The Buffs rounded off a week of change on a high note, as Chris Strain marked his return to the dugout with a comfortable 0-3 win. The visitors always looked the likely winners at New Tinto Park against a struggling St Cadoc’s side, who failed to properly threaten across the 90 minutes.
The Buffs played more directly than we’ve seen in recent months, which allowed them to take control of the game from the outset, and play their football well into St Cadoc’s territory.
The returning Ben Lewis had the first chance of the game as he hit from distance. Good play down the right-hand side between McLevy and MackIntosh allowed the ball to be swung into the box, where it found Mark Lamont. Lamont picked up possession towards the back post, then set a pass to Lewis on the edge of the box, who struck goalwards. Ben’s first-time effort looked promising, but Truesdale pulled off a good save at his near post to force the shot wide.
The Buffs didn’t have to wait long to open the scoring when a Lamont corner caused chaos in the Cads’ box. Mark swung a dangerous ball in from the right, which St Cadoc’s failed to clear. The ball eventually fell to the feet of Wilson, who smashed at goal from close range. Despite seemingly getting a hand on the strike, Truesdale was unable to keep it out as it deflected over the line, with Ewan McLevy claiming it was, in fact, he who got the deciding touch on the ball.
Lamont’s corners proved to be a thorn in the side of St Cadoc’s all day, with Ryan Wilson having another good chance, soon after the last. A cross was whipped in from the left this time and into a dangerous area around the 6-yard box. Ryan managed to make a bit of space for himself, but couldn’t get over the ball enough as he sent his header over the bar.
Other than a few breaks forward for St Cadoc’s, which didn’t come to much, it was all Buffs as they went in search of a second in the game. The Buffs would’ve gotten their wish, if it weren’t for some heroic St Cadoc’s defending, when a series of chances fell their way in quick succession. Murray MackIntosh was causing issues down the right and got to the byline, where he drove a low ball into the box. The cross broke kindly for Lamont around the penalty spot, and he looked to have a clear sight of goal before taking a touch and being dispossessed. Wilson pounced on the loose ball and drilled a low effort towards the bottom-left corner, but it was smothered in a crowd of bodies. Finally, the rebound fell to McLevy on the edge of the box, with his shot towards the far corner being blocked as well — this time just in front of the scrambling Truesdale.
Even when the hosts were able to make their way up the pitch, their attacks were met with a Buffs counterattack, with the best of the breaks coming just before the halftime interval. Lamont picked the possession up inside his own half and carried forward, creating a 3v2 in The Buffs’ favour. Lamont had Boylan on his right; however opted for Wilson on his other side as he slipped a pass out to the club’s top goalscorer. Ryan drove forward and past McKillen with ease. Making his way into the box, he shifted the ball onto his right foot and shot low across the goalkeeper. Unfortunately for the striker, defender Adam Murray made a great recovery and managed to slide across the box to divert what appeared to be a certain goal.
The half came to an end, and The Buffs would probably have felt like they should’ve been more than one in front heading into the break. It was actually St Cadoc’s who started the half the better of the sides, with The Buffs being slightly wasteful in possession. Daniel Matheson burst down the right wing and spun the ball in behind Ewan McLevy on the right side of the Buffs’ defence. Connor Falls got himself on the end of the through ball and cut inside, where he hit a powerful effort from the edge of the box. Luckily for The Buffs, Falls’ attempt was straight down the middle of the goal, which allowed Dylan Brown to save.
The Cads’ period of pressure was short-lived, however, and the Buffs would net a second at a good time in the game. It was another Lamont corner which unlocked the St Cadoc’s defence as he aimed a cross at the back post where Bryan Boylan rose highest to double his side’s lead with a header.
The home side built their way back into the game as time passed and had a chance to pull one back, which was stifled by a strong save from Brown. Conor McLaughlin lost possession in midfield, and St Cadoc’s piled forward, looking for a lifeline in the game. The Cads transferred the well from right to left, with the move culminating in Adam Murray driving a low strike at the near post from the left side of the box. Dylan got down well and got a strong hand behind the ball to keep it out and keep his clean sheet intact.
Even as the game began to die out, The Buffs continued to cause trouble from corners, with Lawrenece Hendry catching a glimpse of the goal this time. A cross was floated in from the right and was, once again, won by Boylan, who headed down into the centre of the box, where Hendry pounced, but could only blaze his effort off the bar and out for a goal kick.
The three points were sealed in the final few minutes, thanks to a vintage striker’s goal from substitute Jack McMahon. The ball was moved up the Buffs’ left before finding Nick Lockhart on the left wing. Nick did tremendously to beat his man inside and curl a shot destined for the far corner. Unfortunately for Nick, the shot cracked the far post, but fortunately for The Buffs, the rebound landed at the feet of McMahon, who showed no hesitation in hammering past the goalkeeper to end the game.
On a day where results elsewhere proved favourable for The Buffs, it was a comfortable win for Strain’s side, who, more or less, strolled to victory at New Tinto Park. The three points move the club to just a point behind Glenafton and widen the gap between The Buffs and chasers Beith, who visit Buffs Park next week in a pivotal tie.
