St. Andrews United 1 Cumnock Juniors 1.
Emirates Scottish Junior Cup, round 4.
Saturday 21st January 2012.
So it is back to Townhead Park this Saturday. Cumnock played better than recent weeks and they did have a good chance to put the game to bed when the home side’s Ricky Patrick got his marching orders in the 51st minute but Cumnock could not get that goal.
Stevie Murray led out the Cumnock team in a blustery day with new player Gary Lynn in central defence and keeper Andy Kennedy back from a lengthy injury. There was no Chris McKnight who has a hamstring injury and that was a blow to Cumnock.
The game immediately burst into action. George Wallace got a quick shot which went over but spurred the visitors on. The home side replied with a dangerous cross from Paul Farquharson on the right which came at head height with his colleagues ready to get it. Chic Connolly was there first in the right place to header it out.
Both teams continued with brisk play. Despite Cumnock having most of the ball in the early stages, Saints had the edge on looking more dangerous. A good move from Saints started with Ryan Dignan who quickly sent it to Kevin McMullan who flicked to Gary Sutherland leaving him clear. Keeper Andy Kennedy was out and made the shot to go past the post. Then the keeper was soon back in action as a high cross from Gary Sutherland on the right had his players waiting to pounce. Andy Kennedy ran into the middle of the fray and despite being thumped in all sides and ending sent flying he still managed to hang on to the ball.
Then Saints began to get more of the ball but the Cumnock’s four back line were very good all game – Stuart McDonald, Gary Lynn, Graeme Wilson and with Stevie Murray in particular being excellent. He never tried to do anything flamboyant, he just straightforwardly dug in and made it very difficult for the strikers to get past him. Stuart McDonald was also very good and he and Stevie Murray kept an eye in the other less experienced two and they all ended in gelling a good unit.
Saint’s Sam Buchan had a shot from the 18 yard line which slid past the left post and was not that far away. Cumnock gave a half-hearted penalty shout when Aaron Connolly came worse off when he got between Graeme Gibb and Adam Porteous for a cross from the right – but no penalty.
Mid-way in the first half things became fairly even but both defences did not give much away and there were not many shots at goal – although there was plenty of effort from both teams and it was a good game. Sam Buchan tried to get away from the visitors defence but Chic Connolly kept with him to leave him with a hurried shot. Cumnock’s James Tyler was always willing to run and charged through the home defence but he began to fall as he was shooting and keeper Scott Bennett was there to catch it.
Saints made a push before half-time. Ryan McInnes sent a dangerous cross which he picked several home players in front of goal but Stuart McDonald did well to get his head in front to deflect it away. Then Gary Sutherland looked as if he was going to score when Willie Howie popped up to head the ball away from the goal line.
As referee Braidwood checked his watch, Saints got a free-kick on the right flank on the half-way line. Kevin McMullan took it and sent the ball over the many players milling around the penalty spot. The ball continued over Andy Kennedy on the 6 yard line and despite a tremendous effort from him, going backwards with his fingers flaying about, the ball squeezed inches between the keeper’s fingers and bar. What a goal! Kevin McMullan will always remember that one It was an amazing goal and trying not to spoil thing, it was a blustery day.
Half-time: St. Andrews United 1 Cumnock Juniors 0.
It seemed the excitement would subside in the second half – but not a bit of it. Cumnock started with their sleeves up to get an equaliser. With a number of players in front of the Saints goal, the Cumnock players lifted their hands up to the referee who pointed at the penalty spot. Ricky Patrick had stopped the ball with his hand which was going on its way to the net. The Saints player got a red card and a Saints coach on the bench also got a red card for protesting. He could never have seen the incident as there were too many players in his way, also he was on the other half of the park. Saints Graeme Gibb got a yellow card for dissent over the red cards.
Graeme Wilson ignored the trouble, calmly took the penalty and gave keeper Scott Bennett no chance for the score to be St. Andrews United 1 Cumnock Juniors 1.
Cumnock played the better football at this stage but did not get much chance as in a short time the referee had to take action after a series of late tackles from the home side. The worst being four players who got yellow cards, also George Wallace for retaliation and one by Gary McMenamin for barging which was very harsh.
Cumnock had then two chances, one being a pass from James Tyler to George Wallace in front of goal but as it came to him it bounced too high and he had to shoot quickly before the defence arrived and it went over the bar. Then in the 76th minute Cumnock had a great chance. James Tyler charged through the defence and towards goal. Keeper Bennett came out and the ball was lobbed over him. It looked as if it was a goal but it hit the post. Again it looked as if the wind was Cumnock’s loss.
Saints were very keen to avoid a game at Cumnock next week and came back at Cumnock. A stray ball had Andy Kennedy and Johnny Macrae sprinting for it with the keeper diving to get their first. With three more yellow cards for Cumnock both teams must have been aware that they could easily lose players next week as this was now eight yellow cards. So there was no more chances so it is Townhead Park next week.
It wasn’t a bad game. and Cumnock did also not have a bad spell throughout the match. As said earlier the back four were very good in particular and new player Gary Lynn played well. The Cumnock strikers could have had more support and Aaron Connolly had to come back looking for the ball or was left on his own at times. Andy Kennedy also played well despite his long injury. Everyone at Cumnock were enthusiastic and all had pass marks by a good margin.
St. Andrews United: Bennett, Gibb, Porteous, K. Fotheringham, McMullan, Patrick, Buchan, Sutherland, Dignan, P. Farquharson, McInnes.
Subs: Wilson, Sloan, Tulleth, Ramsay, Macrae.
Cumnock Juniors: A. Kennedy, McDonald, Wilson, Lynn, Murray, Howie, Tyler, C. Connolly, Wallace, A. Connolly, McMenamin.
Subs: Miller, S. Kennedy, Quinn, Farrell, Watterson.
Referee: Bryan Braidwood (Aberdeen).
