Winning In The Rain: So Long Farewell

So Long, Farewell

Saints warmed up for their Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final with a hard fought win over Haldane United at a sunny Inler Park last Saturday afternoon. With all chance of retaining the Premier Division title now gone Saints hopes of finishing the season with some silverware rest exclusively with the cup therefore a good performance against Central Scottish Amateur Football League bound Haldane ahead of Wednesday's semi-final was more important than the result. Manager Iain Jackson can have no complaints on either front as the team produced a solid performance to record their third victory of the season over the Balloch men.
Saints kicked off playing up the slight slope with the strong breeze behind them and immediately took the game to their hosts with Lewis Cameron signalling his intent to run at the Haldane defence at every opportunity. Despite the strong start from Saints it was Haldane who threatened first with a swift counter attack after three minutes. A deep cross from the left wing from Lee Hall found the head of towering centre forward Ross Davies whose header brought out the first save of the day from Saints keeper Thomas McCulloch. Saints continued to probe for openings with Donald Campbell, Paul Kerr and Myles McAuley pulling the strings in midfield but the Haldane back four were in determined mood and chances were hard to come by for the front pairing of Allan Mackay and Lewis Cameron. Saints survived a scare in the 12th minute when Thomas McCulloch slid out at the feet of Ross Davies and Saints skipper Marc MacCallum for what looked like a routine take on the edge of his penalty area. However the big keeper somehow failed to connect and was indebted to Alex Craik who got back to clear the effort from Davies off the line. In the 21st minute Myles McAuley's persistence on the right wing won a free kick which gave Lewis Cameron the chance to whip in a dangerous looking cross which Haldane keeper Brian Gallagher could only punch high into the air before Haldane skipper Daniel McIlmun sliced his attempted clearance behind for a corner. Lewis took the kick from the left wing but his in swinger to the back post was well held by the Haldane keeper. Saints were warming up a bit now and trying to use the width of Craig MacEwan on the left and David McArthur on the right to stretch the Haldane back four. In the 25th minute Myles McAuley and David McArthur combined well on the right giving David a shooting opportunity on the edge of the Haldane box. David's shot was blocked on the six yard line but fell kindly for Donald Campbell whose shot from 20 yards shaved the base of the keeper's right hand post. Saints fell behind two minutes later with Haldane, as so often in the past, taking the aerial route to success. The combined efforts of Paul Kerr and Alex Craik prevented Ross Davies from getting a clean header on another cross from the left but in the melee the big striker reacted quickest to poke the ball high into the top right hand corner of the net. Saints were disappointed to concede so cheaply and immediately carved out their best opportunity of the match so far. Donald Campbell picked out Craig MacEwan who controlled well, beat his man and played a neat pass through to Lewis Cameron on the left hand side of the box. Lewis cut onto his right foot opening up the angle for him to curl a shot agonisingly wide of the keeper's right hand post. In the 31st minute more good work on the left from Craig MacEwan won a corner kick giving Lewis Cameron another chance to pick out a Saints head. Lewis swung over a dangerous looking cross to the back post but again found no takers in dark blue. Saints were upping the pressure now and on 33 minutes Lewis Cameron chested down a Paul Kerr pass, turned and fired in a terrific 25 yard shot which the keeper could only parry to Craig MacEwan who looked set to score but for a last gasp interception sending the ball out for a throw-in. Craig found Lewis with the throw who turned his man and sent in a low shot to the near post which the keeper did well to hold. In the 37th minute Donald Campbell had another shooting opportunity on the edge of the D but once again shaved the outside of the post with keeper well beaten. With the clock ticking down towards the half time interval Saints had their final chance of the half when Donald Campbell picked out Craig MacEwan in the inside left channel whose curling right foot shot brought out a terrific save from Brian Gallagher at his far post. Saints survived one final scare before the whistle when Ross Davies could scarcely believe his luck to be unmarked on the 18 yard line and ready to pull the trigger, seemingly from nowhere Myles McAuley got back with a fantastic interception to take the ball off the big striker's toe and save an almost certain goal.
