St Andrews United 1–1 Thornton Hibs

East of Scotland Premier Division
Clayton Holiday Park Recreation Ground
Sponsored by Scottish Building Society

There are some games that are instantly forgotten. Then there are games like this one awful for long spells, battered by ridiculous weather conditions, littered with scrappy moments, and yet somehow producing late drama to give St Andrews United a share of the points.

Saints welcomed Thornton Hibs to the Clayton Holiday Park Recreation Ground for another East of Scotland Premier Division fixture, on a day when the wind was blowing hard enough to make you question whether the ball had actually agreed to participate.

There was plenty to celebrate before kick-off, with two brand-new enclosures opened for the first time. A tremendous amount of work has gone into getting them ready, and a huge thank you goes to everyone at the club who played their part. They are a fantastic addition to the ground and a real credit to everyone involved.

Sadly, the football didn’t quite reach the same heights. Saints lost the toss and were sent downhill with the wind behind them for the opening 45 minutes. It sounded like a decent deal. It wasn’t!

Just two minutes in, a mistake in the Saints defence allowed Hibs in, and their striker beat Robertson to put the visitors 1–0 ahead.

The conditions made life incredibly difficult, with the wind seemingly doing whatever it fancied. Lucas Berry had Saints’ first opportunity on eight minutes, but his effort drifted wide. The game then settled into a scrappy midfield battle, with Hibs committing foul after foul before finally seeing a player booked on 22 minutes.

The visitors enjoyed pressure around the half-hour mark, winning several corners, but failed to create any clear-cut chances. Ross Kavanagh worked hard down the right but struggled to pick out a teammate in the conditions.

Saints finally created a good opportunity just before the break, but Mark Smith headed over.

Half-time: St Andrews United 0–1 Thornton Hibs

Let’s just say the half-time tea probably had more highlights.

Hibs started the second half brightly and, on 48 minutes, Sean Robertson produced a fantastic save to keep Saints in the game. Two minutes later, Alex McCreadie’s shot took a deflection and flew over.

A minute later, Smith headed a free-kick into the path of Paul Simpson, but the chance was blazed over. Hibs continued to threaten and Robertson produced another superb block on 61 minutes.

Then came the moment that summed up the afternoon. On 65 minutes, Robertson attempted to release the ball but threw it straight into Jordan Wright. The ball ricocheted to a Hibs player, who suddenly found himself with only Robertson to beat. He missed! You really couldn’t make it up.

Smith was withdrawn on 78 minutes, with Wright pushed further forward and Jason Thomson coming on at the back.

Hibs had another huge chance on 84 minutes, but their striker’s effort flew over the bar and hit the house behind the ground!

Then, on 90 minutes, Saints came agonisingly close. Ross Cunningham picked up the ball around 20 yards out and unleashed a superb half-volley which crashed off the underside of the bar and bounced back out.

But Saints weren’t finished.

On 92 minutes, a long throw from Thomson caused chaos in the Hibs six-yard box before the ball eventually fell to Ross Kavanagh. The forward made no mistake, firing home for his 14th goal of the season.

After 90 minutes of battling the conditions, the opposition and, at times, themselves, Saints had finally found a way through.

St Andrews United 1–1 Thornton Hibs

An escape.

There is no getting away from the fact that this was a poor game of football for long spells. The conditions were dreadful, the wind made controlling the ball a lottery, and chances were few and far between. But Saints kept going.

Robertson made crucial saves, Cunningham came within inches of a spectacular winner, and Kavanagh popped up at the right time to rescue a point.

A point apiece was probably fair, although Saints will certainly be happier after trailing for almost the entire afternoon.

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t comfortable. But it was dramatic!

And after that game, we’ll happily take the point.

FULL-TIME: St Andrews United 1–1 Thornton Hibs