Saturday 20th Oct Clyde 1 Saints 1 Keogh Gillies pen |
A poor first half performance from the Saints basically shunted our chances of closing in on league leaders Airdrie. Saints got off to a good start when Quitongo was sent clear through on goal, with little pressure from the chasing defender, Quitongo skyed his shot over the bar, this made me raging as i had a bet on him as 1st scorer. After this attack, Clyde seemed to take control of the game from there and had alot of dangerous attacks down the right wing. They got their reward for this pressure with a low cross played from the right connecting with Pat Keogh who cheekily side stepped the ball into the net on the 7th minute. Minutes later after scoring with still loads of posession, Clyde should have been 2 up, though the long range shot from outside the box was only denied by the inside of Ludo Roy's left post. In the second half, the Saints players entered the field to a huge roar from the impressive away support to charge up their detemination. From the kick off, they went on numerous ammount of attacks, one mostly remembered of was Scott Walkers surge forward from his left back position all the way to 16 yards out, though his effort was blocked by Halliwell. On the 65th minute a Saints corner was fired dangerously into the box though Scott Walker was alledgedly pushed as the cross went pass everyone, referee John Rowbotham pointed to the spot, and Saints looked to have got out of jail. One Ricky Gillies stepped up as the Saints fans hearts were in their mouths, and bang, 1-1 a lifline thrown in to the joy of the players and fans. Clyde almost gifted a goal t othe buds when the defender trying to clear an attack sliced his clearance which almost dipped under the keeper though a magnificent acrobatic save denied a 2-1 lead From here onwards Clyde looked weakened, and we looked like we could win comfortably, though poor attempts on goal only denied us the chance of the 3 points. A near final disaster for the Saints was when Scott Walker looked to have handled the ball in the box, though Rowbotham saved the day as he waved play on. |
Gillies scored equaliser |
Lineup |
Lineup |
Halliwell murray Smith(Cramner45) Kernaghan Hagen Bingham Mitchell Millen Keogh, Hinds(Kane87) Convery(Dunn77) Subs not used McCusker Budinaukas |
Roy Nicholson McGowan McLaughlin Bowman (kerr69) Walker McKenzie Burns Quitongo(McKnight74) Gillies Yardley Subs not used Murray Robertson(GK) |
Attendance: 2476 |
St.Mirren 0 Airdrieonians 0 |
This game was put down as the biggest match of the day on the first division card. A fiercely contested game at Love Street saw a share of the points the final outcome. Jose Quitongo had another golden opportunity though was denied by an onform Allan Ferguson. Alex Burns could maybe have played his most impressive game in a Saints shirt. Quitongo was also a player who troubled the Airdrie defence on many occassions with his silky skills. Ludo Roy was the first keeper though to be troubled in the game, the Frenchman, making his 100th appearance denied Owen Coyle a goal when Kevin James' deflected shot met the head of Coyle, though Roy done well to save. Next attack was Saints, with a surging run forward by man of the match Alex Burns ijnto the penalty box, though his attempted chip was not enough to trouble Feguson. Toastie again led another Saints attack moments later when he had a good one two linkup with wee Jose, his shot however did trouble Ferguson this time as he had to push it away. Quitongo did show to give his all in this game as when man marked by the giant Kevin James, he still went up challenging for headers against him even though he never had a hope in hell. Burns was next to return the favour to Quitongo for the earlier linkup, he sent Quitongo through, whose shot had to be turned round the post by the onform former St Johnstone keeper. A moment of madness from the Saints back could have cost us the game, in the 29th minute Owen Coyle's cross looked safelly to be cleared, though Walker and Roy both left the incoming ball, luckily Mark Roberts missed the target from six yards. Saints however picked up the tempo when Ian Ross went on a magnificent run to send through Quitongo whose shot was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Ferguson. From the resulting corner, the keeper was again called into action, as he had to tip over McGowan's header. Mark Roberts again threatened for Airdrie when his volleyed shot beat Roy though it did not meet the target, and flashed wide. 2nd half: Into the 2nd half Airdrie almost found the breakthrough when Coyle beat Walker, though his aimed pass to Roberts was cut out by Captain Trigger with a magnificent tackle. Saints brung on Murray and McKnight for the unimpressive Gillies and Yardley in which looked to liven up their play. Two Saints chances could have won the game though the Airdrie keeper was on a good day. Scott Mackenzie had a good shot saved then following was an attack where Jose set up McKnight whose fiercely driven shot was turned round the post. Roy though had a bit of work to do laer when he had to tip a Roberts shot over the bar. A good closing minutes which saw Saints play their best football of the game,when they tried to go on the all out attack, was only shunted by the tough Airdrie defence . |
