July
The Saints squad for the 2014 D&K Cup Tournament
Saints returned to begin their pre-season programme still riding high on the crest of the wave which had swept them to a first ever league and cup double the season before. The spirit of optimism that engulfed the club was further boosted by the arrival of new signings David Beaton, Martin Bonar, Dougal Graham, Scott Maitland, Thomas McCulloch, David MacPhee and Dean Smith. Even the departure of Mattie Rippon and Dene Cassells' continued absence with a broken leg couldn't dampen the club's spirits ahead of the new season.
Pre-season began with the traditional curtain raiser of the highly regarded Saints Tournament now in it's 21st year and sponsored by club sponsor D&K Lafferty Contractors Ltd. Saints acquitted themselves well losing narrowly 2 -1 to tournament runners-up Alloa Athletic and 1 - 0 to Dundee United. Saints best result of the day was a 1 - 1 draw against Scottish Cup holders St Johnstone which was quickly followed by a 6 - 2 humbling at the hands of this season's SPFL Premiership shock troops and 2014 D&K Cup winners Hamilton Accademical. On target for Saints were Craig MacEwan and debutants David Beaton, Martin Bonar and Scott Maitland.
Martin Bonar and David Beaton
Saints next opponents were to be Milton of the Caledonian League Premier Division. Unfortunately Milton were unable to fulfill the fixture and the pattern was set for a disjointed pre-season programme which was to leave Saints ill prepared for the season ahead.
July closed with a barn storming 3 - 2 win over old friends Greenock High School Former Pupils. The eagerly anticipated annual "friendly" is always played at a high tempo with both teams desperate to claim the bragging rights. Saints win courtesy of goals from Stuart Alexander, Martin Bonar and Allan Mackay came at a high cost with serious injuries to Paul Kerr and Donald Campbell which in Donald's case would keep him out of action for four months.
Donald Campbell fires in a shot against Greenock HSFP
August
Saints welcomed Central Scottish Amateur Football League side Ashvale Victoria to Oban for the first time for what was to prove a frustrating afternoon for the home side. Saints were caught cold in the 2nd minute by a suspiciously off-side goal for the visitors a set-back from which they were unable to recover against a very well organised "Vics" side. Despite enjoying the bulk of possession throughout the match Saints were unable to find a way through a resolute Vics defence and in truth were fortunate not to lose by a bigger margin as the visitors squandered a number of late scoring opportunities. This match was also the last to be played by new signing David MacPhee who after a very promising start to his Saints career mysteriously disappeared from the scene altogether.
In another set-back for the club the final match of the pre-season programme was also cancelled at short notice when Strathclyde Saturday Morning Football League Premier Division side were unable to raise a team leaving a frustrated Saints squad kicking their heels again.
Saints kicked off their defence of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division trophy with a lack-lustre performance against newly promoted Kings Park Rangers. Saints dominated proceedings for the majority of the match but their passing lacked the crispness necessary to ask serious questions of an under strength Kings side. A first half Allan Mackay header from a Ross Maitland free-kick gave Saints the lead but this was cancelled out in the 82nd minute by Martyn Reid following a rare Kings attack. Saints had second half substitute Dean Smith to thank for the three points when with only three minutes remaining he created space for himself inside the Kings box before slipping the ball past keeper Jim McLaughlin. At the end of the match Saints Manager Iain Jackson acknowledged that his team had been poor a fact which he attributed to the disjointed pre-season. Jackson also felt that performances would improve with each game played.