Saints were back on the attack from the re-start and took just two minutes to get the equaliser. Paul Kerr and Lewis Cameron combined well on the left hand side of the Haldane box to pick out Craig MacEwan who curled a right foot shot beyond the despairing dive of the Haldane keeper. Haldane once again demonstrated their aerial prowess when Daniel McIlmun leapt high above the Saints defence from a corner kick on the Saints left to send a towering header on target. Thankfully for Saints Paul Kerr guarding the right hand post was able to clear the ball to safety. Manager Iain Jackson made his first change in the 52nd minute withdrawing David McArthur and replacing him on the right wing Ross Maitland. Moments later Haldane winger Lee Hall cut in from the left and fired a spectacular swerving right foot shot from all of thirty yards crashing off the face of Saints cross bar with Thomas McCulloch firmly rooted to the spot. Saints fans will remember the terrific long range shot from which Lee scored against Saints in Oban in March, if anything this strike was better and deserved a goal. Saints survived another scare in the 54th minute when Daniel McIlmun again out jumped the Saints defence to head inches over the crossbar. From Thomas McCulloch's goal kick Craig MacEwan won a free kick on the left but once again Lewis Cameron was unable to pick out a Saints head and his cross was headed clear. In the 55th minute Referee Andrew Seymour finally tired of the treatment being dished out to the Saints attack and Lewis Cameron in particular and booked Haldane central defender Robert McKenzie for persistent fouling. One minute later Lee Hall again tried his luck from distance this time clearing the crossbar by a matter of inches. On the hour mark the Referee was reaching for his pocket again when a typically rampaging run from Myles McAuley was halted by a cynical challenge by Haldane midfielder John Muir. In the 66th minute Allan Mackay was gjven a rare sight of goal after good link-up play from Ross Maitland and Myles McAuley, Allan's shot across the face of goal was inches short of being tucked in by Craig MacEwan sliding in at the back post. Manager Iain Jackson made his second change after 70 minutes introducing Dean Smith to replace Allan Mackay who had lead the line well against Haldane's giant central defenders. Thomas McCulloch was called into action again in the 72nd minute diving well to cut out a low cross from the Haldane right. Alex Craik was withdrawn from the action with fifteen minutes remaining making way for Scott Maitland. In the reshuffle Paul Kerr dropped back to join Skipper Marc MacCallum and Dougal Graham in defence with Scott slotting into midfield. Thomas McCulloch, who appeared to grow in confidence as the match progressed, pulled off another fine save from a long range Haldane effort low down at his near post. Saints finally took the lead with ten minutes remaining. Scott Maitland made a great interception to win possession 30 yards from the Haldane goal and fed the ball to Donald Campbell on the edge of the box. Donald wrong footed the Haldane defence with a pin-point first time pass to Dean Smith who curled an excellent right foot finish past Brian Gallagher. This was the cue for Saints final change with Martin Bonar coming on to replace Craig MacEwan on the left wing. Haldane's best hope of getting back on terms continued to be the aerial route and in the 85th minute central defender Robert McKenzie came close with a powerful header from a long throw which flew narrowly over the Saints crossbar. Haldane's Lee Hall joined the list of names in the Referee's notebook for an extremely late high challenge on Paul Kerr in the centre circle which could easily have been considered a red card offence. In time added on for stoppages Haldane launched one final long throw from the right touchline which Thomas McCulloch did well to punch clear through a ruck of players. Scott Maitland collected the ball on the edge of his own box and set off on a powerful run upfield supported by Dean Smith and Lewis Cameron. With the Haldane defence struggling to get back Scott slipped the ball to Dean on the 18 yard line who in turn picked out Lewis for a simple tap-in to seal victory for Saints. There was barely any time left and Referee Seymour, who handled proceedings well, brought the match to an end seconds after the re-start.
Saints now bid farewell to Haldane United against whom they have enjoyed some terrific matches in recent seasons and wish them all the best for their new adventure in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League.