1st XI denied promotion

Having been promoted for the first time in eight years last time round, even the most optimistic of Saints wouldn’t have envisaged the possibility of repeating that feat in back-to-back years. However, after a shaky start to the season, the men’s 1st team travelled to RGU knowing that a win could secure a return to Scottish 1A – scenes not witnessed in these parts of Fife since 2005/06.

With a historic day in store, the St Andrews ultras rallied to fill an AU minibus with four 2nd team players, a member of the alumni, and Ginger Mike, as rumours of two trips to McDonalds proved too good an opportunity to pass up.

After a sharp warm up and final monologue of the season from Coach Milne, the referee signalled the start of the final ninety minutes in the Saints BUCS campaign. The opening stages were cagey, with both teams keeping the game compact in the middle of the park given what was at stake. The space was coming in behind and down the wings, with St Andrews looking the more likely to open the scoring as Yu Okumura skipped past several challenges before forcing the RGU keeper into a low save.

Meanwhile, RGU struggled to establish any authority in the game as the away side restricted their hosts to long balls into the box, along with a dive that even Ashley Young would wince at. Indeed, the Saints finished the half stronger, with the front three causing plenty of problems for the RGU back four, creating acres of space on the right for Ogyen Verhagen, but a lack of clear cut chances meant the half ended goalless.

As the travelling faithful took the opportunity to soak up the Aberdeen sunshine, 2nd team pundit Jack Chalmers shrewdly summed up the half as ‘not one for the neutrals’. Little did the Rhino know this was all about to change in the second half.

Just minutes after the restart, the home side took the lead against the run of play, as a hopeful strike from long range found its way into the bottom left hand corner. It could have been two soon after, as the Saints back four was caught out by a long ball over the top, only for the RGU centre forward to rush his finish sending the ball sailing over the bar.

Just as the game looked to be slipping away from St Andrews, the Saints responded in a manner which characterised their season. Alex Dodgshon picked up the ball in midfield before threading an inch perfect pass to Dan Sargent, who kept his cool to slot past the onrushing goalkeeper. The equaliser sparked celebrations from the ultras reminiscent of those in the dark corners of Eastern Europe as the supporters dared to dream once more.

With momentum swinging back to the boys, the away side almost made it two in as many minutes when centre back James Turner appeared to bundle the ball over the line from a corner. However, the Saints were left cursing the lack of goal line technology and the referee’s inability to keep up with play as RGU managed to scramble the ball clear.

As St Andrews threw men forward in search of a winning goal, the game became stretched with chances coming at both ends. RGU twice came close but miscued a one on one wide of the post, before Turner made a heroic clearance off the line to keep the game hanging in the balance. The tireless Sargent then made a great burst down the left, crossing for the unmarked Awosile, but the former Colleges striker couldn’t add to his 357 goals this season as he mistimed his volley at the back post.

The turning point in the game came with just over ten minutes to go. An off the ball incident saw Saints skipper Jeff Morrison kick out after being shoved by an RGU player. In the words of Arsène Wenger, ‘I didn’t see it’, but the referee certainly did and had no hesitation in showing a red card, while the home offender got away with only a questionable yellow.

The ten men continued to press and thought they’d stolen the points with minutes to go, as Awosile was played in on goal and side footed the ball into the bottom corner. However, in controversial circumstances the referee adjudged that from thirty yards away he had spotted the striker stray offside and disallowed the goal.

Just moments later RGU delivered the sucker punch. With time almost up, a free kick deep in the Saints half was headed towards goal, only for Dan Tootill to pull of an unbelievable reaction save. However, the rebound was followed in by several RGU players and eventually volleyed into the roof of the net. St Andrews responded immediately as Sargent was bundled over in the box, but with the referee keen to continue a performance as inconsistent as Leo Smithson’s finishing, he denied the away side a penalty.

The final whistle signalled the end of the Saints promotion hopes, but takes nothing away from a season which has ultimately been a successful one. On another day (and with a better ref) the result could easily have been the other way round. However, with a relegation battle anticipated at the start of the year, it was a fantastic achievement to get into a position where back to back promotions were on the cards. With a young and improving squad, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic, and every reason to believe that the Saints can go one better next year.