Wednesday 16th April 2014
Jimmy Marshall Trophy 2nd Round
Lochgilphead Red Star v Oban Saints
Glencruitten 2, Oban
Kick Off 6.30pm
Referee Mr John Scott
Steadfastly refusing to use Sat-Nav, one of Saints travelling supporters (who shall remain nameless) failed to locate this imposing structure and missed the first 30 minutes of the match.
Last Time Out
The excellent facilities at the new Clydebank High School played host to the eagerly anticipated battle of the SAFL Saints last Saturday. Oban Saints and league leaders St Josephs FP of Duntocher, both unbeaten going into the fixture, served up a highly entertaining match of top quality passing football for the small crowd of spectators. The match was played on an excellent 3G surface with a strong wind blowing across the park. Both teams like to play the ball on the ground therefore the windy conditions had very little influence on how the match would unfold.
Injuries and work commitments deprived Saints of the services of Marc MacCallum, Jamie Graham, Mattie Rippon and David McArthur. The return to the squad of Colin Tindall and Dene Cassells from injury and suspension respectively was therefore especially welcome. Dene took his place on the right of the Saints back three with Colin having to settle for a place on the bench alongside Roy McLuckie and emergency substitute Peter MacCallum.
Saints were quickly into their stride and took the lead in the 4th minute. A neat interchange of passes involving Myles McAuley, Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron allowed Lewis space to play an excellent pass inside St Joseph's left back Kevin Seagrave for Ross Maitland to run onto. Ross delivered a low cross into the box which was met by Paul Kerr. Paul's initial shot was blocked on the goal line but the ball fell kindly for him to force home from close range.
St Joseph's reacted positively to this early set back and took the game to Saints in a good thirty minute spell during which time they missed a penalty and a gilt edged chance from a free header on the six yard line. St Josephs did however manage to equalise in the 20th minute from a Kieran Burns free kick after Alex Craik had handled on the edge of the penalty box. Despite the pressure from St Joe's Saints defended well and began to turn things around towards the end of the first half. Myles McAuley had a good opportunity in the 35th minute when St Joe's keeper Derek Keogh spilled a Donald Campbell free kick into his path however Myles was unable to hit the target and the first half finished all square.
Saints kicked off the second half and started strongly immediately putting the St Joes defence under pressure. Despite being on the back foot the home side looked dangerous on the break and Saints had Daniel Cassells to thank for keeping the scores level when he pulled off a magnificent save low down to his left in the 49th minute. Shortly afterwards Saints had another let off when, after a great turn in the box, Kieran Burns shot narrowly past the post with the Saints keeper rooted to the spot.
Eventually the Saints pressure began to tell and Donald Campbell had a rampaging run at the St Joes defence brought to an abrupt end when he was unceremoniously brought to the ground inside the box. The referee was well positioned to see the challenge and was in no doubt it was a penalty. The ever reliable Allan MacKay dispatched the penalty with minimal fuss and Saints were back in front. Saints remained firmly in control after that and threatened to increase their lead on several occasions. Allan MacKay missed an excellent chance beating the keeper when through one on one but somehow squeezing his shot past the post. Paul Kerr, from about sixteen yards further out than where he scored the opener from, blasted a shot the same distance over the bar after some excellent work on the left wing by Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan. Lewis and Craig also passed up good opportunities to give Saints a bit more breathing space going into the closing stages however the Saints defence coped well with the remaining St Joes attacks and Saints ran down the clock for a deserved 2 - 1 win.
Paul Kerr scorer of Saints opening goal
Kieran Burns equalises for St Josephs
Allan MacKay makes it 2 -1 from the penalty spot
Saints welcome Argyll rivals Lochgilphead Red Star to Glencruitten on Wednesday night for the long awaited Jimmy Marshall Trophy Second Round match. The match had originally been scheduled for Sunday 23rd March at the Ropework Park, Lochgilphead, however heavy rain in the days leading up to the fixture lead to the match being postponed. In a bid to preserve the notoriously susceptible to waterlogging Ropework Park for what remains of the season Red Star have agreed to switch the tie to Oban. This move has not met with universal approval however with Oban Saints Ultras the "White (Hair) Brigade" being especially disappointed to miss out on one of their favourite away trips (basically it's a lot easier to find!).
The Ropework Park photographed on Saturday 22nd March 2014
Red Star are currently 4th in SAFL Premier Division 2 with 25 points from 15 games. Red Star went into this season targeting league survival, however with only one defeat in their last six matches, including impressive victories over Port Glasgow United and the strongly fancied Jamestown, the Lochgilphead side have forced their way into the top half of the table. Red Star's three remaining league fixtures are at home giving them an outside chance of securing third place which may yet prove good enough for a second consecutive promotion.
Lochgilphead Red Star's league campaign so far:-
17th August 2013 Port Glasgow AFC 0 - 1 Lochgilphead Red Star
24th August 2013 East Kilbride 2 - 2 Lochgilphead Red Star
31st August 2013 Glencastle Sparta 1 - 4 Lochgilphead Red Star
7th September 2013 Jamestown 3 - 1 Lochgilphead Red Star
14th September 2013 Clydebank 0 - 4 Lochgilphead Red Star
21st September 2013 Port Glasgow United 2 - 2 Lochgilphead Red Star
19th October 2013 Lochgilphead Red Star 1 - 1 Clydebank
9th November 2013 Goldenhill 5 - 2 Lochgilphead Red Star
23rd November 2013 Lochgilphead Red Star 1 - 3 East Kilbride
30th November 2013 Lochgilphead Red Star 5 - 2 Dunoon Athletic
11th January 2014 Lochgilphead Red Star 1 - 4 Port Glasgow
8th February 2014 Easthall Star 2 - 2 Lochgilphead Red Star
8th March 2014 Dunoon Athletic 2 - 4 Lochgilphead Red Star
15th March 2014 Lochgilphead Red Star 4 - 3 Jamestown
29th March 2014 Lochgilphead Red Star 8 - 3 Port Glasgow United
Lochgilphead Red Star
Saints and Red Star met in a pre-season friendly at Glencruitten on 10th August which Saints won comfortably 3 - 0 with goals from Craig MacEwan, Donald Campbell and Mattie Rippon. Wednesday's cup tie will be an entirely different affair with the Lochgilphead side desperate to put one over on their Premier Division opponents. This match has been eagerly anticipated by players and supporters of both sides ever since the draw was made away back in December. A good crowd is therefore expected for what promises to be an enthralling match. The tie must be decided on the night with the chilling possibility of yet another penalty shoot-out if the sides can't be separated after 90 minutes. The winners will be away from home in the quarter finals against Premier Division Two high flyers Jamestown.
Lochgilphead Red Star's 2008 Argyll & Bute Cup winning squad.
Douglas Moore (back row, 2nd from left and Asen Gaydardzhiev front row 3rd from left) served both Red Star and Saints with distinction.
The Saints team bus struggling up the hill towards the Oude dam
#monthesaints
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