St Andrews United and Dundonald Bluebell dished up a fine example of Junior Football for the decent crowd that attended The Parkk on Wednesday evening.

Manager Phil McGuire was forced to field a makeshift side due to illness, injury, holiday and absence.The only recognised defender in the starting eleven for United was the manager himself and to add to his woes, injury forced him off with more than half an hour to go.

United started brightly, taking the game to the visitors with Sam Buchan influential in most Saints attacks. On 5 minutes a great looking cross from Buchan was cleared by Carstairs for a corner with Paddy Deane ready to rifle the ball home. United continued to press and deservedly took the lead on 9 minutes. A Campbell throw was flicked on by Deane and Ricky Patrick bundled the ball home. Dundonald weren’t behind long as a shot from Tommy Carr took a deflectionpast the stranded Hayles in the United goal. Buchan continued to cause problems for Bluebell as he whipped in cross after cross but nobody managed to nod one home. Hayles was forced in to a great save on 35 minutes from the impressive Elder, who a minute later fired high over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

Both sides continued to press but the visitors started to gain a greater amount of pressure and put the inexperienced defence on the back foot, they coped manfully however, marshalled expertly by the manager. However, as McGuire stretched to concede a corner on the hour mark it was obvious he wouldn’t be able to continue for long, eventually being replaced in the back four by Barry Sibanda. Saints continued to battle manfully against the Bluebell onslaught. The occasional releases in pressure were assisted by Bluebells insistence on committing rash tackles, a tactic that didn’t escape the notice of the referee, who booked 5 Dundonald players. United could have won it in the 90th minute when Holden poked a McInnes cross inches wide of the post.

A draw was a fair result and the point may prove vital in what promises to be a tight Premier League especially when you consider the back four that finished the game consisted of no defenders.