Winning In The Rain: Argyll & Bute Cup Round-up

Saints rounded off their busy pre-season schedule in the best possible style by winning the Argyll and Bute Cup in Lochgilphead last Saturday. In what was to prove a very good day for Oban football in general Saints defeated the tournament's surprise package Oban Athletic in the final after three group section games and a semi-final.

The eight participating teams were divided into two groups of four playing each once in matches lasting forty minutes. Group One at the Ropework Park consisted of hosts and trophy holders Lochgilphead Red Star, Dunoon, Tarbert and a very youthful St Mirren Under 19's side drafted in to replace Rothesay Brandane who were unable to attend. On the all weather surface at Lochgilphead Joint Campus Group Two was contested by Oban Saints, Campbeltown Pupils and tournament debutants Dunoon Athletic and Oban Athletic.

Match Officials

Allan Frame

Jimmy Litster

Archie Mitchell

Pat O'Donnell

Jim Pearson

John Scott

Group Stages

Injuries, holidays and work commitments robbed Saints of the services of Martin Bonar, Daniel Cassells, Willie Gemmell, Scott Maitland, Keith Millar and Skipper Marc Maccallum however Manager Alex Craik was still able to name a sixteen man squad plus himself if circumstances required. Saints and Dunoon Athletic got things underway in Group Two where Saints were fortunate to survive a very shaky start to reach half time still level at 0 - 0. Saints made a far better start to the second half and took less than sixty seconds to take the lead. Ross Maitland made a good run from his unfamiliar right back berth and swung in a perfect cross for Craig MacEwan to power a header into the bottom corner. Moments later Craig was denied a second goal by a good save by the Athletic keeper when Craig got on the end of a terrific pass from Donald Campbell to fire in a powerful shot. The makeshift back four of Ross Maitland, Jamie Graham, Dene Cassells and David McArthur were still not completely at ease and Athletic equalised in the twenty fourth minute when a cross from their left looped over Dene Cassells leaving the lone Athletic striker one on one with the Saints keeper. The Dunoon man rifled a shot into the top corner man giving Thomas McCulloch no chance. Saints regained the lead in the 29th minute when Donald Campbell made a determined run into the box before slipping the ball to Craig MacEwan to finish neatly into the bottom corner past the keeper's left hand for his and Saints second goal. Saints were well on top now and Manager Alex Craik decided on a couple of changes replacing Dean Smith and Lewis Cameron with Shaun MacIvor and, making his first pre-season appearance, David Beaton. Shaun made an instant impact winning a corner on the Saints left from which Donald Campbell was convinced he had scored. Donald's in swinger appeared to cross the line before being scrambled clear at the near post by the Athletic defence. Referee Jimmy Litster was unconvinced and dismissed the Saints appeals later revealing that he had heard no "beep" therefore the ball couldn't have crossed the line. Whether goal line technology was actually in use at the tournament remains unconfirmed! The game finished without further scoring giving first blood to Saints.

Saints Captain for the day Donald Campbell

Craig MacEwan nets the winner for Saints against Dunoon Athletic

The opening match in Group One saw hosts Lochgilphead Red Star lose out 2 - 1 to 2006 Cup winners Dunoon. This was quickly followed by a convincing 3 - 1 win for the youngsters of St Mirren over Tarbert who were handicapped by the tournament's only red card for a first half hand ball on the goal line.

Back in Group Two Argyll and Bute Cup new boys Oban Athletic put in a very good performance before losing out 1 - 0 to Campbeltown Pupils. Athletic remained on the pitch for match three where they would face Oban Saints for the very first time. With a number of former Saints players in their ranks, and managed by former Saint Steven MacLeod, this promised to be a very interesting encounter. Saints Manager Alex Craik made just one change to the starting XI from the first match deploying Allan Mackay at centre forward at the expense of Dean Smith. Saints signalled their intent right from the start with Donald Campbell getting a shot on target in the first minute which was easily saved by former Saints keeper Graham "Sugar" Douglas. The pair were in action again shortly after this Donald getting considerably more power in his shot which Sugar could only beat away. Lewis Cameron, operating on the right of the front three, won a 7th minute corner on the right from which he found the head of Allan Mackay unfortunately his strike partner couldn't keep his header down and the ball flew over the crossbar. Saints came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the tenth minute when Craig MacEwan made a good run on the left cutting the ball back to Donald Campbell whose shot was again saved by Sugar. The keeper however could only parry Donald's shot and the ball broke temptingly for Ross Maitland who frustratingly could only turn the ball against the post from one yard out. Saints kept up the pressure with Lewis Cameron forcing another corner on the right. Saints again won the header but this time it was Craig MacEwan who was unable to hit the target. In the 13th minute David McArthur cut in from the left and fired in a terrific right foot shot which appeared to be handled in the penalty box before flying wide of target. Referee Pat O'Donnell however remained unmoved by the Saints appeals and signalled for a corner kick. Lewis Cameron again delivered well with keeper Sugar's attempted punched clearance only reaching David McArthur whose spectacular overhead kick cleared the crossbar by a matter of inches. Saints closed the half with a shot from the edge of the box by Ross Maitland again going the wrong side of the bar for a 0 - 0 half time scoreline. The second half promised more of the same but Athletic put the cat among the pigeons with a 24th minute goal completely against the run of play. A long ball from the back caught out the Saints defence who were forced to concede a corner kick on the Athletic right. The corner kick was swung over for what looked like a routine catch for Thomas McCulloch however the big keeper somehow allowed the ball to slip through his hands onto the grateful head of Athletic captain Craig Campbell whose header looped over Ross Maitland guarding the back post and into the net. Saints were stunned by this totally unscripted reverse and seemed to lose their composure whereas their opponents retained theirs and stuck resolutely to their defensive game plan. Saints rarely threatened in the remainder of the second half failing to exploit the full width of the wide park to get in behind the well disciplined Athletic back line with the tournament new boys comfortably holding on to record a deserved if unlikely win.

