A dissapointing end to the month for the Saints who once again failed to perform to the level that seen us go 16 game unbeaten. We began well enough with Dee Millar firing in a shot on the edge of the box which got tipped over the bar, Rathcoole then had a chance when one on one with Simon who saved well, shortly after Aaron raced clear with only the keeper to beat but shot straight at him, on 10 mins we took the lead with good work down the right from Dee Millar he laid the ball to Boot who fired his low drive into the corner of the net 1-0 St Andrews, instead of us taking a grip on the game we let it slip by with some poor passing and defending as Rathcoole found plenty of space as we failed to close them down and they got there equaliser on 17 mins when from a corner any one of three of there players could've scored as they were left unmarked 1-1, 3 mins later a mistake from Stuarty who lost the ball in our half and there player raced clear to score 2-1 Rathcoole, we continued to struggle in the first half with inept passing and no cohession, we did create a few more chances when on 40 mins Aaron shot from inside there box which was saved the ball fell to Winky whose instinctive shot was deflected wide, Aaron then had a free kick which was headed clear and Winky fired in a shot just wide from a corner, on 44 mins Rathcoole extended there lead when our defence got caught out again, there striker scoring from a cross which looked suspiciously offside 3-1 half time. After a poor first half we had to improve in the second but things got worse when on 55 mins Rathcoole increased there lead when we failed to close them down, there forward being allowed time to control the ball and score 6 yards out 4-1, with the introducion of Dede Min for Winky we eventually began to play some football and we reduced the deficit with Boot getting his second heading home a Dee Millar cross 4-2, we piled the pressure on as Rathcoole were being pushed back and were relying on the break, they had a chance to extend there lead on 70 mins when there player fired in a shot 20 yards out which Simon magnificently tipped over the bar, two minutes later Boot got his hat trick to give us a life line side footing home from a pass from Gazza 4-3, from here on in it was all St Andrews as we searched for an unlikely equaliser Dede Min saw his shot go agonisingly wide on 75 mins, Dee Millar was then through on goal only to lose control of the ball at the vital time and right at the end Dede Min picked the ball up on the edge of the box and rifled his shot on goal which Rathcoole keeper tipped over the bar final score 4-3. It was a case of too little too late for us as we needed to perform like we did in the last half hour for the 90 which in the end cost us dear, our defending needs a lot to be desired with our last three games we have defended poorly and gave away soft goals, we need to improve if we are to have any chance of any silverware as at the moment we are just not good enough, i am confident we can improve, it may require some changes to achieve this and if so let it be so. Keep the heads up lads there is still a lot to play for this season, we may be down but we are no way beaten, lets step it up Saints!!!!!!!
