Winning In The Rain: EK OK

Saturday 25th July 2015
Pre-season friendly
Oban Saints AFC 3 - 2 East Kilbride AFC
Glencruitten 1
Kick off 1.30pm
Referee Mr James Litster

Saints welcomed frequent pre-season opponents East Kilbride back to Glencruitten last Saturday afternoon after an absence of several years. Crowned Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division One champions at the end of last season EK provided Saints with another excellent workout as Manager Alex Craik continues to prepare his side for the new season ahead. Alex opted for the same starting eleven that defeated Vale of Leven Juniors the previous week with the exception of skipper Marc Maccallum whose slight groin strain wasn't risked. Marc's place in the back four was taken by Dene Cassells with Donald Campbell taking the Captain's armband. The visitors kicked off attacking the club house end and were immediately up to full throttle winning every 50/50 challenge and generally looking sharper than Saints in every department. EK cashed in on their early dominance in the ninth minute after a good move up the left wing - a low cross to the near post looked easy enough for the Saints defence to deal with but despite several attempts the danger wasn't cleared and the EK centre forward bundled the ball over the line to give the visitors the lead. From the restart Saints probed for an opening but there was no way through a very solid looking EK defence. Donald Campbell's perseverance won Saints an eleventh minute free kick just outside the box in what could definitely be considered Willie Gemmell territory however the big defender's effort flew well wide of target without troubling the goalkeeper. Saints fell further behind in the twelfth minute to another scrappy goal after failing to deal with a long ball through the middle. Once again several opportunities to clear the danger were spurned before a shot from the edge of the box deflected off Dene Cassells completely wrong footing Thomas McCulloch to double the visitor's advantage. Saints set about trying to establish a foothold in the game but, despite some good crosses into the box by Lewis Cameron, continued to struggle to break down the EK defence. In the fourteenth minute Saints finally managed to get in behind the EK rearguard after a good move up the right touchline involving Lewis Cameron, Myles McAuley and Martin Bonar. Cutting in from the right Lewis shot low and hard to the near post but EK keeper David Murray was equal to it and pulled off a fine save. Clear cut chances were few and far between for both sides and EK should have done better in the twenty first minute after a swift counter attack up the left wing. Leaving the Saints defence trailing in his wake the EK wide man drove into the box but pulled his shot across the face of the Saints goal and out for a throw-in on the opposite touchline. Lewis Cameron was beginning to enjoy some degree of success on the right and won a twenty fifth minute corner from which he found the head of Myles McAuley but the Saints midfielder was unable to direct his header on target. Two minutes later Craig MacEwan and Donald Campbell linked up well on the edge of the box to set up a shooting opportunity. Donald shifted the ball onto his right foot opening up space for a curling shot which went narrowly wide of the keeper's left hand post. On the half hour mark Lewis Cameron made another good run up the Saints right and delivered a tempting cross into the middle where Dean Smith's spectacular goal bound bicycle kick effort was blocked by the EK defence. Saints were certainly playing some better stuff now and came close again with another curling Donald Campbell effort over the crossbar after a Dean Smith cut back on the left wing. Despite having weathered EK's early storm Saints still looked vulnerable with the visitors eager to exploit any mistake. A misplaced Keith Millar pass was pounced upon in midfield setting up a great chance for the visitors to increase their lead, fortunately for Saints EK shot wide of target passing up a very presentable chance. Saints survived one final scare before the interval when a big EK central defender was afforded the freedom of the Saints eighteen yard box only to direct his free header from a left wing corner kick wide of target.
With next weekend's Rhu tournament in mind Manager Alex Craik made three half time substitutions replacing Scott Maitland, Keith Millar and Dean Smith with Jamie Graham, Paul Kerr and Allan Mackay. Saints started the second half on the front foot with Lewis Cameron driving into the box before being crowded out by three EK defenders. The visitors had the ball in the Saints net in the 47th minute but Referee Jimmy Litster ruled the effort out for offside and with little protest from the EK players it certainly appeared to be a good decision from the Lochgilphead whistler. Saints were beginning to get behind the EK defence with full backs Martin Bonar and Jamie Graham overlapping well on the wings only the final ball was lacking. EK also tried their luck on the flanks with Jamie Graham being forced into a well timed sliding interception to cut out a dangerous looking cross from the right. Saints eventually made the breakthrough in the 56th minute from a short Lewis Cameron free kick after Allan Mackay had been fouled twenty five yards out. Lewis played the ball short to Donald Campbell who tricked his way into the left hand side of the box before picking out Allan Mackay on the six yard line to roll the ball into the net from his favourite distance. On the hour mark Martin Bonar made way for Ross Maitland to make his first pre-season appearance. The Saints full backs continued to ask questions of their EK counterparts with both delivering good crosses which Allan Mackay only narrowly failed to direct on target. Saints drew level in the 67th minute again from a Lewis Cameron free kick won by Allan Mackay. From twenty eight yards out and slightly left of centre Lewis struck a powerful shot past the EK wall beating the keeper's left hand but not the post. With Ross Maitland and Allan Mackay waiting to pounce on the rebound the ball came back off the post, hit the goalkeeper on the back off the head and bounced into the net. Saints regained possession straight from the restart and launched a lightning quick counter attack sending Ross Maitland tearing up the right wing to deliver a fizzing cross which evaded Allan Mackay in the centre but was diverted into the net by Craig MacEwan's outstretched leg at the back post to give Saints the lead. Saints had their tails up now and were playing some excellent football keeping the home crowd royally entertained. The visitors showed they weren't done yet and Saints needed a timely interception from Dene Cassells to cut out a dangerous cross after good work on the left wing by EK. Saints mopped up the danger from the resulting corner with a good clearing header from Paul Kerr. With ten minutes remaining Manager Alex Craik made his final changes withdrawing Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan and replacing them with Matthew Kelly and Kevin Keen. EK kept plugging away and had Saints holding on a little in the closing stages. The eye catching Scott Hadden jinked his way into the right hand side of the Saints box and picked out Calum Robertson on the edge of the box but the big defender sent his shot high and wide of target. With two minutes remaining on Referee Jimmy Litster's watch Willie Gemmell conceded a free kick just outside the Saints box. Scott Hadden chipped the ball over the Saints wall for what should have been a routine take for Thomas McCulloch but the big keeper who had looked assured throughout was a little slow off his line and could only scramble the ball behind for a corner with William Hastings in close attendance. The corner kick from the EK right was comfortably dealt with and Referee Litster brought proceedings to a close shortly thereafter.
Saints now take to the road where they will hope to keep their good pre-season form going at the Rhu invitational tournament celebrating 120 years of Rhu Amateur Football Club.