Cup delight for St Pat's

Published 8 Dec 2009 09:00

Queen's Park FC 1 St Patrick's FP 4

ST PAT'S celebrated a stunning victory over Queen's Park at Lesser Hampden on Saturday to book their place in the fourth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup.

The Saints hard work paid off in the 13th minute when Smith quickly found Monaghan, who immediately headed into the 18-yard box where Kevin Green bundled him to the ground.

The referee had little option but to award a penalty kick. Dom Ruane was on hand to convert with style.

This brought the home side forward and when Goldie was beaten in the air the Saints had McIntyre to thank for saving the day with a super tackle on the edge of the box as Scott Morton was about to pull the trigger.

This was also a well-timed warning against any complacence on the part of the visitors and as they continued to warm to the occasion the Spiders young defender Kevin Green left his team with a mountain to climb when he let his frustration get the better of him and saw Red after a rash challenge on Monaghan.

Then as the game moved towards the break the Glasgow side got back in contention after Danial MacKenzie latched onto a loose ball in the crowded penalty area and he made no mistake with a powerful shot from close range.

After the interval St Pat's passing became ragged, but their attitude never faltered and Joyce and Gardiner would keep their opponents too busy to worry Connor in the Saints goal.

St Pat's performance betrayed an eagerness to get the job done early, but in the end they still had to rely upon a familiar late surge to secure the victory.

With 10 minutes remaining the usual suspect delivered the vital goal that settled the tie. Thomas Smith, operating some 20-yards from goal and surrounded by three opponents, somehow managed to squeeze a low, angled drive passed the startled keeper and into the net.

This would stun the Spiders and Gardiner got a good opportunity to extend the lead, but his vicious shot hit the side netting. It was left to last season's top goal scorer Mark MacLeod to inflict more pain against the Scottish Cup holders. Winning back possession he turned his marker before placing the ball beyond the goalkeeper's reach and off the back post and into the net.

His second was equally impressive; as he got in the clear the keeper came off his line, leaving him with the choice to lob - but he took the spectacular option with a low, curling shot that went in at the left-hand post.

St Pat's are now scheduled to play West Kilbride in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup next this Saturday, but with the current weather this could be subject to

change.

ST PAT'S: K Connor, A Galloway, N McIntyre, J Goldie, M King, A Monahan, S Gardiner, D Ruane, J Joyce, T Smith, M Currie. Subs: D D'annunzio, M MacLeod, S Marner, K Brown.

Tweet

This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 08 Dec 09

Follow @dumbartonreport

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.