Ross Maitland hits the post against Oban Athletic

David McArthur tries unsuccessfully to catch out Graham Douglas at his near post

Back at the Ropework Red Star gained their only point of the day in a 0 - 0 draw with St Mirren while Dunoon kept up their winning start defeating Tarbert 1 - 0.

The unexpected defeat against Oban Athletic coupled with Campbeltown Pupils 1 - 0 win over Dunoon Athletic left Saints needing to beat Pupils in their final match to maintain their chances of progressing to the knock out stages. Manager Alex Craik sprung a few surprises in his line-up for this crucial match giving the right full back role to young Matthew Kelly and a debut to Elliot Dougall in the middle of the park. The Manager also dropped Craig MacEwan back into the defence with David Beaton coming in to take the right side of the front three with Lewis Cameron switching to the left. Saints opened the scoring in the 8th minute after good work on the right by David Beaton picked out Dean Smith just inside the Pupil's penalty box. Dean showed good strength to hold off his marker and lay the ball off to Donald Campbell to slam the ball into the bottom corner past Reid Anderson's right hand. Instead of settling for what they had Saints were guilty of over committing to attack and left themselves woefully short at the back where Pupils picked them off on the break for the equaliser. Shaun MacIvor came on as a second half replacement for Lewis Cameron but with no breakthrough coming in the first five minutes Saints had to go for broke and switched to an attacking 4 - 2 - 4 formation with Elliot Dougall coming off to make way for Allan Mackay. The switch paid dividends in the 29th minute when an excellent move up the right involving Matthew Kelly, David Beaton and Myles McAuley ended with David crossing to Shaun MacIvor who slammed home from seven yards out to restore the lead. Saints endured a nervous closing ten minutes plus four minutes of stoppage time to secure their place in the semi-finals but still had to wait on the outcome of the final match between Oban Athletic and Dunoon Athletic to find out who would top the section.
Oban won the battle of the Athletics 3 - 0 thanks to a hat-trick from former Saints player Colin Tindal seeing them safely through to the semi-finals as group winners on goal difference eliminating Campbeltown Pupils into the bargain.

Donald Campbell opens the scoring against Campbeltown Pupils

Shaun MacIvor slams home the winner against Campbeltown Pupils

In Group One Red Star's defence of the trophy stuttered to a halt after a 3 - 0 defeat to Tarbert leaving Dunoon and St Mirren to fight it out for top spot which the young Buddies duly earned by beating the Dunoon men 2 - 0.

Third and Fourth Place Playoffs

The playoffs were staged on the all weather pitch at Lochgilphead Joint Campus where, in the first match, Tarbert and Dunoon Athletic drew 1 - 1 with the sides electing not to proceed to a penalty shoot-out. Campbeltown Pupils and Lochgilphead Red Star contested the second play off which ended goalless before Pupils eventually prevailed 5 - 4 in the shoot-out.