Dean Smith (obscured from view by the KPR no. 11) nets a late winner for Saints
The opening month of the season closed with the loss of Saints fifteen month unbeaten away run. Ironically the run came to an end on the very ground on which it had started, Thorn Athletic's McMaster Park, Johnstone with Thorn putting down an early marker of their title credentials. On an excellent playing surface the home side had much the better of the first half without creating too many problems for the Saints defence. Saints improved in the second half with the introduction of Lewis Cameron, Ross Maitland and Scott Maitland. The three substitutes combined in the 70th minute to give Saints a scarcely deserved lead. Ross fed Scott on the left wing whose cross was headed powerfully home by Lewis on the edge of the six yard box. The lead lasted barely a minute when Saints conceded a needless free kick 25 yards from goal. Thorn are always a threat from set pieces but they surely couldn't believe their luck when Ryan McCay's well struck shot found it's way easily through the Saints wall to beat Daniel Cassells' despairing dive just inside his left hand post. Five minutes later Saints contrived to shoot themselves in the other foot when an extremely rash Scott Maitland tackle inside the Saints box gave Ryan McCay an opportunity from the penalty spot which he accepted with glee. Saints battled in vain to get back on level terms but couldn't find a way past Liam McWilliams in the Thorn goal. Despite being second best on the day the biggest disappointment for Saints was the cheap nature of the goals conceded which was to become a recurring theme in the months ahead.
Lewis Cameron heads Saints into the briefest of leads against Thorn Athletic
September
The month of September proved to be Saints best of the season so far with three wins out of three. First up were another of the newly promoted sides Eaglesham who made the trip to Glencruitten determined to keep a clean sheet. An inspired performance from goalkeeper Gordon Taylor very nearly helped them achieve their objective and Saints had to be content with a 1 - 0 victory courtesy of a close range second half effort from Craig MacEwan, On the downside Saints lost the services of Scott Maitland to a knee injury which was to keep him out of action for several weeks.
Saints took the Kintyre trail to Campbeltown to face reigning Premier Division One Champions Campbeltown Pupils in the first top flight Argyll Derby for five seasons. Saints won an entertaining end-to-end encounter by the narrowest of margins thanks to a second half Allan Mackay goal. Despite the victory Saints Manager Iain Jackson was still far from fully satisfied with the performance and was concerned that "the final pass was letting us down".
Jackson was a far more contented man at the conclusion of Saints next fixture which he considered to be Saints best performance of the season so far. A 3 - 0 home victory over Busby, who had proved a very tough nut to crack last season, was just reward for a convincing Lewis Cameron inspired display. On target for Saints were Roy McLuckie, Lewis Cameron and Allan Mackay.
The West of Scotland Cup campaign kicked off for Saints at St James Playing Fields Paisley against Paisley and District Premier Division side Glenburn Athletic. Injury, illness and holidays (including the Manager!) gave acting Management team Davie Buchanan and Peter MacCallum a few selection headaches but those were eased by the return to action of Craig MacEwan, Dougal Graham and Scott Maitland. Saints took a while to come to terms with the steep slope and strong wind blowing across the tight park but when they eventually did there was only going to be one winner. A first half double from Allan Mackay sandwiched a Dean Smith left foot volley to give Saints a 3 - 0 half time lead. The home side pulled one back when Daniel Cassells, back in the Saints goal after his exploits up front, misjudged a long throw and the ball was bundled in at the back post. Saints wobbled slightly but regained control of the match with a 69th minute Allan Mackay penalty after Dean Smith had been brought down in the box. Ross Maitland and Dougal Graham extended the Saints lead before Paul Kerr put the icing on the cake with a fine individual goal in the 90th minute to give Saints a thoroughly deserved 7 - 1 win,
Craig MacEwan with the only goal of the game against Eaglesham
Saints took the Kintyre trail to Campbeltown to face reigning Premier Division One Champions Campbeltown Pupils in the first top flight Argyll Derby for five seasons. Saints won an entertaining end-to-end encounter by the narrowest of margins thanks to a second half Allan Mackay goal. Despite the victory Saints Manager Iain Jackson was still far from fully satisfied with the performance and was concerned that "the final pass was letting us down".
