Alas Poor Rolly

Poor Rolly

 

 

 

Saturday 8th June was a sad day for dog lovers everywhere as loveable Giant Poodle Rolly from East Kilbride was finally put down after an agonising wait for the final round of SAFL Premier Division fixtures to be played. A victory for Saints by two goals or more over relegation threatened Thorn Athletic would have saved Rolly but unfortunately for Rolly, or Rolls Royce East Kilbride as he is sometimes known, Saints could only manage a 1 - 0 win which sealed Rolly's fate.

 

 



Saints Treatment Room

 

 

 

Things might well have turned out differently if Saints had a full compliment of players for this match. However with six players still nursing injuries sustained in the bruising encounter with Hillington in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final, and a further four players unavailable through work commitments, Saints resources were stretched to the limit. Even with long term absentees Graham Douglas and Allan MacKay returning to the fold Manager Iain Jackson could name only a thirteen man squad the night before the match. The squad was further depleted on the Saturday morning when Sean Ford declared himself unavailable as he had to travel to Aberdeen to start a new job. 

 

 

Saints left Oban early on Saturday morning hoping to pick up a few hitchhikers on the way to make up their numbers. With no suitable candidates found Manager Iain Jackson named himself and coach Peter MacCallum as substitutes alongside Allan MacKay who was returning after a sixteen month injury lay off.

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

With their first choice white kit still soaking in bleach, Saints Secretary Davy Buchanan announced that Saints would be playing in new colours of orange shirts with pink sleeves.

 

 

 

 

Sean Ford and Paul Kerr model the new orange and pink shirts

 

 

Returning striker Allan MacKay declared there was no way he was wearing orange and vowed to leave Saints to sign for Oban Athletic as he had heard they were ditching their orange strips. MacKay promptly took to his phone to negotiate terms with Oban Athletic Manager Calum Fox.

 

 

The match got underway in front of a large crowd of spectators many of whom were Rolly fans who had travelled to Johnstone from East Kilbride to cheer on the Saints. Saints started strongly sensing the nervousness of their opponents. Roared on by Rolly supporters Saints were dominating their hosts when they received yet another set-back. Saints midfielder Willie Gemmell conceded a free kick for a strong challenge a Thorn opponent. During the stoppage in play Donald Campbell, was discussing with Allan MacKay on the sidelines their mutual hatred of the new orange kit. remarked that he "hated the orange b******s". The referee, presuming that Donald was referring to him, immediately produced the red card and sent off the bemused Saints striker for threatening behaviour. The Saints camp protested bitterly but the referee's mind was made up and Saints were reduced to ten men for the remainder of the match.

 

 

Despite being a man light Saints continued to dominate proceedings with Thorn content to hold on for a draw. Meanwhile on the touchline Allan MacKay received a phone call which prompted a massive change of heart and a request to Iain Jackson to re-sign for the Saints. Manager Jackson requested an explanation for this sudden change of mind whereupon MacKay replied that Calum Fox must have "turned" because Oban Athletic will be playing in Red, White and Blue next season which was even worse than Orange!!

 

 

Jackson immediately sent substitute MacKay into the action but reminded him that the Oban Times photographer was present and that he probably wouldn't want to be pictured scoring and celebrating a goal dressed in orange. The substitution did little to disturbed Saints rhythm and they continued to probe for an opening in the well marshalled Thorn defence. With the match entering the closing stages and Thorn looking increasingly likely to secure a share of the points proceedings took another twist. Saints midfielder Craig MacEwan went down in the box under a fairly innocuous challenge from a Thorn defender. To everybody's amazement the referee, probably mindful of his earlier blunder in sending off Donald Campbell, pointed to the spot. With usual penalty taker Donald off the pitch and substitute MacKay not willing to risk being photographed, it fell to Captain Keith Millar to take the penalty kick. Millar calmly dispatched the penalty past the Thorn 'keeper and an extremely nervous closing ten minutes beckoned for Thorn.

 

The Saints players sensing a first every victory over Thorn and a chance of relegating them to Premier Division 1 pressed forward in search of the killer second goal. Chance after chance came Saints way but they were thwarted at every turn by the resolute Thorn defence. In the dying seconds the best opportunity of the match fell to Allan MacKay. With the 'keeper off his line and the goal at his mercy it seemed that MacKay must score but mindful of his Manager's earlier warning he struck his shot wide and the match ended 1 - 0 to Saints.

 

The Thorn players and staff celebrated wildly and the Rolly supporters trudged away from McMaster Park dejected. The Saints players, although happy to have secured victory over bitter rivals Thorn, were deeply saddened that Rolly would be put down. Saints Manager Iain Jackson reminded the players that the recent draws with East Kilbride had helped considerably to end Saints title hopes and they shouldn't feel too sorry for Rolly.

 

 

Rolly with Management team Den, Angie and "Princess" Sharon Watts.

 

 

 

It's a letter from the SAFL Ange. They've had a complaint from Iain Jackson that Rolly bit him on the arse twice this season. They say Rolly must be put DAHNN!

 

 

 

 

 Tears for Rolly.





 

 

 

 

More Tears.

 

 

 

 

Rolly and his pal Little Willie in happier times.

 

That's the season finally over for Saints and the players and management can enjoy a well earned rest before the new season kicks off with traditional curtain raiser the Keyline Tournament on Saturday 13th July.

