Match Officials:-
Donnie Brooks, Jim Pearson, John Mackie, Stuart McLearie, Peter McCallum, Archie Mitchell, Jimmy Litster, Tim Woodcock and Thomas Sharp
Saints run of good fortune with the notoriously unpredictable Oban summer weather finally ran out on Saturday when the D&K Cup tournament was played amidst heavy showers rather than the bright sunshine enjoyed in the last few years. Despite the weather the large crowd of spectators was treated to another spectacle of top class football synonymous with this tournament over the years.
Dundee United under 20's and defending champions Hamilton Accies got proceedings underway on pitch1 at Mossfield with Accies immediately showing they were in no mood to relinquish their crown. Goals from Ziggy Gordon, Jesus Garcia Tena and Crawford gave the SPFL Premiership new boys a convincing 3 - 0 win to set them up nicely for what was to prove a successful day's work.
Over on pitch 2 at the Rugby Club St Johnstone under 20's took on three times champions Alloa Athletic where first half strikes from Greig Spence and Ben Gordon were enough for the SPFL Championship side to ease out their development league opponents by two goals to one.
Oban Saints AFC D&K Cup 2014 Squad
Back row left to right: Iain Jackson (Manager), Myles McAuley, David MacPhee, Craig MacEwan, Allan Mackay, Daniel Cassells, Thomas MacCulloch, Donald Campbell, Jamie Graham, Martin Bonar and Peter MacCallum (Coach)
Front row left to right: Shaun MacIver, Paul Kerr, Dean Smith, Dougal Graham, Lewis Cameron, David Beaton, Scott Maitland and Marc MacCallum (Captain)
Saints first match of the tournament came against Alloa Athletic on pitch 1. Saints boasting a number of new faces amongst their ranks took to the perfectly prepared Mossfied surface resplendent in their new navy blue kit kindly supplied by kit sponsor D&K Lafferty Contractors. In a goalless first half the Saints defence of Marc MacCallum, Jamie Graham and debutant David MacPhee coped well with the Alloa attack but still had goal keeper Daniel Cassells to thank for a couple of fine saves. At the other end Saints best effort of the half came from a rasping Dean Smith strike which just cleared the cross bar. Dean is making a welcome return to the Saints fold after a spell with Oban Athletic. Saints continued to give a good account of themselves in the second half but slack marking at set pieces was to prove their undoing. Alloa trialist Liam Buchanan found himself unmarked in the Saints box to power a right wing corner past a helpless Daniel Cassells to give the Wasps the lead. Saints immediately struck back through guest player David Beaton who rounded off an excellent Saints move to level the scores. Alloa took the lead for a second time with a goal almost idedntical to the first. From a needlessly given away corner kick Alloa player of the year Daryll Meggat found himself unmarked in the box to power a downward header into the Saints net. The scoring ended there and Saints left the field disappointed that an otherwise excellent performance had been undone by two lapses in concentration.
Daryll Meggat heads the winning goal for Alloa Athletic against Saints
On pitch 2 a successfully converted Jason Scotland penalty kick was all that separated Hamilton Accies and St Johnstone under 20's.
St Johnstone then took the short trip across the burn for the battle of the Saints on pitch 1. Oban Saints opened the scoring early in the first half through debutant Martin Bonar. The tall defender made an excellent run into the Perth Saints box to head home a left wing cross much to the delight of the home fans in the large crowd. Saints held onto the lead until the half time interval but a Jason Kerr strike soon after the re-start brought St Johnstone level. Both sides pushed for a winner but anything that got past the well marshalled defences was comfartably dealt with by the respective goal keepers. Referee Tim Woodcock brought the match to an end with no further scoring.
Shaun MacIver is foiled at the near post by the St Johnstone keeper
On pitch 2 Alloa Athletic maintained their 100% record with a 1 - 0 over Dundee United under 20's thanks to a second half Greig Spence goal.
Saints then moved over to pitch 2 to face defending champions Hamilton Accies. Saints took an early lead through another of their debutants Scott Maitland. Scott made a perfectly timed run into the box to get on the end of an excellent left wing run and cut back by Craig MacEwan. Accies replied immediately through Craig Watson before Saints again took the lead this time from a glancing Craig MacEwan header from a Lewis Cameron cross. Unfortunately for Saints this provoked Accies to raise their game a notch or two to which Saints had no answer. An unsavable 30 yard rocket into the top corner by Darren Lyon brought Accies level. This was quickly followed by a Mikael Antoine Curier penalty to give Accies a 3 - 2 half time lead after Craig MacEwan had clipped the heels of an Accies player in the box. Accies added a further three second half goals with an Andy Ryan goal sandwiched by two unstoppable Grant Gillespie 25 yard free kicks. Referee Archie Mitchell from Campbeltown put Saints out of their misery with the score standing at 6 - 2 to Accies.
Craig MacEwan's glancing header evades Allan Mackay and the Accies keeper to give Saints a brief 2 - 1 lead
Grant Gillespie fires home his second free kick of the match to make the final score 6 - 2 to Accies
On pitch 1 Dundee United won the battle of the under 20's defeating St Johnstone by three goals to nil. On the score sheet for United were Ola Adeyemo, Brad Smith and Chris McLaughlin with a stunning 35 yard strike.
Saints final match of the competition was on pitch 2 against Dundee United under 20's. Saints created several good chances in a goalless first half without managing to find a way past the Arabs keeper. In the second half 140 minutes of football was beginning to take it's toll on the small Saints squad and it was United who were finishing the stronger of the two sides. The Saints defence of Jamie Graham, David MacPhee and Dougal Graham coped well with the United attack but keeper Thomas MacCulloch who had made an impressive debut for the Saints was finally beaten in the dying minutes by Jordan Moore. Moore who had been out of action for some time was delighted to mark his return to the United line-up with what was to prove the winning goal. The Saints contingent then retired to the Rugby Clubhouse for a few well earned refreshments and to reflect on an excellent afternoon's work against quality opposition.
Saints keeper Thomas MacCulloch saves from United's Jordan Moore
Craig MacEwan's cross beats the United goal keeper but fails to reach the on-rushing Lewis Cameron and Martin Bonar
The final match on pitch 1 proved to be the title decider the tournament organisers has hoped for when holders Hamilton Accies and three time winners Alloa Athletic went head to head for the coveted trophy. The sides were level on nine points each going into the match but Accies' superior goal difference gave them the edge. A share of the points would therefore be sufficient for Accies to retain the trophy but only a win would do for Alloa. The Wasps took a first half lead through Ben Gordon before a Mikael Antoine Curier goal restored parity just before half time. Alloa pushed hard for a winner in the second half but the Accies defence held firm for a final score of 1 - 1 handing the title to Accies on goal difference.
D&K Cup Winners 2014 Hamilton Accademical
Despite the rain Brian Cassells managed to shift a few ice creams. Next year he's going to try selling sand to the Arabs.
No matter what the score when clock strikes four everything stops for tea
http://youtu.be/MGQASun9d8E
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