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Saints booked their place in the Scottish Amateur Cup third round draw with a comfortable 9 - 1 second round win over Millbeg Villa at Glencruitten last Saturday. The visitors from Glasgow's East end put up a spirited resistance in the first half but were totally overwhelmed by a rampant Saints second half performance and but for some terrific saves from Millbeg keeper David Hosie the winning margin would have been even wider. The home side, sporting new track suits and polo shirts kindly donated by generous kit sponsor D & K Lafferty, lined up with Thomas McCulloch in goal; a back four of David McArthur, Jamie Graham, Willie Gemmell and Scott Maitland; a midfield trio of Myles McAuley, Paul Kerr and Donald Campbell; and a front three of Lewis Cameron, Dean Smith and Craig MacEwan. On the bench were Martin Bonar, Dene Cassells, Shaun MacIver, Allan Mackay, Ross Maitland and Keith Millar.

In a whirlwind start Saints, attacking the railway end, forced a corner straight from the kick-off. A neat pass from Donald Campbell played in Lewis Cameron on the left of the Villa box who tried to pick out Dean Smith on the six yard line but the cross was blocked behind for a corner. The corner kick from the right was headed clear and Villa striker Kevin Stillie launched a lightning quick counter attack up the right wing which left the retreating Saints defence trailing in his wake. The Villa man flashed his shot from just inside the box across Thomas McCulloch and, fortunately for Saints, inches wide of the far post.

Villa keeper David Hosie produced the first of a string of excellent saves in the fourth minute tipping a Lewis Cameron shot round the post after some neat interplay on the edge of the Villa box from Donald Campbell and Dean Smith. From the resulting corner Jamie Graham had a good effort blocked in the six yard box with the Villa defence eventually clearing the danger. Saints skipper for the day Donald Campbell celebrated his call up the the Scottish Amateur International Squad with an excellent performance driving forward from midfield at every opportunity and in the seventh minute shaved the outside of David Hosie's left hand post with a left foot strike from twenty yards. Saints were trying to get their full backs forward to join the attack and David McArthur began to find some joy on the right delivering some tempting crosses which the Villa defence struggled to cope with. In the tenth minute a McArthur cross was deflected wide for a corner from which Willie Gemmell rose above the Villa defence but couldn't direct his header on target. Four minutes later another good run and cross from McArthur picked out Craig MacEwan in the middle but, under pressure from Villa central defender Tony Thompson, Craig was unable to find the target with his header. Villa had a rare attempt on goal in the sixteenth minute after Donald Campbell had given away a free kick just inside the Saints half wide on the left. The free kick was taken short and a speculative shot from thirty yards from Villa midfielder Andrew Collins flew high over the Saints cross bar. Saints had a free kick of their own two minutes later after Scott Maitland had been stoppped in his tracks twenty five yards from the Villa goal. Lewis Cameron lined up to take the kick and curled his shot round the Villa wall but high and wide of keeper Hosie's left hand post. In the twenty first minute Villa left back Brandon Stenson turned the tables on David McArthur easily outpacing the Saints right back to create a shooting opportunity for himself which Thomas McCulloch was relieved to see slip wide of his right hand post. From the goal kick Willie Gemmell delivered a terrific long pass to Dean Smith who turned well on the edge of the box and steered a low left foot shot which keeper Hosie did well to parry and smother the loose ball at Dean's feet. Hosie kept Saints at bay again in the twenty sixth minute with a terrific flying save to tip a curling Donald Campbell shot round his left hand post. The resulting corner was headed clear but only as far as the edge of the D from where Myles McAuley fired in a shot which Hosie again did well to hold. Saints finally made the breakthrough two minutes later when Donald Campbell fed Craig MacEwan cutting in from the left. Craig showed good strength to hold off the challenge of Villa right back Forde McGhee before slotting a low right foot shot into the bottom corner. Saints extended their advantage four minutes later when a cut back from Donald Campbell picked out Myles McAuley on the edge of the box. The Saints midfielder, eager to make it two goals in two games after his rare strike against Alba Thistle, fired in a cracking drive which the massed ranks of the Villa defence blocked behind for a corner. Lewis Cameron flighted over the flag kick from the right which the Villa defence could only clear as far as Donald Campbell lurking on the edge of the box who curled a delightful low shot which David Hosie at full stretch got his fingertips to but couldn't prevent the ball from nestling in the bottom corner of the net. Saints had the ball in the net again in the thirty sixth minute when Lewis Cameron headed a David McArthur cross high into the net but Referee Kevin Nolan, who handled a sporting contest well throughout, ruled that Lewis had strayed offside. Saints had another set piece opportunity in the forty first minute with centre back Willie Gemmell this time trying his luck. Scorer of many a fine set piece goal in his previous spell at the club Willie has yet to rediscover his range and sliced his thirty yard effort wide of target. As the half drew to a close Saints kept probing for the third goal which they hoped would make the game safe before the interval. Dean Smith had a net bound header from another Lewis Cameron corner kick headed off the goal line and Donald Campbell had a decent shout for a penalty kick which Referee Nolan waved away before blowing for half-time.

