Match report

Saturday, 22 August 2009
Young Saints suffer heavy defeat in opening game

Clydesdale Bank Under 19 League
Saints (1) v Motherwell (6)
Attendance [0]

The Saints Under 19 side were taught a harsh less in the opening fixture of the Clydesdale Bank Under 19 League at Stirling University this afternoon.
Motherwell were the first opponents and the Fir Park men had little trouble in running up a 6-1 win.

Ross Alexander got the solitary Saints goal, bundling the ball home from a corner kick but it was the only bright spot on difficult day for the Alec Cleland’s young side.

The Under 19 coach spoke to the Saints Official Website after the game and said “That’s been a rude awakening for the boys and hopefully they learn from it. After the success of last season, when they won nearly all their games, I don’t know if there was maybe an element of over-confidence. If they thought things would just carry on like last season they know differently now. This will be a tough league with quality teams and they have to get that into their heads.”

Cleland refused to play on any age or physical stature difference between his side and Motherwell and went on to say, “We made silly, basic mistakes. However, I now have a clearer view of our shortcomings and we have time to work on it ahead of our next match. We have to learn quickly if we are to avoid more days like today.”

The starting lineup against Motherwell was: Clark, Sullivan, Lindsay, Alexander, Durnan, McIntosh, Kelly, Hemsley, Heagney, Reynolds, May.