East Region Midlands League
Saturday, September 7th 2024
Match report from Ross McGowan
The Scottish Cup provided all of last weekend’s talking points for Lochee United with an
impressive 4-0 victory over Hawick Royal Albert and news of a mouthwatering draw
away to East Stirlingshire in the next round. But all of that excitement was put to one
side this afternoon with the Midlands League back in session and a tricky fixture away to
Dundee St James at Fairfield Park. Today’s opponents have proven tough to beat so far this season and went into today’s game boosted by a 3-2 win over Scone Thistle in their last outing.
Any momentum for the hosts was quickly crushed though as Lochee got off to a dream
start. On the front foot straight from the kick-off, Danny Cavanagh quickly won a corner
down the left and Bobby Linn’s in-swinging delivery was met by Bailey Steel who had
given his marker the slip at the front post and rose unchallenged to guide a header into
the net and put Lochee 1-0 up.
St James looked to fight back and began forcing the issue higher up the park but for all
the home side’s honest graft Lochee still looked the sharper in attack. With ten minutes
played Ryan Paterson dropped short to collect the ball and played an expansive ball out
to Bobby Linn who drove into the box but found the side netting with his near-post shot.
Then with 15 minutes on the clock St James were undone by another corner kick, this
time from the right. With the ball only half cleared Ryan Paterson picked up possession
just inside the box and had time to assess his options before thundering an unstoppable
strike into the top corner from 16 yards out to give Lochee a 2-0 lead.
Bailey Steel then tried a direct ball over the top for Callum Lamb to chase but the keeper
was off his line smartly to smother at Lamb’s feet.
Without playing particularly flashy eye-catching football, Lochee were nevertheless
controlling the direction of the game and on the stroke of half-time they put themselves
into a commanding position with a well-worked third goal. A ball over the top into a good
area down the right found Bobby Linn who got his foot on the ball and waited for support
before laying it back to the edge of the box for Danny Cavanagh to arrive at the perfect
moment and drill low and hard past the keeper.
3-0 at half-time and St James will have been disappointed to concede a soft early goal
but Lochee showed no mercy once ahead and looked comfortable in the contest.
However St James came out for the second half with renewed purpose and made most
of the early running for the opening 15 minutes of the second period. Robbie Irons went
close with a header narrowly wide after a good move down the left. And Bailey Steel
was called upon to make a perfectly judged last-ditch sliding tackle in his own box with
St James knocking on the door.
But Lochee never looked flustered and soon began to regain their authority in the match.
First Bobby Linn drove into the box off the left and fired a shot straight at the keeper.
Then Kerr Hay bustled his way through a congested penalty area before having a shot
saved.
Lochee’s superior quality was brought to bear with ten minutes remaining though when
Kerr Hay exhibited an outrageous touch to cushion a ball that fell from the heavens,
played a quick one-two with Ryan Paterson, then bore down on goal waiting for the
keeper to show his hand before bumping the ball expertly into the slot to put Lochee 4-0
up.
There was a late red card for Abbott of St James who was ordered off for dissent but it
had no influence on the outcome as Lochee ran out 4-0 winners.
St James played well in phases this afternoon with some strong individual performances
but just couldn’t find the finishing touch to their play and were undone by a couple of
lapses in concentration at set pieces.
For Lochee there was not always the sort of attractive swashbuckling football to which
we are often treated but the watchword of the day for the Bluebells was control. Having
put themselves in the driving seat early on there was an impressive professionalism
about how Lochee managed the game this afternoon and they never once looked like
releasing their grip on the lead.
A very difficult decision for Man of the Match today, an accolade that could easily be
claimed by any one of Lochee’s players. But Bailey Steel just pips his team-mates to the
award with a commanding performance at the back, sensible distribution when in
possession, and chipped in with a well-taken goal.
Next Saturday we take on Broughty Athletic away at the Quest Arena for an eagerly
anticipated six-pointer at the top end of the Midlands League.
As always – COME ON THE CHEE!!!
