A WEE BIT OF BULLYING

(EDITOR'S NOTE - Sadly, I was unable to attend todays game due to the hangovers that follow a tonsillectomy. Many thanks to my brother who deputised for me.)

Simon Jones reporting from McDiarmid Park:

It was a dour, dark, dreich November afternoon, as a famous Scottish radio reporter would have put it. Well at least we were in familiar territory of winter season football where the players are men and the fans sit with extra layers of clothes on to battle the elements.

The pitch for the time of year is in fantastic condition and is lending itself to some decent football being played on it. Today the Perth fans were not disappointed although the players must have looked out on just over 2000 fans and wondered what they need to do to bring the good people of Perth along to watch them.

Saints kicked of the match going towards the north stand with a familiar line up against a spirited Clyde team that have proved a difficult team to break down this season. With the likes of player manager and ex-saint Kernaghan and experienced David Hagen intermixed with exciting players like McGroarty and McConalogue the afternoons entertainment was ready to begin. Saints had the better of the opening exchanges except for in the fifth minute Dods fouled Pat Keogh 30 yards from the saints goal. Alan Kernaghan fired in a low shot to Cuthbert’s right but the young keeper did well to turn it for a corner. The resulting corner was whipped in with some pace but eluded everyone and went for a goal kick. This seemed to be the catalyst for saints as they rallied and started to look lively.

By the 9^th minute saints were passing the ball well. Bernard passed the ball to the left side of the park and Mark Robertson lofted a diagonal ball towards Mixu in the box who in turn nodded it down for Peaso in the penalty area. The result was inevitable and saints were 1 –0 up. Some good work between John Robertson and Donnelly down the right nearly resulted in saints second three minutes later as they combined and Robertson’s pass found Peaso with space but his shot went over. The right side started to look like the best focal point for the saints to attack and a great overlapping one two with J.Robertson and Donnelly gave Mixu the ball with his back to goal. He set the ball up for Mark Robertson who’s thundering drive was a long walk for the ballboy. We were now nearly at the twenty-minute mark and Clyde had resorted to humping the ball up the park to break up the saints attack. One such kick landed at the feet of Jack Ross on the left flank he crossed but Pat Keogh under pressure headed over the bar. From the resulting goal kick Donnelly was bundled to the ground not far from the half way line. The free kick was taken by M.Robertson to the back post were Maxwell headed on to Mixu who looked to have put it across the line but the linesman flagged for offside. In the 25^th minute Keogh put a nice ball through for Hagen but Cuthbert was up to the task and saved well. The game and the weather then got heavy with a few harsh challenges were being exchanged in wet conditions. Close to the half way line at the saint’s end a loose ball was attacked by the ever present Bernard and John Fraser of Clyde. Both players stood up quickly and pushed at each other but were separated by their respective colleagues. Mr Brown the referee decided his part in the match had been underplayed so he sent both players from the field.

The incident happened right in front of where I was sat and should Tayside police start adopting such harsh rulings for physical contact, any supporters heading for the toilet at half time would have surely spent the rest of the afternoon at her majesties pleasure. For both sets of fans the game had been ruined and not once had the referee consulted his linesman who had a good view of the incident. The tone was set and Browns top pocket had been warmed up so that another six players were booked in the rest of the match that, in my opinion, was not dirty.

After the sendings off both sides looked shocked but it was saints that go their act together quicker. Mixu intercepted a Kernaghan pass in the 40^th minute and sent Pea

so towards the left of the box but his shot was just past the upright. Saints had turned the screw and two minutes before half time Forsyth lobbed a ball over Potter for Peaso to chase. You would have bet your house on him scoring one on one but the keeper got down well, only to knock it loose to Donnelly who had followed in well to knock the ball in from 3 yards. The Clyde players looked stunned and saints kept the ball well for the remaining minutes. The referee Brown would have been pleased with the goal as it stopped him getting a major barracking when he blew for half time. The second half started with Clyde doing what saints used to do every match, handing possession back to their opponents. Saints took the present and barely gave the ball back for the rest of the half. Clyde were restricted to a half chance when Maxwell slipped in the 50^th minute but Hagen could not capitalise. The passing in midfield between McLaughlin, Donnelly and M.Robertson was a joy to watch despite the conditions. It was only a matter of time until the third goal came. With Twenty minutes to go Maxwell aimed for Mixu at the far post who headed it back into the path of Donnelly who slotted in from ten yards.

The game was killed as a contest and turned into shooting practice. Parker who had replaced Peaso in the 63^rd minute was causing all sorts of problems up front. With quarter of the match remaining he set up Donnelly for what would have been a fantastic hat-trick, unfortunately he scuffed the shot from 15 yards and will be ruing his chance of getting the match ball. That was his last action of the game as Chris Hay and Martyn Fotheringham replaced Mixu and the two-goal hero. In the remaining minutes Hay and Fotheringham had chances to make it four but had left their shooting boots elsewhere.

Saints should be pleased with the performance, and should be proud that they showed professionalism when the game could have gone either way. They walked the second half and have shown in the last few weeks that they have the guile and ability to beat the teams in this division all they have to do now is go out there and do it!