#monthesaints

There Might Be A Hitch

Saints travel to McMaster Park, Johnstone on Saturday to face Thorn Athletic in a noon kick off and may be reduced to picking up hitch hikers on the way to make up their numbers. Following last weekend's bruising encounter with Hillington AFC in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final Saints have no fewer than six players out injured. Added to that number are four unavailable due to work commitments.

Saints will make the journey with just 13 players including Graham Douglas and Allan MacKay both returning after long absences, and will hope to get through the match without any more injuries. Manager Iain Jackson and Coach Peter MacCallum will be taking their boots with them just in case.

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Don't go via Lochgilphead!

 

Could Make The Bench 1

 

 

Having lost out in the title race to Postal United the match means little to Saints but is of paramount importance to Thorn Athletic. Defeat to Saints by two or more goals will see Thorn lose their relegation battle with Rolls Royce EK on goal difference and drop into Premier Division One. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Could Make The Bench 2

 

 

 

 

Whatever happens Saints will glad to put this week behind them and re-group.

 

 

Mad Axe Man 1

 

 

Be careful who you pick up!

 

 

 

Mad Axe Man 2

 

 

Good luck lads!

 

#monthesaints

Head and Shoulders

On Sunday at Somervell Park, Cambuslang Saints lost their second cup final penalty shoot-out of the season thus failing to secure the silverware to which their form over the season entitled them. The defeat to Hillington AFC was painful in more ways than one as serious head injuries to Dene Cassells and Asen Gaydardzhiev, and a ruptured rotator cuff for Daniel Cassells saw all three taken to hospital for urgent medical treatment.

Captain Keith Millar introduces the players to the SAFL representative

Saints started the match tentatively but were slowly gaining the upper hand when injury struck. Firstly striker Asen Gaydardzhiev, who was having the better of his jousts with the Hillington defence,  was forced to come off with a bad cut following an accidental clash of heads with a Hillington defender.

Play continued while the Saints striker received treatment on the sidelines however within minutes Saints were another man down when midfielder Dene Cassells sustained a serious head cut which forced him out of the match.

Judging by the reaction of the Saints player when he left the field of play this injury may not have been accidental, however no infringement was spotted by the match officials and no action taken against any Hillington player.

Saints Manager Iain Jackson brought on substitutes Matty Rippon and Allan Miller with Matty joining Donald Campbell in attack and Allan taking up a wide right midfield role. In the dying minutes of the first half Matty came close with a long range shot which struck the bottom of the Hillington goalkeeper's left hand post while the 'keeper looked on helpless. The first half ended with Saints on top but with no goals to show for their efforts. The half time break gave the large crowd of supporters, mainly from Hillington, time to enjoy the sunshine and a refreshment or two from the Cambuslang Rangers Social Club.

Saints continued to press in the second half but despite enjoying the majority of possession, and creating all of the chances, failed to breach the well marshalled Hillington defence. Saints best opportunity of the match fell to Donald Campbell. Clean through on goal with only the goal keeper to beat, Saints top scorer in the competition was desperately unlucky to see his well struck shot saved by the Hillington 'keeper whose heroics were to earn him the Man of the Match award from the visiting SAFL delegation.

With twenty minutes to go disaster struck for Saints. On one of their few second half forays into Saints territory Hillington won a corner on their left hand side. Saints 'keeper Daniel Cassells rose under pressure to collect the cross but collided with a Hillington attacker and landed awkwardly on his left shoulder. After a long stoppage for treatment play resumed but it quickly became apparent that Daniel could not continue. Clearly in considerable pain Daniel was substituted.

With no back-up goal keeper on the bench Saints were now in trouble and were forced into a re-shuffle. Central defender Alex Craik bravely pulled on the goalkeeper's jersey and gloves. Midfielder Willie Gemmell replaced him in defence and substitute Paul Kerr came into the midfield.

Saints threw everything into attack in a bid to avoid the dreaded penalty shoot-out but there was no way past the resolute Hillington defence. In the dying minutes, and with penalties in mind, Saints Manager Iain Jackson made his final change bringing on Sean Ford for Myles MacAulay in an attacking midfield role.

After a considerable period of injury time in which Saints continued their pursuit of a winning goal the referee eventually blew for full time. Bizarrely for a cup final there was no extra time to be played. Being so much in the ascendency at this time Saints would surely have fancied their chances of securing victory in the additional thirty minutes, however penalties it was and the odds of victory swung dramatically in Hillington's favour.

Saints went first and the Hillington 'keeper  got down well to his left but couldn't prevent Matty Rippon's penalty from finding the net. Further successful well struck penalties followed from Captain Keith Millar, Craig MacEwan and late substitute Sean Ford but in every case Hillington replied emphatically giving Saints stand-in 'keeper Alex Craik no chance.

With Saints fifth penalty Donald Campbell sent the Man of the Match Hillington goalkeeper the wrong way but his outstretched boot struck the ball and sent it spinning to safety. Hillington's fifth penalty was as accurate and well struck as the previous four and victory in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy was theirs at the first time of asking.

The Saints players collect their runners-up medals

 
Despite this defeat the Saints players can be justly proud of their achievements this season which with better luck could have seen them celebrating a treble success. Such are the fine margins in amateur football and Saints must hope for better fortune next season.

Saints don't have too long to wait as, incredibly, their pre-season kicks off with the Keyline Tournament in just over five weeks time.

Roll on next season.

#monthesaints