutes gone, the fourth official, lifted his electronic sign, posting 3 minutes of extra time. Mutters rung around the home support. In the final seconds, Dunfermline were claiming a penalty, this time for hand ball. Again the referee, waved such claims away and Saints finished worthy winners.

3-2 is a scoreline that flatters the Pars. They were well cancelled out by the Saints, with excellent performances all round. Tonight was an excellent chance for the Saints to perform at home and exorcise the hoo-doo. Some of the shine was scratched off by two late strikes, but this will boost confidence and was an excellent all round display. The appetite of the Saints was on display tonight, and they got their just rewards.