Semi-finals

The Oban Saints faced the Paisley Saints in the first semi-final with the Oban lads coming flying out of the traps to take the lead inside sixty seconds. Donald Campbell played a delightful pass inside the Buddie's full back for Kevin Keen to run onto and deliver an inch perfect cross for Allan Mackay to drill home from ten yards. Saints kept up the pressure on the Buddie's youngsters with Kevin Keen narrowly failing to connect at the back post with a terrific Donald Campbell cross in the third minute. David Beaton was enjoying being back on a football pitch after an absence of several months and was unlucky not to score in the 9th minute after an excellent turn and shot was well saved by the Buddie's keeper. Ross Maitland presented Allan Mackay with a good opportunity for his second goal of the afternoon but the striker was unable to keep his shot down after a good cross from the wee man. Donald Campbell was next to try his luck from distance but he was also unable to keep his shot below the crossbar. In the 18th minute Myles McAuley made a powerful run into the box picking out Allan Mackay whose shot from twelve yards was straight at the keeper. Saints had the benefit of playing down the Ropework slope in the second half and in the 24th minute a sweeping move down the right involving David Beaton, Myles McAuley and Allan Mackay set up Donald Campbell for a shot which slipped wide of the keeper's right hand post. One minute later persistent play on the right wing from Kevin Keen won a corner which Ross Maitland placed straight onto Donald Campbell's forehead for the Saints skipper to bullet an unstoppable header into the net. The Buddies were presented with an opportunity to get back into the game when Referee Pat O'Donnell rather charitably ruled that Saints were guilty of holding at a rare St Mirren corner kick. Saints keeper Thomas McCulloch, back on his old Ropework stomping ground, got down well to his left to stop the spot kick allowing the Saints defence to scramble the ball to safety. Manager Alex Craik made three changes for the closing ten minutes withdrawing Allan Mackay, David Beaton and Donald Campbell replacing them with Dean Smith, Matthew Kelly and Elliot Dougal. Matthew Kelly made an instant impact on the left of the front three winning a free kick just outside the box. Matthew took the kick himself teeing up David McArthur for a good right foot strike across the keeper but wide of the post. Saints remained in control comfortably seeing out the final minutes to win 2 - 0 and book their place in the final.

Donald Campbell heads home Saints second goal against St Mirren Under 19's

Thomas McCulloch saves St Mirren's second half penalty kick

Kevin Keen was one of three former Red Star Lochgilphead players in the Saints squad

In the second semi-final Oban Athletic recovered from a 1 - 0 half-time deficit to equalise in the second period sending the tie to a penalty shoot-out. The format was to be three penalties each before sudden death. Dunoon scored with the first penalty before Kris Gillies levelled for Athletic. Graham Douglas saved the second Dunoon kick giving Scott Johnston the chance to put Athletic ahead which he duly completed. The third Dunoon penalty was missed sending Oban Athletic through to the final for a second Oban Derby of the day.

The Final

Saints lined up for the final with Thomas McCulloch in goal; a back four of Ross Maitland, Jamie Graham, Dene Cassells and David McArthur; a midfield of Myles McAuley, Paul Kerr and Donald Campbell; and a front three of Lewis Cameron, Allan Mackay and Craig MacEwan. Saints won the toss of Referee Jimmy Litster's coin and elected to kick up the slope in the first half. The Athletic game plan was identical to the first match however by this time their legs and minds were beginning to tire and Saints had a far easier task in finding the gaps in their defence. In the sixth minute Stephen Kelly hauled down Lewis Cameron twenty five yards from goal giving Saints a free kick in a dangerous position. Allan Mackay took the kick which Graham Douglas got a hand to but couldn't keep out of the net. Two minutes later Saints were two in front, Graham Douglas made an excellent save from a Lewis Cameron shot turning the ball round the post for corner. Lewis took the corner from the Saints right where Sugar made another good stop from a Donald Campbell header but was powerless to stop Myles McAuley from heading the rebound into the unguarded net. In the 13th minute Lewis Cameron made a terrific run up the left wing and spotted a well timed Craig MacEwan near post run. Lewis picked out the run but Craig's flicked finish went wide of target. Saints extended their lead on the quarter hour with a stunning Allan Mackay 25 yard strike from the corner of the box which flew past Sugar into the postage stamp corner. In the 19th minute Lewis Cameron took one heavy challenge too many and limped off to be replaced by David Beaton just before Referee Litster brought the half to an end.
Saints kicked off the second half attacking the pavilion end and quickly put the result beyond any doubt when David McArthur picked out Donald Campbell's run into the box to lift the ball over the advancing Graham Douglas and into the net to make the score 4 - 0. With the match over as a contest Saints dropped the tempo a little but still managed to test the keeper with a fierce David McArthur shot from the edge of the box from which Sugar pulled off a terrific save. Manager Alex Craik gave late run-outs to Elliot Dougall, Shaun MacIvor, Matthew Kelly and Dean Smith as replacements for Paul Kerr, Allan Mackay, Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan respectively. Referee Jimmy Litster, who together with assistants Jim Pearson and John Scott, handled a sporting contest well, brought proceedings to an end giving Saints their eleventh Argyll and Bute Cup success.