Match report

Saturday, 17 July 2010
Saints too strong for Forfar

Pre-Season Friendly
Forfar Athletic (1) v Saints (3)
Attendance [0]

Left: Scott Dobie climbs high but it is Kevin Rutkiewicz who is about to head goal goal number three.


Summer recruits Cleveland Taylor and Sam Parkin were in the starting line-up for this opening pre-season friendly at Station Park. Scott Dobie started the game on the bench but Jamie Adams missed out altogether having picked up a slight injury in training yesterday.

Kevin Rutkiewicz partnered Michael Duberry in the centre of defence while Saints listed former Dundee United and Aberdeen man Stuart Duff as a trialist and he started the game on the bench.

The home side had former Saints Kevin Fotheringham and Martyn Fotheringham in their line-up and former Perth keeper Euan McLean was listed as a trialist in goal for them.

It may have been a pre-season friendly but the match caught the attention of the onlookers right from kick-off and less than 60 seconds had elapsed when Liam Craig fired an effort across the face of goal.

However, it was the home side who opened the scoring and what a great goal it was. Saints keeper Graeme Smith had already produced a fine save in the third minute to deny Martyn Fotheringham but just two minutes later he was just an onlooker as Paul Watson took a cross from the right on the volley just inside the penalty area and his finish was as clean a strike as we will see all season – Smith was rooted to the spot as the ball hit the postage stamp corner.

Forfar continued to look the more dangerous and Martyn Fotheringham again came close in the tenth minute when he pounced on a loose pass from Chris Millar but his parting effort was just wide of goal.

After that slightly shaky start, Saints started to get into the game and Cleveland Taylor was at the heart of much of what was to follow.

In the 14th minute Murray Davidson drove an effort wide of goal and in 22 minutes Euan McLean produced a good save to deny Liam Craig a goal from a 20 yard free kick after Chris Millar had been fouled.

A goal looked to be coming and it duly arrived in the 23rd minute through debut man Sam Parkin. Chris Millar began the move with some neat play and he laid the ball off the Cleveland Taylor whose latest in a long line of great crosses was headed home from close range by the big striker.

Seven minutes later the Taylor/Parkin double act nearly worked again but the goalscorer was pushed as he went for the ball for a clear penalty kick. Liam Craig duly converted to give Saints the advantage.

Saints continued to dominate in the closing stages of the first half with Liam Craig and Kevin Rutkiewicz heading over Euan McLean’s bar and Steven Milne dinking a shot off the face of the post.

The final act of the first half was a nice piece of skill from Dave Mackay whose parting effort was smothered by McLean.

After an entertaining opening forty five minutes the first fifteen minutes of the second half were poor by comparison but the 65th brought a nice piece of play by Taylor whose parting shot was pushed away by McLean for a corner kick.

It proved to be the former Brentford man’s last involvement because Derek McInnes made three changes in the 67th minute – Steven Milne, Cleveland Taylor and Sam Parkin being replaced by Any Jackson, Scott Dobie and Collin Samuel.

Four minutes later Saints made it 3-1 but none of the subs were involved – a corner kick won by Michael Duberry was taken by Danny Grainger and Kevin Rutkiewicz got his head to the ball to find the net from eight yards.

Trialist Stuart Duff was introduced for Murray Davidson for the final 13 minutes

Eight minutes from time Euan McLean produced a good save to deny substitute Scott Dobie and from the resultant corner Michael Duberry set up Kevin Rutkiewicz but Dinky’s close range header was just inches over the bar.

Scott Dobie should have done better when released clean through on goal but he hesitated and allowed McLean to make the save.

This was a good initial work out for Saints who played some nice passing football. Cleveland Taylor caught the eye in a creative sense but there were plenty of good performers for this stage of the pre-season preparations.

FORFAR: Trialist, Trialist, K Fotheringham (Tulloch), Tod, Bolochowlckyz (Bishop), Campbell, M Fotheringham, Mowatt, Templeman, Campbell, Watson.

Subs not used: Gibson, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist.

SAINTS: Smith, Mackay, Grainger, Duberry, Rutkiewicz, Millar, Davidson (Trialist), Taylor (Dobie), Parkin (Samuel), Milne (Jackson), Craig.

Subs not used: Anderson, Caddis, McCaffrey, Gartland, Duffy,

PHOTO: Andy Jackson gets a boot in the face for his troubles late in the game