Les Battersby in a Pars top?! The Pars scoring four goals?! It must have been a dream, surely…!
Then you realise; no, these things can really happen for the Pars. If you sit through all the mince displays and the sub-zero temperatures then every so often you’ll be rewarded with a performance and result as sweet as this! When was the last time the Pars truly hammered any team? God knows, all I do know is that it was definitely far too long ago. Let’s face it, the last time you heard the words ‘
The recent injury crisis (an understatement if ever I’ve heard one!) which has engulfed East End Park in recent weeks once again played an integral role in the Pars first team selection. Out went the injured Thomas Butler, Ritchie Byrne and Andy Tod, and in came the returning Craig Brewster, Darren Young and, making his first team debut, young right back Greig Ross. You can’t help but feel that the lack of options for the Pars played some part in dictating the tactical switch which saw the Pars revert from a
With the Pars going into the fixture in a somewhat nervous manner, an understandably tentative opening period to the match brought desperately little goalmouth action – a communication breakdown between Stillie and Wilson causing ructions in the home side’s defence after a Danny Invincible cross. With neither side truly looking like finding the breakthrough, a blocked Gary Mason effort was to prove the most fruitful Pars attack of the opening exchanges. Former Pars donkey (sorry…player) Colin Nish found himself on the end of a 17th minute Gary Locke corner, the big striker failing to direct his header on target.
Beginning to gain the upper hand on proceedings, the Pars were to force an excellent double save from
The Pars, and Nicholson, could have grabbed a second in the 36th minute only for Combe to produce a magnificent stop once again – Combe tipping Nicholson’s fierce left-footed drive onto the upright. The agony of a such a close shave was to prove short lived however, with the home side adding their second only two minutes later. Picking the ball up just inside the Pars half, debutant Greig Ross floated a tremendous pass to the chest of Brewster who, after taking a fantastic first touch, sent a sublime pass through to the advancing Billy MEHMET. After taking time to set himself, the young striker sent an unstoppable shot past the flapping Alan Combe to score his second in three games. A quick tip though Billy…some finish, but sort the celebration out! With the Pars confidently closing out the first half, the home fans went into the break cold (Baltic in fact!) but a great deal happier than in recent months.
They say 2-0 is one of the hardest leads to deal with. Do you go for a third? Do you sit back and protect your lead? Who knows, although with the Pars you can usually be sure of the latter. Just as well then that the Pars were three up before being able to even contemplate defensive tactics. After winning a 56th minute corner, Barry Nic sent a perfectly weighted cross towards the unmarked Scott WILSON, the big defender sending a bullet 12-yard header flying into the top left-hand corner of the net. The Pars three goals up…surely not even the eternal optimists among us could have predicted this!
With the Pars players and fans seemingly riding the crest of an unfamiliar victorious wave, it was time to enjoy the match, to sit back safe in the knowledge that a safe Pars three points would make your Saturday night bevy all the better. Sod’s law then that what was to follow would prove to be the most boring and freezing twenty-odd minutes in football history. However, if you were cold sitting in the stand wrapped in your fifteen jumpers and five pairs of socks, spare a thought for the half-time cheerleaders decked out in their t-shirts and miniskirts. Having said that, I can think of one way they could keep warm…er, I think we’ll draw a vale over that one! Out of literally nothing, the Pars could, and should, have added a fourth in the 77th minute after an excellent Craig Brewster sent Billy Mehmet clear on goal. After taking a touch, the young striker could only mange to fire straight at Combe from only yards out. You’d like to think that a timely intervention from Simon Ford slightly affected the Mehmet’s chance to finish, although you can’t help thinking that the striker will be somewhat disappointed not to have added a second to what was an excellent individual display.
With the Pars players sitting further and further back – at one point I’m sure Stillie was seated in the back row of the away stand! – the inevitable happened with only ten minutes remaining. After Aussie striker Danny Invincible saw his close range shot superbly saved by Derek Stillie, the Pars keeper failed to hold onto the ball allowing ex-Hearts striker Gary WALES the opportunity to fire the ball home from yards out. With Killie desperately searching for a quick fire second in an attempt to forge a way back into the match, the Pars were to provide the perfect sucker punch in the final minute of the ninety. A hopeful long ball was knocked on by Billy Mehmet – in reciprocation of the earlier through ball – to Craig BREWSTER who, managed to outmuscle – and remarkably – outpace pacy defender Simon Ford to crack home a ferocious volley off the underside of the bar to well ad truly put the finishing touches to a memorable Pars victory.
All of a sudden life seems wonderful again! The sun’s out (er…), your pint tastes that little bit better (unless you go to the same pub I have the misfortune to drink at, honestly I’ve known less watered down ponds!), and you can even bare to watch Scotsport SPdrivel – except for that tosser Walker – just to see the four gloriously marvelous Pars goals once again.
In easily their best performance of the season so far, the Pars showed all the ability, character and pace which has become synonymous with the Pars side over the last few years. Almost every time the Pars ventured forward, the searing pace of the attacking moves threatened to tear an all-at-sea Killie defence to shreds. After what was an evidently tentative start by the Pars, the confidence appeared to grow with every attacking move enabling the Pars to spread the ball about with a great degree of arrogance. It’s just a pity that such a paltry attendance turned up to witness the display. You have to wonder where the support has so rapidly disappeared to. So much for supporting you team!
In a very pleasant change to recent months, a number of Pars players could have claimed the man of the match award, with a number of individuals performing as well as they have done all season. The forward players – Donnelly, Mehmet and Brewster – showed a distinct cutting edge to their play, each displaying wonderful vision to rip the Killie defence open time and time again. Equally as pleasing was the performance of Barry Nicholson, clearly on a high after his international display. Barry’s industry and ability – which has appeared somewhat lacking in recent fixtures – appeared to make a welcome return, with much of the play going through the
With two very different trips to
At least there’s not anything for Pars fans to moan about this week…then again…
Man Of The Match - GARY MASON – Candidates aplenty however Mason’s break-up and subsequent build-up play was almost flawless throughout. Excellent display.
PARS – Stillie 6, Ross 8, Thomson 7, Wilson 7, Labonte 7, Nicholson 8, Mason 9, Darren Young 7, (Bradley 79) 5, Donnelly 8, Mehmet 8, Brewster 9.