Magnificent Seven as Saints trounce Stenny

The Stenny travelling party was limited to just 12 players but there were no such restrictions on Saints’ manager Ross Maitland who, despite a long list of absentees, was still able to name a 17-man squad for the third match of the Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association Premiership campaign.

 

Only substitute goalkeeper Graham Douglas didn’t feature as the Saints gaffer gave his bench a good amount of game time, including a debut for young Shaye Black who slotted in well at the back alongside Man of the Match Ben Forbes.

 

Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back four of Craig Livingstone, Aidan Jackson, Ben Forbes and captain Scott Maitland. Ruaridh Horne, Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay were in midfield, while up front, David Beaton led the line flanked by Kieron Lopez and Rhys Millar. On the substitutes bench were Shaye Black, Cammy Clark, Graham Douglas, Keiran Griffin, Drew Murray and Matty Pollock.

 

The visitors survived early scares when Rhys Millar cushioned over a Gavin Forgrieve free-kick and Ben Forbes had a header from another Forgrieve set-piece cleared off the goal-line before Saints made the breakthrough after eight minutes.

 

Craig Livingstone’s throw-in on the right was collected by Aaron McKay who spun on the corner of the 18-yard box and fired low into the bottom corner past the right hand of Stenny keeper Mark Angus.

 

The Saints midfield trio of Ruaridh Horne, Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay were finding their runners regularly and David Beaton’s pace on the left unlocked the Stenny defence for the second time when his 16th minute cutback was stroked home by the up-in-support right full back Craig Livingstone.

 

Bidding for a third consecutive hat-trick Rhys Millar made a good back post run but was again off target heading over from Scott Maitland’s 19th-minute cross from the left.

 

Saints kept knocking for a third but failed to trouble the keeper with Ben Forbes and Scott Maitland firing shots over the crossbar and Aaron McKay flashing a diving header wide.

 

Craig Livingstone battled well on the right touchline midway inside the Stenhousemuir half in the 35th minute to win back possession from Tushar Patil before racing into the 18-yard box where he was upended by Ryan Scott. Referee Kevin McIntyre, who handled proceedings well, had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot from where David Beaton was assured in finding the back of the net for Saints third goal.

 

That was to be Beaton’s last involvement of the afternoon as his tightening hamstring saw him removed from the action with Drew Murray coming on as his replacement.

 

Gavin Forgrieve and Aidan Jackson were off target and Mark Angus pulled off an excellent fingertip save to deny Kieron Lopez before Rhys Millar added a fourth Saints goal on the stroke of half-time.

 

Saints kicked-off the second half attacking the car park end and added to their tally four minutes after the restart. Rhys Millar linked well with Drew Murray who picked out Kieron Lopez with a low cross from the left which Lopez fired back across the keeper for Saints fifth goal.

 

Just as in the first half, Rhys Millar continued to take up good positions which on another day would have seen him add to his already impressive goal haul. Millar however didn’t have the monopoly on the profligate finishing front and was joined by Kieron Lopez who headed a 53rd-minute Drew Murray cross over from close range.

 

Substitutes Shaye Black, Cammy Clark, Keiran Griffin and Matty Pollock were all deployed by manager Ross Maitland with Ruaridh Horne, Aidan Jackson, Craig Livingstone and Kieron Lopez making way.

 

Two of the replacements combined to good effect in the 62nd minute, when Keiran Griffin picked out Matty Pollock’s run through the inside right channel. Pollock strode forward and confidently fired off a right foot shot under the despairing lunge of James Chamberlain and past the left hand of Mark Angus.

 

Despite the scoreline, the Stenny net minder had a good game and kept the deficit down with flying saves to deny Cammy Clark and Drew Murray.

 

At the other end Craig Maitland was well protected by an ever changing defence well marshalled by Ben Forbes enabling Maitland to celebrate a second consecutive clean sheet.

 

Gavin Forgrieve capped a solid central midfield performance with the final goal in the 81st minute rounding off a good move with a crisp strike into the bottom corner to make the final score 7-0.

 

Saints remain on home soil for this coming Saturday’s West of Scotland Amateur Cup first round tie against Thorniewood United of the Saturday Morning Amateur Football Association. Kick-off at Glencruitten is at 2pm where the tie must be decided on the day, with penalty kicks to decide the winner if the two sides cannot be separated after 90 minutes. Referee in charge is Lochgilphead’s Jimmy Litster.