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Rusty Saints fail to shine
BANCHORY knew three points against second place Dyce at Milton Park on Saturday would set them up nicely going into a tough trio of fixtures that may decide where Saints will finish this season.
However, the lack of match practice was clearly evident and an under-par Saints went down 1-0.
Recent signing Alan Forbes from First Division side Hillhead took his place on the bench and manager Steve Scott handed a home debut to goalkeeper Gavin Robertson, who joined on loan from Huntly. Scott was without midfielder Gordon Milne due to illness.
In a first half dominated by the visitors, Saints were lucky not to be one or two goals and a man down at the break.
Dyce's Ray had two opportunities in as many minutes early on, but Robertson made a good stop, followed by a glancing header going just wide.
Saints skipper Mark Galashan was controversially shown a yellow for bringing down Reid when the striker was clean through on goal on seven minutes.
Kris Downing was then shown his first of two yellow cards for dissent on 12 minutes before Reid pulled an effort wide for the visitors and Ray had a shot blocked.
Robertson had to be on his toes to turn over a Cheyne effort soon after before Downing cleared off the line, but despite their pressure, Dyce couldn't make it count and it was goalless at the interval.
The second half started better for Banchory when a low ball across the face of goal from the left found no takers. From the clearance, Ogston found Horne who laid it off to Watt for an inviting cross, but the flag was up for offside.
Just two minutes later, Dyce got their deserved lead when Watson found himself with only the keeper to beat and calmly slotted past Robertson into the corner.
Scott tried changing the Saints strike-force with half an hour remaining, bringing on Andy Courage and new boy Alan Forbes for Richard Stainer and Keith Horne.
Courage was in the thick of things immediately looking for his fellow substitute but his cross was deflected for a fruitless corner.
After another Saints set piece, Dyce broke and Robertson kept his team in it with an outstretched leg before Forbes had a shot saved by Buckley and Courage rose well to head just over the target.
There was a ripple of applause from the Saints faithful as Michael Skene was introduced to make his return after a long-term ankle injury for Campbell Watt with 15 minutes left.
Kevin Neish was brought on to try and tie up the points for Dyce, and he could have done just that if he had not unselfishly passed to his teammate with only the keeper to beat.
Saints' frustrations were beginning to show and shortly after a melee in midfield involving Downing, the winger was shown a second yellow after kicking out.
And with Saints reduced to ten men Dyce held out for the victory.
Steve Scott's side will have to pick themselves up for a tough test against champions Banks O' Dee at Milton on Saturday (kick off 2.30pm) followed by a trip to fourth place Maud on February 27 (kick off 2.30pm).
Team: Robertson, Downing, Shand, Galashan, Watson, McRae, Ogston, Cruickshank, Stainer (Courage 60), Horne (Forbes 60), Watt (Skene 75).
Unused subs: Moir, Carrol, Shanks, Sim.
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Weather for Banchory
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
