Saints have no fixture on Saturday 14th March 2015.
Last Weekend's Fixture
Saints came back from a 3 - 1 deficit against high flying Haldane United last Saturday to reignite their chances of a successful defence of their Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division title. With Glencruitten 2 failing an early morning pitch inspection the match was played on the 3G at Oban High School in, frankly, horrendous weather conditions. Full credit must go to both sets of players for producing a very entertaining game of football in extremely challenging conditions.
This was a game Saints really had to win to keep in touch with early pace setters Haldane United and Finnart and they opened strongly taking the game to the visitors from the first whistle. This early endeavour quickly paid dividends when Donald Campbell collected the ball on the right wing and forced his way into the box before firing a low shot across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. This was just the start Saints wanted however Haldane United are a good side and they soon began to harness the advantage of the strong wind blowing from the Games Park end. Haldane won a corner on the right wing in the 7th minute from which set-piece danger man Daniel McIlmun was inexplicably allowed to rise unchallenged at the back post to bullet a header past Daniel Cassells in the Saints goal and bring Haldane level. The Saints central midfield triumvirate of Donald Campbell, Paul Kerr and Myles McAuley were battling hard in the middle of the park but everything played forward was coming back quickly as Allan Mackay and Ally McKerracher struggled against the combined obstacles of the Haldane defence and the elements. As the half progressed Haldane were gaining in territorial advantage and were unlucky when what looked like a goal bound shot took a wicked deflection off Jamie Graham's back before flying wide for a corner. In the 31st minute Saints again left Haldane Captain Daniel McIlmun unmarked in the box, fortunately the big central defender's near post left foot shot from a long throw-in knock down sailed over the crossbar. On a rare Saints foray into the Haldane box Lewis Cameron looked set for a carbon copy of Donald Campbell's opener but his effort was deflected off target. In the 33rd minute Daniel Cassells pulled off an excellent save from Haldane striker Lee Hall who had made space for himself in the inside right channel. This was obviously a good sighter for the striker as two minutes later his wind assisted twenty five yard piledriver into the roof of the net gave the Saints keeper no chance. At this point in the proceedings your intrepid reporter had his glasses whipped off his face and through the perimeter fence thanks to the combined forces of a strong gust of wind and a collapsing umbrella. A massive thanks to Alastair Bonar, Alex Craik and in particular Alex's contact lenses for finding said spectacles safe and sound on the grass bank behind the fence. Meanwhile, and in not so glorious blurry vision due to the missing specs, Haldane were stretching their advantage through a Daniel McIlmun (at least I think it was him) left foot shot from the edge of the box. Normal viewing now restored Saints set about reducing the deficit and were unlucky to see a Craig MacEwan header from a 42nd minute Lewis Cameron corner go narrowly wide of target. Just a minute later a defence splitting pass from Donald Campbell found Ally McKerracher who cleverly picked out strike partner Allan Mackay racing through on goal in the inside right channel. Unfortunately Allan's well struck shot was blocked and cleared to safety. In first half stoppage time Saints got the goal which would bring them right back into the game. More good link up play from Donald Campbell and Ally McKerracher set up Allan Mackay for a strike on goal. Allan's fierce right foot shot brought out a good save from the Haldane keeper Pat McCune at the expense of a corner Kick for Saints. Lewis Cameron whipped in the corner kick which Craig MacEwan met with a perfectly timed header high into the net giving Saints a massive boost ahead of a second half in which they would enjoy the wind advantage.
