Saints rounded off a memorable season with the capture of an historic league and cup double in a nerve wracking four day spell last week starting with the Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final on Wednesday and culminating with the Premier Division title in a final day showdown against Haldane United at Glencruitten on Saturday.
Saturday 31st May 2014
Umbro SAFL Premier Division
Oban Saints 2 - 1 Haldane United
Glencruitten, Oban
Kick off 2pm
Referee: Gary Logan
Saints line up:
Daniel Cassells, Jamie Graham, Alex Craik, Marc MacCallum (Captain), Ross Maitland, Myles McAuley, Paul Kerr, Donald Campbell, Craig MacEwan (Mattie Rippon), Lewis Cameron, Allan Mackay (Roy McLuckie). Unused substitutes: Colin Carswell, David McArthur
When heavy rain and high winds caused the cancellation of this fixture back on 14th December nobody could have predicted that it would eventually become a title decider. The weather on Saturday could scarcely have been more different to that in December when Saints embarked on a run of nine blank Saturdays out of twelve. With the weather dial set to "scorchio" and the Glencruitten playing surface in excellent condition the scene was perfectly set for an undefeated Saints side to face their closest rivals in a winner takes all final match of the season.
Haldane United in their first season in the SAFL top flight came into the match on a high having put together a seven match winning run to give them a chance of snatching the title from Saints at the last gasp. Despite managing to keep their unbeaten run going Saints had been starting to look a little nervy in recent weeks but it soon became apparent that the nerves had been banished in favour of a steely determination to get the job done.
Saints came flying out of the blocks immediately taking the game to Haldane. As early as the second minute Lewis Cameron tricked his way down the left wing before drilling a tantalising cross along the six yard line. Alas for Saints there were no takers but the tone was already set for wave after wave of Saints attacks. In the 12th minute Allan Mackay flicked on a Donald Campbell free kick to Lewis Cameron who fired wide of goal keeper Chris Connolly's right hand post. Saints were punished for their profligate finishing when Haldane made their first foray up field. Craig MacEwan gave away a free kick wide on the Saints left which gave Haldane the opportunity to capitalise on their set piece height advantage. The ball was floated towards the back post where it was met by a towering header from Haldane Captain Daniel McIlmun who bulleted the ball across Daniel Cassells in the Saints goal and into the bottom corner of the net. The Haldane contingent celebrated wildly and rightly so as it was a beautifully executed cross and header to catapult them into pole position.
Saints were unbowed by this set back and went straight back on the attack with Myles McAulay and Allan Mackay both missing great chances to get Saints back in the game. The breakthrough came in the 37th minute when Craig MacEwan got on the end of a Donald Campbell free kick to level the scores and put Saints back in the title driving seat. Saints continued to pile forward and a goal mouth scramble in the 40th minute had hearts in mouths for both sets of supporters. Craig MacEwan came close to doubling his tally when he headed narrowly over from yet another Allan Mackay flick on. Half time brought a welcome relief from the frenetic action and a chance for both sides to regroup for a final assault on the league title.
It was Haldane United who set the tone for the second half pressing Saints higher up the pitch and generally taking the game to Saints. Haldane's biggest threats came from set pieces and long throws but the Saints defence held firm and were always looking to launch counter attacks. One such breakaway saw the end of Craig MacEwan's involvement in the match when he was brought down on the half way line when threatening to burst through on goal. Craig carried on for a couple of minutes but was clearly struggling and Manager Iain Jackson brought on Mattie Rippon to replace him in the 59th minute. Haldane continued to press for a second goal giving the large crowd cause to fear the worst but Saints still held steady. In the 74th minute Roy McLuckie came on to replace a tiring Allan Mackay who had lead the line excellently against a physically imposing Haldane defence. Roy slotted into midfield allowing Mattie Rippon to join Lewis Cameron up front and once again the pace and trickery of this pair would come up trumps for Saints.
With twelve minutes remaining on referee Gary Logan's watch Lewis Cameron broke through the Haldane defence drawing former Scottish Amateur international keeper Chris Connolly off his line and squaring the ball to strike colleague Mattie Rippon to fire an unstoppable left foot shot low into the net. This second goal gave Saints the comfort margin their fans had so desperately wanted and also drained the hope from the Haldane team who had put up a spirited performance until then. From that point onward the outcome seemed predetermined and Saints held on to record a 13th victory of an undefeated league campaign.
"An unbelievable climax to the league season" as the late, great Brain Moore once said.
http://youtu.be/FRmHrVhEegA
Well done saints and well done that blogger.
ReplyDeleteHigh time the town gave some recognition to the sporting achievments of its sports people and teams.
Thanks for your kind words. It's unlikely the town will do anything to commemorate Saints double winning season but the good wishes of the townspeople of Oban more than make up for that.
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