Match report

Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Saints too strong for Arbroath

Pre-Season Friendly
Arbroath (1) v Saints (5)
Attendance [598]

Left: Murray Davidson climbs high to head the opening goal.


Saints headed back to Angus for this second outing of the season, hoping to add to Saturday’s 3-1 win at Forfar.

Derek McInnes started the game with a back three – McCaffrey, Anderson and Gartland with Liam Craig and Dave Mackay in wing-back roles and they began the game in confident fashion, just three minutes having elapsed before Lichties keeper Darren Hill had to produce a good save to deny Steven Anderson whose header from a Liam Craig corner looked destined for the back of the net.

Paul Sheerin’s new side went looking for a quick reply and Graeme Smith was needed to produce a good save to deny Kieran McAnespie who got his head to a corner kick from his gaffer Paul Sheerin.

It was an entertaining start and the fans didn’t have too much longer to wait for the opening goal and it was the travelling Perth supporters who were celebrating in eleven minutes.

Liam Craig crossed the ball from the left and the ball hung in the air allowing Murray Davidson the opportunity to time his leap with Arbroath keeper Hill and he did so to perfection, just getting ahead of the home keeper 12 yards from goal and despite the best efforts of McAnespie to clear the ball off the line, the nearside assistant referee was quick to indicate that Murray’s effort was a goal.

Although the home side looked to break forward at every opportunity, it was Saints who looked the more likely side and in 14 minutes Scott Dobie did well to create a shooting opportunity for himself but he couldn’t double the lead.

The home side needed another goal-line clearance in 21 minutes and this time it was successful – Rattray denying Collin Samuel with a header.

Prompted by the midfield play of Josh Falkingham and some good balls from Kieran McAnespie, the Gayfield side tried to get back on track and a low cross from David McGowan was just out of the reach of Bryan Scott.

However, Arbroath did level the game in 28 minutes and it was a bit of a nightmare for Saints keeper Graeme Smith who failed to securely grasp a cross ball from the right and Bryan Scott was quick to punish him with a clinical finish.

The home side pushed again they were unlucky when Bryan Scott slipped the ball to David Di Malta who found no takers for his square ball across the box.

Saints finished the half strongly though and had regained the lead before the interval came. Moments earlier, Scott Dobie had struck the outside of the post after collecting a long pass and in 37 minutes later a lovely move ended with trialist Stuart Duff volleying home. Dave MacKay and Steven Anderson were initially involved and when the ball was swung from right to left, Murray Davidson laid it off first time to the former Aberdeen and Dundee United man who fired it home first time with a degree of style.

Derek McInnes made two changes at the start of the second half – Danny Grainger and Cleveland Taylor on for McCaffrey and Duff respectively and Saints picked up where they had left off in trying to find goals.

Just three minutes in, Darren Hill produced a great save to deny Collin Samuel and the Arbroath keeper was soon back in action to deny both Chris Millar and Scott Dobie within the duration of the same attack.

The hour mark saw Murray Davidson pass up a great chance for Saints but his strong header from Cleveland Taylor’s perfect cross was straight into the midriff of Hill.

Saints were dominant now and Steven Milne was introduced for Scott Dobie in 65 minutes – the former Carlisle man clutching his groin as he left the field - and Savo’s very first touch brought goal number three. It was an easy one for the striker, guiding the ball into the empty net from close range after Collin Samuel’s shot spun off the keeper high into the air – Gartland and Taylor had been involved in the neat build up.

Goal number four came just six minutes later and was created by Collin Samuel who, despite being off balance, did well to control the ball and then get a shot in on goal and when it struck the base of the post it rolled into the path of an incoming and unmarked Murray Davidson who slotted home for his second of the game.

Arbroath had ran out of steam by this time and Stevie May and Liam Caddis were introduced to proceedings and it was a cross from the former which was retrieved and swung back in to Liam Craig whose looping header made it 5-1.

Liam Craig and Cleveland Taylor had late chances to increase the home side’s misery but there were no further goals.

Another good work out for Saints and the first half in particular was a close-run affair which will prove beneficial. The home side fell out of things after the break allowing us to add a gloss to the outcome.

ARBROATH: Hill, Shields (McMullan), McAnespie, Falkingham (Nimmo), Rattray, Griffin, Di Malta (Neil), McCulloch, Scott (McIlravey), McGowan (Ross), Sheerin (Suttie).

Subs not used: Ross, Burns

SAINTS: Smith, MacKay, Anderson, McCaffrey (Grainger), Gartland, Craig, Trialist (Taylor), Millar, Davidson (Caddis), Dobie (Milne), Samuel (May).

Subs not used: Rutkiewicz, Lindsay, Parkin, Clark

Referee: Neill Watters

Att: 598

PHOTOS:
Top - Scott Dobie in action
Bottom - Trialist Stuart Duff celebrates his goal