St.Johnstone (a) Jim Weir Testimonial Match
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Date: Tuesday May 11th 2004, 7.45pm Venue:
McDiarmid Park, Perth, Scotland |
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St.Johnstone |
1 - 2 | Newcastle United Reserves |
| Half time: | 1 - 1 | |
 |
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| Score Sheet: | ||
(43)
Parker
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Ramage (5)
Ferrell (53)
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| Teams | ||
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Nelson |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 |
Bartlett |
| Substitutes: | ||
|
(68) Vata for Taylor (70) Fraser for Maxwell (76) Connolly for Donnelly (82) Malone for Parker |
Smith
for Bartlett (46) Zola for Guy (46) McClen for Brittain (46) Offiong for Chopra (46) Al.O'Brien for Pattison (46) |
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| Subs not used: | ||
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Dods Cutherbert |
None | |
| Bookings: | ||
| None | None | |
| Dismissals: | ||
| None | None | |
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| Referee: Willie
Young |
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| Attendance: 2,905 housed in main stand and
opposite mirror image effort. Stands behind both goals were unused for
this game. No away section - small numbers of black and white tops
spotted in among the Saints support. |
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Goals |
5 mins Peter Ramage shot 1-0
43 mins Parker shot 1-1
Half time: Saints 1 Magpies 1
53 mins Andy Ferrell shot 2-1
Full time: Saints 1 Magpies 2
We said |
The man of the evening said:
"I was pleased and very
humbled that so many supporters turned out on Tuesday. As the weather
deteriorated as the game approached I feared the worst but I couldn’t have
been more pleased with the response from the public and I would like to place on
my record my sincere appreciation for the support offered on what was a very
special night. "I’ve been left with very
special memories of a great night - not to mention the man of the match award
which I somehow managed to win!"
Waffle |
2,905
fans braved the damp conditions in Perth on Tuesday night to raise a few quid
and pay tribute to the long-serving St.Johnstone defender Jim Weir (pictured.)
And Newcastle played their part in an entertaining and wholehearted friendly
encounter, goals from Peter Ramage and Andy Ferrell giving coach Tommy Craig a
2-1 success over his old pal John Connolly at McDiarmid Park.
That victory was deserved overall as we dominated the early stages, looked sharper and our passing and movement were more incisive. However, were it not for some selfishness on the part of the forwards (especially after the break) then we could have registered a more resounding success.
The game got underway a few
minutes behind schedule, after Glenalmond College Pipes and Drums had formed a
guard of honour to welcome testimonial man Jim and his three wains, before both
sides mingled for commemorative photos.
Once underway, with a decent turnout in the two main stands but those behind
each not open, home fans got proceedings underway with a friendly chorus of
"if you hate Alan Shearer clap your hands."
5 mins Brittain's free kick was tipped over the bar and the same player
took the resultant corner. Ramage shot home from 10 yards after Edgar's
header was only half-cleared. 1-0.
27 mins Home fan implored over the tannoy to return home due to a burst
pipe. Judging by the strength of the rain by now, a burst cloud would have been
more accurate.
29 mins The best chance for Saints so far came as Stevenson jinked his
way past three defenders into the United area before seeing his shot rebound
harmlessly off Bartlett's far post.
41 mins Matty Pattison crossed from the left wing and although Chopra was
having his shirt tugged he still headed home via the underside of the bar, only
for the referee to indicate an offside.
43 mins Self-inflicted disaster as Brennan's throw in on the edge of his
own box put his defence in trouble, Edgar's short back pass allowing former
Sheffield Wednesday forward Simon Donnelly to test Bartlett and then apparently
Bolton-bound Kiegan Parker to curl the resultant rebound home into an
unguarded net. 1-1
52 mins Maxwell twice came to the home side's rescue within 20 seconds as
he blocked two separate Orr efforts on the goal line after O'Brien's run down
the left and pull back from the byline had opened up the Saints defence.
53 mins Midfielder Andy Ferrell ran on from the halfway line
before taking advantage of two hesitant defenders who backed off him to jink
between them and float a precise shot beyond the 'keeper from the edge of the
box 2-1.
58 mins Only a fingertip save from United sub 'keeper Ben Smith from
close range denied Taylor after he had wriggled into the United box, but the
Saints man should have levelled the match.
65 mins Ferrell's near post cross was met well by Zola with a goalbound
header but 'keeper Nelson was equal to it.
Reports