7th September 2024 @ Fairfield Park
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!!!