Jackson was a far more contented man at the conclusion of Saints next fixture which he considered to be Saints best performance of the season so far. A 3 - 0 home victory over Busby, who had proved a very tough nut to crack last season, was just reward for a convincing Lewis Cameron inspired display. On target for Saints were Roy McLuckie, Lewis Cameron and Allan Mackay.
Roy McLuckie shows Dean Smith a clean pair of heels in pre-season training
October
October saw the start of Saints brief involvement in this season's Scottish Amateur Cup. A very depleted Saints squad, minus ten players, made the journey to Ayr to face Ayrshire Amateur Football League Division Two table toppers Wallacetoun Sporting Club in a second round tie. Saints were so short of numbers that regular goalkeeper Daniel Cassells was pressed into action as an emergency centre forward. Big Daniel formed an excellent partnership up front with Allan Mackay (reminiscent of their heroes Mark Hateley and Ally McCoist) and it was Mackay's two goals which saw a makeshift Saints side through to the third round draw by a 2 - 1 margin against a good Wallacetoun side. Allan's first half 25 yard free-kick was cancelled out in the 66th minute by an unstoppable Mark McLean shot past Thomas McCulloch in the Saints goal. With a replay looking a certainty second half substitutes David Beaton and Shaun MacIver linked up well to set David through on goal. The youngster was rashly hauled down in the box by Wallacetoun skipper Nicky Warren who saw red for his indiscretion. Allan Mackay kept a cool head to convert the spot kick and send Saints through to meet Giffnock North in round three.
Hateley and McCoist
Allan Mackay's stoppage time penalty puts Saints through to the 3rd round
Saints four game unbeaten run came to an end in the picturesque conservation village of Eaglesham thanks mainly to a defensive horror show which was to manifest it's self a further four times before the festive break. Saints were again struggling for numbers for this fixture and now also had skipper Marc MacCallum on the injured list. Daniel Cassells continued up front with Thomas McCulloch once more proving to be an able deputy between the posts. Saints started and ended the first half reasonably well but a woeful 30 minute spell in between cost them dear. Two softly conceded goals left Saints with an up-hill struggle in the second half which they had to tackle without top scorer Allan Mackay who had succumbed to a back injury after just twenty minutes. Saints dominated the second half but once again found Ham's keeper Gordon Taylor to be in top form. Despite coming close on numerous occasions Saints had only a Ross Maitland goal to show for their domination and three more precious league points were dropped in a 2 - 1 defeat, At full time Manager Iain Jackson lamented "the players all worked hard but two defensive lapses in concentration cost us the game". Another blow for an already stretched Saints squad was the second half injury to utility man Martin Bonar following a collision with the Ham's goalkeeper.
Up go the heads
The West of Scotland Cup campaign kicked off for Saints at St James Playing Fields Paisley against Paisley and District Premier Division side Glenburn Athletic. Injury, illness and holidays (including the Manager!) gave acting Management team Davie Buchanan and Peter MacCallum a few selection headaches but those were eased by the return to action of Craig MacEwan, Dougal Graham and Scott Maitland. Saints took a while to come to terms with the steep slope and strong wind blowing across the tight park but when they eventually did there was only going to be one winner. A first half double from Allan Mackay sandwiched a Dean Smith left foot volley to give Saints a 3 - 0 half time lead. The home side pulled one back when Daniel Cassells, back in the Saints goal after his exploits up front, misjudged a long throw and the ball was bundled in at the back post. Saints wobbled slightly but regained control of the match with a 69th minute Allan Mackay penalty after Dean Smith had been brought down in the box. Ross Maitland and Dougal Graham extended the Saints lead before Paul Kerr put the icing on the cake with a fine individual goal in the 90th minute to give Saints a thoroughly deserved 7 - 1 win,
Maitlands Ross and Scott show Arsene Wenger how to defend corner kicks
Paul Kerr's fine individual goal rounds off the scoring
November
Saints welcomed Caledonian League Premier Division high flyers Giffnock North to Glencruitten for what was to prove an excellent Scottish Amateur Cup 3rd round tie. Saints produced some of their best football of the season so far against a top quality Giffnock side but once again made things extremely difficult for themselves by conceding some very cheap goals. Twice Saints allowed Giffnock time and space to beat Daniel Cassells from long range and give the visitors a very flattering 2 - 0 half time lead. Lewis Cameron inspired a thrilling second half fight back which saw Saints take a deserved 3 -2 lead through goals from Ross Maitland, Allan Mackay and Craig MacEwan. However Saints once again pressed the self destruct button when Daniel Cassells, who had been in good form including a first half penalty save, inexplicably allowed a speculative shot to beat him at his near post to earn the visitors a replay. Saints left the field knowing that they should have won the game but with home advantage now conceded the pendulum had swung very much in Giffnock's favour.
