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Saturday, August 15 Banks O'Dee 2 v 2 SAINTS
Banchory needed a draw in this Section 5 Grill League Cup game to qualify for the Quarter Final of the Competition at the expense of last season's Superleague Champions. And that's how it turned out with with a late Saints goal. The Spain Park was rather lush with grass and this may have been a home ploy to try and stop the Banchory passing game.
Banchory youngster and new signing Jack Meldrum was playing his first game for Saints as he took his place in partnership with Richard Stainer up front, and the local lad certainly showed that he has the capability to do well in the Junior top flight.
The opening 5 minutes was evenly contested, but it was Banchory who upped the pace and on the 6th minute a glorious Barclay, Meldrum move should have seen the new Banchory striker score from 10 yards, but he sliced his shot wide of the target. Dee had three corners in quick succession without troubling the Banchory defence, and then Greg Sim had to look lively to punch away an awkward cross.
A strong penalty claim was turned down when Neale Henderson's shot appeared to be blocked by a Dee arm. Saints continued to play the better football and put Dee under constant pressure with some neat football.
Meldrum was sent clear down the left with his cross forced out for a corner, and then the prominent Barclay set up another chance for Horne but his goal bound shot was blocked on the line. Banks O'Dee almost had a half chance, but their move down the left broke down resulting in an easy clearance for Phil Watson.
Meldrum was proving a handful for the home side and he was brought down just outside the box after he beautifully turned his man, and the resultant Shand free kick was blocked by the Dee wall. At the other end Sim had to look lively to hold a 30 yard volley and then Mark Galashan had to look lively to intercept a low cross in the box.
But it was Saints who had the last chance of the first half when McRae started a move in midfield sending a long ball across to Horne who slid the ball inside to Meldrum, but even though the striker rounded the keeper, he could only put the ball out for a goal kick from an acute angle.
Into the second half and all the Banchory support were hoping that the missed chances would not come back and bite them. And it almost did in the opening minute when Greg Sim made a fantastic low one handed save to push the ball round for a corner. And then James Smith made a slip that let Dee's Martin Foy in but he shot past a post.
Dee were now slightly on top and Watson had to look lively to make a strong challenge, but Saints found their composure once again and flowing Barclay, Shand, Barclay, Meldrum move gave the onrushing Barclay a chance form 6 yards but he mi*** his effort on goal.
But the Banchory breakthrough came on the 57th minute when Galashan's first time pass to Barclay gave the busy midfielder the chance to slip the ball inside to Meldrum who neatly stuck the ball into the net from 8 yards.
This gave Saints more momentum and another beautiful turn and pass by Meldrum set up Stainer, only for the striker's effort to be blocked by the keeper, with the rebound falling to Barclay who's shot was also blocked be a defenders leg.
Banks O'Dee made some changes and their No. 12 forced Sim to make a good save, just before Saints should have increased their lead when Barclay again set up Stainer only for his shot to be blocked for a second time with the rebound being hit over the bar by Meldrum.
These missed chances came back to haunt Banchory as almost immediately Dee advanced up the right hand side catching the Banchory defence napping for the home side to equalise with an easy tap in goal for Foy on the 65th minute. Dee were a lot more dangerous now as their substitutions seemed to work, and Sim was forced into a fine one handed save high to his right.
The injured McRae was replaced by Lee Shanks with 20 minutes remaining, but this did not disrupt the Banchory midfield. The home side were causing problems down the left and another lapse of concentration allowed Dee to take the lead on the 75th minute. A high ball was missed by Smith giving Reid the chance to cut inside and unleash a terrific left foot shot which found the net off the post.
Almost immediately Shanks should have scored with the goal gaping from 6 yards out but the Banchory substitute fired high over instead of easily side footing into the net. With 10 minutes remaining, Horne had to be replaced by Matty Reid after sustaining a knock on the back, and with only 3 minutes remaining it was the substitute who scored the vital equaliser. Magnus Barclay who was having a fine game on the left sent over another of his outswinging crosses for the unmarked Reid to loop a header over the Dee keeper into the net.
This goal was more than Banchory deserved as they played some neat football throughout the afternoon and kept Banks O'Dee quiet for most of the first half, allowing them only a 20 minute spell midway through the second half to show any dominance.
Saints will now meet Hermes at home in the Quarter Final of the Grill League Cup on 5th September.
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