St Patrick's FPs 4-2 Gartcosh United
St Patrick’s are into the second round of the Cinema Cup, after a topsy turvy game against Gartcosh - that saw all six goals scored in the first-half.
Saints will face Drumchapel at home in the next round after a deserved victory, however the crazy nature of the first 45 was as frustrating for managers as it was entertaining for the crowd.
Saints started brightly and took an early lead with just four minutes on the clock when good play down the right wing ended with a fine cross from Doherty being volleyed home by Wallace.
The home side had their tails up and were attacking with purpose and they were unlucky in the sixth minute when Wallace had another shot at goal saved impressively by United keeper Boyle.
However the Lanarkshire side were not there to make up the numbers and they equalised with just eight minutes played when slack defensive play from the home team allowed space and time for Green to cross for Whyte to head home past Gallacher.
Saints front three of Cavan, Lobban, and in particular Wallace, were causing the visitors all sorts of bother and it was no surprise when Wallace scored again after 10 minutes.
Again Doherty was the provider, but this time from a long throw, which Wallace held up brilliantly before turning his defender and placing in the left hand corner.
Play was raging on and in the 15th minute United were level again after more poor defending from Saints. Wide-man Anderson got past Doherty and delivered a great cross which was easily headed home by Green.
Then, incredibly, after 18 minutes Saints got their noses in front again when Wallace laid the ball on a plate for his strike partner Lobban who guided his shot wide of Boyle and into the bottom corner.
Unsurprisingly the goals then dried up for a few minutes, indeed until the 36th minute, when Saints went ahead by two goals for the first time in the game.
It all came from a quite stunning breakaway after a United corner.
Rowan played an early pass to release Lobban who set off sprinting 50 yards down the right wing before looking up and delivering a perfect pass to Wallace who had the time and space to pick his corner and complete his hat-trick.
With half time approaching Saints’ management team were desperate to keep their two goal advantage, and they had goalkeeper Gallacher to thank when he expertly tipped Whyte’s header over the bar from another dangerous cross.
The second half was relatively calm compared to the first half.
Where in the first half, Saints had been quite poor defensively as a team whilst offensively they were excellent, in the second-half their attacking play remained threatening, but they really tightened up defensively and stifled United’s attacking threat.
This was aided by the introduction of Eamon McElroy and Paterson who put a stranglehold on United as an attacking force, ensuring that the best chances all fell for the home team.
The always dangerous Wallace, on a couple of occasions, and Pilkington being unlucky not to score.
Post match Saints manager Johnny O’Brien said “It’s great, after a very decent performance, that the winning run continues as we enter a crucial run of games that will determine our season.”
And coach Zander Diamond added “We’re happy to get into the next round of the cup.
“Credit to the players as they retained the information we set out pre match.
“The most pleasing aspect from today’s performance is the things we are working on at training are being carried out by the players into their play”.