Craig MacEwan heads Saints in front after a terrific run and cross from Lewis Cameron
On the sidelines Saints die hard David MacPhee prepares for the on-set of winter by looking out his umbrella
The replay took place the following week at a wet and windy Northolm Park, Giffnock. Saints twice took the lead but more poor defending and, to be fair, some questionable refereeing saw the visitors snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Allan Mackay opened the scoring with a powerful header from an in-swinging Scott Maitland corner. The North equalised when Brendan McGurk met a long throw at the near post to head past Daniel Cassells. Saints were back in front on the stroke of half time with a curling Ross Maitland free kick after Allan Mackay had been brought down on the edge of the box. The North drew level after some benevolent refereeing allowed them to flight a free kick to an unmarked Mark Shanta whose well placed header gave Daniel Cassells no chance. Four minutes later and the North were in front when the Saints defence again failed to pick up their men with Stephen Fitzpatrick this time capitalising on the mistake. Saints levelled in the 63rd minute when Craig MacEwan out jumped the North defence and goal keeper Craig Marshall to send a powerful header high into the net. By now the weather condition s were horrendous and both sets of players can take great credit for producing such an entertaining match in trying conditions. With extra time looming the match took one final controversial twist. North striker Pete Gemmell appeared to control a deep cross with his arm before stroking the ball past a bemused Daniel Cassells. The Saints defence were convinced a free kick should be awarded but the referee had other ideas. Seizing the opportunity to finally get out of the rain the referee awarded the goal killing Saints Scottish Cup hopes stone dead in the process.
Not the best weather for taking pictures
Long term injury victim Donald Campbell made a welcome return to the squad
Saints recorded their only victory in the month of November in convincing style against Rosehill Star in the West of Scotland Cup 3rd round. Injuries and work commitments again left Saints short in numbers but the squad was given a welcome boost with the signing of former Dumbarton striker Ally McKerracher. Scottish Amateur Football League side Rosehill Star play their home fixtures at Netherpollock where the playing surface is less than ideally suited to Saints favoured passing game. Understandably it took Saints a while to come to terms with this and during the opening exchanges they survived one or two scares as the home side made the better start. Three goals in as many minutes towards the end of the half from Dean Smith, Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron gave Saints a comfortable half-time lead. Saints raced into a six goal lead with goals from Lewis Cameron, Martin Bonar and Donald Campbell before conceding a consolation goal from the penalty spot after Ally McKerracher was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul in the Saints box. The scoring was rounded off in the 81st minute when Lewis Cameron completed his hat-trick following a good move involving Donald Campbell and Martin Bonar.
The draw for the fourth round of the West of Scotland cup took place on the evening of Monday 17th November and paired Saints with Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division leaders Harestanes Amateurs. The Hares are widely considered to be the best amateur football team in Scotland at present so a third consecutive 7 - 1 away win in the competition for Saints seems unlikely but you never know!