Saints started the second half as they had the first by going straight on the attack from the re-start. In the 47th minute Craig MacEwan had his progress up the left wing brought to a halt by a robust Haldane challenge. From the free kick Lewis Cameron flighted in a tantalising cross which the Haldane defence headed behind for a corner. Ally McKerracher's low trajectory corner kick from the right caused a stramash in the Haldane penalty box with Saints having three attempts blocked before the ball was eventually gathered by the grateful goalkeeper. In the 51st minute Ally McKerracher fired in another corner from the right which Pat McCune could only palm behind for another corner. Lewis Cameron and Donald Campbell worked a short corner routine creating space just inside the box for Donald to curl a right foot shot narrowly wide of target. Under incessant pressure from Saints Haldane continued to concede free kicks in dangerous areas which, given the weather conditions, was just about anywhere in their own half! In the 54th minute Dougal Graham fired in a free kick from fully thirty five yards which the keeper did well to hold. Two minutes later Saints had another dead ball opportunity after Allan Mackay had been brought down twenty five yards from goal. With the Haldane defence steeling themselves for another long range effort Allan slipped the ball to Donald Campbell in the inside left channel. Donald strode into the box and curled a right foot shot Thierry Henry style low into the bottom left hand corner to level the score. In the 78th minute another piece of inspired thinking, this time from Manager Iain Jackson, gave Saints the lead. Saints won a corner on the left and Manager Jackson urged Lewis Cameron to try a shot on target from the corner flag. The shot from Lewis was low and hard and, to prove that fortune does indeed favour the brave, an attempted clearance at the near post was sliced wickedly into his own net by a Haldane defender. Two minutes later Saints rounded off the scoring again from a Lewis Cameron left wing corner. This time Lewis took the more conventional route and flighted the ball in for Craig MacEwan to bullet a trade mark near post header into the net. With the conditions taking their toll Manager Iain Jackson opted for some fresh legs bringing on Roy McLuckie, Dean Smith and Scott Maitland to replace Dougal Graham, Allan Mackay and Lewis Cameron. To their credit Haldane kept plugging away and were unlucky to see a 88th minute header go wide of target. Otherwise the visitors were unable to trouble the Saints rearguard marshalled in typically combative style by skipper Marc MacCallum. With the clock ticking down Donald Campbell launched an 89th minute counter attack with a terrific pass to Dean Smith who looked certain to score had he not been hauled down on the edge of the D by Haldane defender Ryan Neill. Referee John McQuilter awarded Saints a free kick and had no option but to give the Haldane man his marching orders. Donald Campbell took the free kick firing in a low shot from which the Haldane keeper produced the save of the match diving full length to his right to turn the ball round the post for a corner. Scott Maitland's flag kick was cleared but only as far as Jamie Graham lurking thirty yards out. Jamie's thunderous volley crashed off the crossbar with the keeper rooted to the spot. A few inches lower and Jamie would have bagged the goal of the match, in fact given Jamie's strike rate, the goal of the century! Mr McQuilter decided he had seen it all now and promptly blew for full time. Special mention should also be made of Saints loyal band of supporters who turned out in good numbers to cheer on the team despite the atrocious weather conditions.
Ally McKerracher keeps his eye on the ball
Haldane Captain Daniel McIlmun cancels out Donald Campbell's opener
Allan Mackay challenges for a header in the Haldane box
Allan Mackay, Ally McKerracher and Lewis Cameron battle for possession
Craig MacEwan sets up Myles McAuley for a shot on target
The Saints players celebrate Donald Campbell's equaliser
Myles McAuley
Donald Campbell knocks Ally McKerracher's corner kick back across goal
Craig MacEwan makes it 5 - 3
Donald Campbell's late free kick brought out a fine save from Pat McCune in the Haldane goal
Jimmy Marshall Trophy Quarter Finals Draw
The draw for the Quarter Finals of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy
took place on Sunday 8th March. The winners of next Saturday's second round tie at Glencruitten between cup holders Oban Saints and Jamestown will be at home to Premier Division title contenders Haldane United. The full draw reads as follows:-
Motherwell Thistle v Kilbowie Union or East Kilbride FC or Centre
Ferguslie Star v Neilston or Goldenhill
Oban Saints or Jamestown v Haldane United
Eaglesham or Finnart or Kings Park Rangers v Alba Thistle of St Josephs FP
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