Attendance: 4323 |
Sat 27th October Love Street, Paisley |
Lineup |
Roy Baltacha Ross McGowan McLaughlin Walker MacKenzie Burns Quitongo Gillies (MurrayS57) Yardley (McKnightS57) Subs not used McGarry Bowman Robertson(GK) |
Ferguson Armstrong McPherson Stewart McManus James Henry MacFarlane Coyle Taylor(Dunn S71) Roberts Subs not used Gardner S McDonald C McDonald |
Lineup |
quitongo runs onto oncoming ball |
yardley disposessed |
Burns rifles in a shot |
Saturday 3rd November 2001 Caledonian Stadium, Inverness |
Caley Thistle 1 St.Mirren 2 Wyness 31 Ross 14 Walker 50 |
Attendance: 2343 |
Roy Baltacha Ross McGowan McLaughlin Walker MacKenzie Burns Quitongo(McGarryS83) Murray(NicholsonS83) Yardley (McGintyS34) Subs not used Wreh Robertson(GK) |
Lineup |
Lineup |
Walker Tokely(StewartS82) McBain Mann McCaffrey Teasdale Bavidge Wyness Ritchie(DuncanS52) Christie Robson(GolabekS82) Subs not used Bagan Calder |
Saints recorded their first away victory of the season to break an unhealthy run of bad results on their travels, Saints played with alot less carelessness into the start of their game. The opening goal came in the 14th minute when wee Jose Quitongo cut a good ball back to Ian Ross after running past his man marked defender, and Rosco made no mistake from only a fe yards out. Saints though only a few minutes later, were on the receiving end of an attack.Bobby Mann, sent Ludo Roy into action after he came close with a free-kick. The goal which levelled the score, was basically down to sheer brilliance from Caley top goalscorer Dennis Wyness, his shot from over 20 yards out after beating the man marking him. His shot had curled high into the net, beyond the helpless Roy. New recruit Brian McGinty got a taste of first team action quicker than he probably imagined so,after replacing the injured Boom Boom Yardley second half:Five minutes into the second half, Saints forced a corner which resulted in the winning goal. Alex Burns was the man who took the corner which met the head of Scott Walker who easily outjumped the defence to powerfully head past Jim Calder in the Inverness goal. To add to Caley Thistle's problems, second top goalscorer Paul Ritchie, who was on trial at Saints at the start of the season, had to be replaced after 52 minutes due to picking up an injury. Jose Quitongo could have put the game way beyond the home side when he was sent through by Burns with just the keeper to beat, though a great block by Nicky Walker denied him the chance. Near the end of the game with about six minutes to go, wyness hit the crossbar, the Ludo pulled off a magnificent save to deny another Bobby Mann effort from a free-kick. |
man of the match |
Match Report |
Saturday 10th November 2001 Victoria Park, Dingwall |
St.Mirren 0 Ayr Utd 1 McGinlay 88 |
Ross County 0 St.Mirren 1 McLaughlin |
Saturday 17th November 2001 Love Street, Paisley |
no match report |
no match report |
Arbroath 0 St.Mirren 2 Walker 28 Quitongo 87 |
Saturday 24th November 2001 Gayfield Park,Arbroath |
Roy Baltacha Ross McGowan McLaughlin Walker Mackenzie Burns Quitongo (Robertson) Murray (Gillies) McGinty Subs not used Nicholson Yardley Robertson(GK) |
Lineup |
Lineup |
Hinchcliffe Tait McInally Rowe Ritchie Cusick (Swankie) McKinnon Cargill Bayne (Arbuckle) McGlashan Mercer (Brownlie) Subs not used Heslee Wight |
Attendance:1,392 |
Well it was bound to happen sometime, the form picking up and a healthy away victory, the 3rd one in a row to be precise. Good finishing and entertaining celebration's, made it a worthwhile trip to Arbroath, the team who had a 6 home game unbeaten run ended by the Saints of Paisley. The first 20 minutes of the game, was described as 'the best football we have played all season' by Tom Hendrie. With four chances in this time failed to be finished, it could have easily been punished on by the Lichties. Worrying news before the game was that Ludo Roy had twisted a muscle in his back which was tightning up, though the brave Frenchman played through the pain barrier to continue his loyal commitment to the club. It took untill the 28th minute for the 1st goal to arrive for Saints after earlier pressure. Scott Walker inside the box received the ball from Jamie McGowan, where he tried an overhead kick to help the ball get to one of his team-mates who were waiting anxiously. Though the keeper should have not been troubled the ball ended up in the back of the net. A delighted Walker admits that the goal was a fluke, as he tried to help in to one of his players. Into the second half Saints never really looked threatened,though a one goal lead was never enough as in recent games, late on in games we have been punished with equaliser's, though it was the home side who were later to be punished. Two minutes from time, Arbroath defender really made a mess of things when he headered a dreadful ball back to keeper Hinchcliffe from the edge of the box.The ball crashed off the top of the far post, where Jose Quitongo made no mistake with putting it over the line with his knee. The wee man then ran into the net , and a small ammount of fans invaded the part of the ground to mob Jose. Three points, the buds are back. |
Walker mobbed after spectacular opener |
man of the match = Jose Quitongo |