Saints returned to league business against the form side in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division St Joseph's F.P. St Joe's were at that point the only remaining unbeaten side in the Premier Division and had only lost one match in all competitions so far. Saints on the other hand were struggling for consistency not just in their play but also in their team selections having fielded a different starting XI in every match so far. Saints started well enough and took the lead in the ninth minute when Donald Campbell rounded off a neat move involving Dougal Graham and Allan Mackay with a thumping right foot drive past St Joe's keeper Kevin Connor. St Joe's however were in determined mood and drew level just three minutes later through Ryan Holmes. After a fairly even opening 45 minutes the second half got off to the worst possible start with Saints conceding three goals in a calamitous thirteen minute spell which left them shell shocked and chasing shadows against a very dominant visiting side. Manager Iain Jackson made some changes which helped Saints regain their composure and their efforts were rewarded when Craig MacEwan pulled a goal back in the 71st minute. To their credit Saints kept plugging away but a the St Joe's defence remained relatively untroubled. In stoppage time the Saints defence got into another tangle and gifted the visitors a fifth and final goal bringing to an end Saints proud 18 months unbeaten home league run. After the match Manager Iain Jackson praised the visitors observing "this is the best St Joe's side I've seen for years". He was however once again extremely disappointed with the goals conceded lamenting "some of the goals we've given away this season have been criminal".
Saints extended their lengthening criminal record in their final match in November against Finnart at Glasgow Green. Like the previous weekend's opponents Finnart were also in good form and topped the SAFL Premier Division scoring charts with 24 goals in 7 games. Saints, fielding their 13th different starting line-up of the season, played reasonably well but struggled to find a way past a well organised Finnart defence. At the other end Saints own defensive frailties were cruelly exposed by a clinical Finnart attack to whose swift counter attacks Saints had no answer. Saints eventually penetrated the home defence in the 83rd minute but by this time they were 4 - 0 down and playing only for pride. Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan worked a short corner routine and found Donald Campbell lurking on the edge of the Finnart box. Donald registered his fourth goal in as many games since returning from injury with a well placed curling shot which gave Brian Paton in the Finnart goal no chance. The 4 - 1 final score flattered the home side somewhat but Saints Manager Iain Jackson felt the Finnart had been "sharper and quicker to the ball" and therefore deserving of their victory. In summing up Saints recent run Jackson said "The other top teams in the league have definitely improved from last season while we seem to have gone backwards. We need to get back to basics, and if every player at the club works at training and on matchdays then I'm sure we can turn the corner".
In a frustrating end to the calendar year Saints had no fixtures at all during the month of December. The final outing of the year was scheduled to be the West of Scotland fourth round tie at Kirkintilloch against Harestanes Amateurs however with the Saints contingent already on the mini-bus and ready to depart the news came through from Kirkintilloch that the pitch was frozen and the match would have to be postponed until the new year.
Saints end 2014 out of the Scottish Amateur Cup, facing a very difficult away tie to maintain their interest in the West of Scotland Cup and languishing in 7th place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division. A successful defence of the league title won in such style last season looks to be a tall order but with ten games still to play and every team in the league capable of springing a few surprises all may not be lost. If Saints are to turn their fortunes around a return to a settled line-up would go a long way to helping them re-establish some consistency. Due to an unprecedented run of bad luck with injuries and other non availability issues Saints have been unable to field the same starting line-up twice. Only three players have featured in every game and only two of those have started every match. Veteran defender Alex Craik has started every match except the defeat at Finnart when he came on as a late substitute for the injured Dean Smith. Daniel Cassells and Paul Kerr have started every match but have been forced to fulfill a number of different roles.
Here's hoping for a better second half of the season.
Ally McKerracher
The draw for the fourth round of the West of Scotland cup took place on the evening of Monday 17th November and paired Saints with Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division leaders Harestanes Amateurs. The Hares are widely considered to be the best amateur football team in Scotland at present so a third consecutive 7 - 1 away win in the competition for Saints seems unlikely but you never know!