Saints started the second half as they had begun the first with a Dean Smith pop shot from the edge of the box bringing out another fine save from David Hosie. Saints suffered an unexpected set back in the 50th minute with some sloppy defending gifting Villa a foothold in the game. A sliced clearance from Jamie Graham gave Villa a throw-in on their left level with the eighteen yard line. The long throw looped over the Saints defence and found Andrew Collins who stole in between Jamie Graham and Willie Gemmell to prod the ball past the unprotected Thomas McCulloch. The threat to Saints lead was to prove very short lived as they countered almost immediately after the restart. Scott Maitland made an overlapping run up the left wing winning a corner kick when his attempted cross was blocked behind. Lewis Cameron sent over a perfect delivery which Craig MacEwan rose above his marker to nod into the net and restore Saints two goal advantage. Saints put the tie beyond any doubt with a further two goals to round off a devastating four minute spell which completely knocked the stuffing out of the visitors. Dean Smith beat the Villa off-side trap in the 52nd minute leaving him one-on-one with David Hosie. The Villa keeper made a good block at Dean's feet forcing the Saints striker wide. Dean kept his composure and picked out the run of Donald Campbell who slotted home from close range for his second goal of the game. Two minutes later Saints made it five when Hosie made another good gave from a Scott Maitland shot but was unable to prevent Dean Smith from firing home the loose ball for a well deserved goal. Saints were playing some terrific football at this stage and had the beleaguered visitors chasing shadows as they fought hard to keep the rampant Saints attack at bay. Craig MacEwan and Donald Campbell in particular were giving the Villa rearguard the run around with a succession of cheeky back heels and overhead kicks from Craig presenting decent shooting opportunities for Donald which keeper Hosie again did well to save. Saints Manager Alex Craik made his first changes just after the hour mark bringing on Martin Bonar and Keith Millar to replace David McArthur and Paul Kerr. Villa eventually managed to steady the ship a little keeping Saints at a more manageable distance and giving their overworked goal keeper some respite. Saints failure to capitalise on free kicks in dangerous areas continued when Lewis Cameron fired a twenty five yard free kick into the Villa wall after Donald Campbell had been tripped when trying to force his way through on goal. That was to prove the last involvement for Lewis as he and Dean Smith made way for Ross Maitland and Allan Mackay. Allan had his first glimpse of goal in the 69th minute when Donald Campbell rolled a free kick to him on the edge of the box after Myles McAuley had been brought down by Billy Coulter earning the Villa midfielder the game's only yellow card. Mackay turned well on the eighteen yard line and sent a low shot inches wide of David Hosie's right hand post. Saints sixth goal came with sixteen minutes remaining when Donald Campbell found Craig MacEwan racing through the inside left channel with a delightful flicked pass which Craig controlled with ease and buried in the bottom corner of the net. That was the signal for Saints final change with Dene Cassells coming on to demonstrate his versatility by replacing the inspirational Donald Campbell in midfield. Allan Mackay was next to try his luck on free kick duty but his effort followed a similar pattern to the others by crashing into the wall. Allan reacted quickly to the rebound and this time found the target with a stinging shot which David Hosie parried but gathered at the second attempt. Ross Maitland took over responsibility for the corner kicks from the departed Lewis Cameron and flighted over perfect delivery in the 80th minute which Martin Bonar glanced wide of target. Saints seventh goal owed much to the powerful midfield running of Dene Cassell, Dene raced forward in the 85th minute firing a ferocious drive on target which the Villa keeper could only parry into the path of the on-rushing Craig MacEwan who eagerly gobbled up the chance for his fourth goal of the match. One minute later Dene was at it again only this time keeper Hosie managed to hold Dene's shot for another terrific save. The Villa defence had completely lost their shape by now and were left appealing in vain for offside as Ross Maitland made an excellent run cutting in from the right before unselfishly setting up Allan Mackay for a simple tap-in at the back post. The Villa offside trap was again sprung in the final minute by the unlikely sight of Allan Mackay racing through the middle to get on the end of a Dene Cassells pass. Allan skilfully rounded the keeper and with goal at his mercy squared the ball to Craig MacEwan giving his strike partner the simplest of tap-ins for his fifth and Saints ninth and final goal of the game. There was barely enough time left to restart the match and Referee Nolan signaled the end of an excellent Saints performance with three shrill blasts of his whistle.

Donald Campbell and Dean Smith prepare to kick off

Dean Smith aerial duel with Tony Thompson

Scott Maitland

Lewis Cameron corner headed clear by Michael Lawson

Donald Campbell makes it 2 - 0 to Saints

Half-time team talk

Craig MacEwan halts the Millbeg comeback by heading Saints 3 - 1 in front

Lewis Cameron smashes another free-kick into the Millbeg wall

Paul Kerr and Michael Lawson

Lewis Cameron ready to control dropping high ball

Millbeg keeper David Hosie makes another good save to deny Dene Cassells but can't prevent Craig MacEwan for knocking in the loose ball to make it 7 - 1 to Saints

Also Neat Neat Neat - Saints new polo shirts

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