Saints returned to league business against the form side in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division St Joseph's F.P. St Joe's were at that point the only remaining unbeaten side in the Premier Division and had only lost one match in all competitions so far. Saints on the other hand were struggling for consistency not just in their play but also in their team selections having fielded a different starting XI in every match so far. Saints started well enough and took the lead in the ninth minute when Donald Campbell rounded off a neat move involving Dougal Graham and Allan Mackay with a thumping right foot drive past St Joe's keeper Kevin Connor. St Joe's however were in determined mood and drew level just three minutes later through Ryan Holmes. After a fairly even opening 45 minutes the second half got off to the worst possible start with Saints conceding three goals in a calamitous thirteen minute spell which left them shell shocked and chasing shadows against a very dominant visiting side. Manager Iain Jackson made some changes which helped Saints regain their composure and their efforts were rewarded when Craig MacEwan pulled a goal back in the 71st minute. To their credit Saints kept plugging away but a the St Joe's defence remained relatively untroubled. In stoppage time the Saints defence got into another tangle and gifted the visitors a fifth and final goal bringing to an end Saints proud 18 months unbeaten home league run. After the match Manager Iain Jackson praised the visitors observing "this is the best St Joe's side I've seen for years". He was however once again extremely disappointed with the goals conceded lamenting "some of the goals we've given away this season have been criminal".
Saints extended their lengthening criminal record in their final match in November against Finnart at Glasgow Green. Like the previous weekend's opponents Finnart were also in good form and topped the SAFL Premier Division scoring charts with 24 goals in 7 games. Saints, fielding their 13th different starting line-up of the season, played reasonably well but struggled to find a way past a well organised Finnart defence. At the other end Saints own defensive frailties were cruelly exposed by a clinical Finnart attack to whose swift counter attacks Saints had no answer. Saints eventually penetrated the home defence in the 83rd minute but by this time they were 4 - 0 down and playing only for pride. Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan worked a short corner routine and found Donald Campbell lurking on the edge of the Finnart box. Donald registered his fourth goal in as many games since returning from injury with a well placed curling shot which gave Brian Paton in the Finnart goal no chance. The 4 - 1 final score flattered the home side somewhat but Saints Manager Iain Jackson felt the Finnart had been "sharper and quicker to the ball" and therefore deserving of their victory. In summing up Saints recent run Jackson said "The other top teams in the league have definitely improved from last season while we seem to have gone backwards. We need to get back to basics, and if every player at the club works at training and on matchdays then I'm sure we can turn the corner".
Lewis Cameron and Ross Maitland probe for an opening in the Finnart defence
December
#GameOn 0 - 3 #GameAff
In a frustrating end to the calendar year Saints had no fixtures at all during the month of December. The final outing of the year was scheduled to be the West of Scotland fourth round tie at Kirkintilloch against Harestanes Amateurs however with the Saints contingent already on the mini-bus and ready to depart the news came through from Kirkintilloch that the pitch was frozen and the match would have to be postponed until the new year.
Something Better Change
Saints end 2014 out of the Scottish Amateur Cup, facing a very difficult away tie to maintain their interest in the West of Scotland Cup and languishing in 7th place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division. A successful defence of the league title won in such style last season looks to be a tall order but with ten games still to play and every team in the league capable of springing a few surprises all may not be lost. If Saints are to turn their fortunes around a return to a settled line-up would go a long way to helping them re-establish some consistency. Due to an unprecedented run of bad luck with injuries and other non availability issues Saints have been unable to field the same starting line-up twice. Only three players have featured in every game and only two of those have started every match. Veteran defender Alex Craik has started every match except the defeat at Finnart when he came on as a late substitute for the injured Dean Smith. Daniel Cassells and Paul Kerr have started every match but have been forced to fulfill a number of different roles.
The ever present Alex Craik with Myles McAuley and David McArthur
Goalkeeper
Striker
Physiotherapist
Midfielder
Defender
Doppelganger
Superman
Here's hoping for a better second half of the season.
