Winning In The Rain: Saints Call The Shotts

Saturday 14th November 2015
West of Scotland Cup third round

Oban Community Pitch 3G

Oban Saints AFC 6 - 1 Springhill AFC
Referee Mr John Stobo

Saints starting line-up:-

Thomas McCulloch

David McArthur
Dene Cassells
Jamie Graham
Scott Maitland

Willie Gemmell
Paul Kerr
Donald Campbell (Captain)

Ross Maitland
Dean Smith
Craig MacEwan

Substitutes used:-

Martin Bonar
Dougal Graham
Marc Maccallum
Shaun MacIver
Keith Millar

Saints Goalscorers:-

Donald Campbell ⚽ ⚽
Ross Maitland ⚽ ⚽ ⚽
Martin Bonar ⚽

Saints progressed to the fourth round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup with a 6 - 1 win over Springhill of the North & South Lanarkshire Amateur Football League Premier Division last Saturday. Storm Abagail and the heavy rain which she brought with her put an end to any lingering hopes of the match being played on grass so the tie was switched to the 3G community pitch at Oban High School. Saints Manager Alex Craik named the same squad and starting eleven that defeated Campbeltown Pupils in the Argyll Derby the previous week meaning there was no place for available again striker Allan Mackay who joined the injured Myles McAuley on the sidelines.

Despite the convincing scoreline this was far from a vintage performance from Saints with the game remaining in the balance until deep into the second half when their opponents from Shotts began to tire allowing Saints to finally hit their stride. Saints kicked off attacking the Games Park end and were almost immediately behind when Willie Gemmell delayed too long in clearing up field and was closed down on the edge of his own penalty box by Paul Hughes. Hughes broke into the box but was closed down by Saints keeper Thomas McCulloch who came quickly off his line to smother the ball at the feet of the Springhill striker. Surviving this first minute scare Saints went straight up the other end and opened the scoring with their first attack. Ross Maitland and David McArthur combined well on the right with David sending in a good cross which picked out Donald Campbell on the edge of the box. Donald met the cross perfectly on the half volley and fired an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner giving Springhill keeper Graeme Marshall no chance. This should have been the signal for the flood gates to open but Saints usual slick passing was sadly not in evidence allowing the visitors to remain firmly in a game which, frankly, should have been a canter for the home side. Saints thought they had unlocked the Springhill back four again when David McArthur looped over a deep cross from the left after the visitors had cleared an eleventh minute Ross Maitland corner. David's cross was well taken down and controlled by Donald Campbell but before Saints Scotland Amateur International midfielder could strike for goal he was given offside by Referee John Stobo who gave the benefit of a very tight decision to the visitors. Donald's exertions with the Scottish Amateur International team in midweek had left him looking slightly off colour and he was easily dispossessed in the centre circle by Callum Mitchell in the 12th minute. The Springhill midfielder was then allowed to stride forward unchallenged and fire off a shot which fortunately he didn't get much power behind allowing Thomas McCulloch to gather easily. McCulloch released the ball quickly and Saints broke up field where Dean Smith was brought down 30 yards from goal in the first of many tangles with Springhill skipper Lori McLean. It was a good distance for Willie Gemmell to have a strike on goal but perhaps slightly too central therfore Willie elected to loft a cross to the far post looking for the head of Craig MacEwan. The Sprinhill defence read it well and the combined efforts of Lori McLean and central defensive partner John Liddell cleared the danger. The visitors almost capitalised on some hesitancy in the Saints defence in the 17th minute. Scott Maitland and Jamie Graham failed to deal with a throw in deep in their own half allowing James Cordiner to cut into the box on the Saints left. Fortunately for Saints, with two of his team mates unmarked in front of goal, Cordiner sliced his cross onto the roof of the net giving Saints another let off. Saints were in charitable mood again two minutes later with Paul Kerr uncharacteristically conceding possession cheaply in his own half. Springhill's impressive Paul Hughes threaded a perfectly weighted pass bisecting Saints central defensive pairing of Dene Cassells and Jamie Graham and picking out a good run by James Cordiner. Thomas McCulloch did excellently to anticipate the danger and was quickly off his line to narrow the angle and make a good save from Cordiner's first time shot. Despite not hitting their usual heights Saints continued to create chances particularly from the wide areas where they looked more of a threat. In the 21st minute Craig MacEwan made a good run across the face of the back four from left to right before picking out Dean Smith at the back post. Dean controlled well but seemed caught in two minds between shooting and passing to strike colleague Ross Maitland and was closed down by the Springhill defence who snuffed out the danger. Three minutes later Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan combined well on the right from where Donald lofted an excellent cross to the back post where Dean Smith and Ross Maitland were lying in wait. With Ross probably the better placed of the two Dean got slightly underneath the ball and sent his header about a foot over the crossbar. Another chance almost came Dean's way when Ross Maitland made a good run up the right wing and sent in a dangerous low cross which Springhill central defender John Liddell had to slide in to clear at the near post with Dean waiting for a tap-in. Saints second came in the 29th minute with width finally proving decisive. Craig MacEwan delivered a terrific cross from the left which Ross Maitland controlled excellently on his instep before beating full back Dylan Ferguson and drilling a left foot shot low past Graeme Marshall in the Springhill goal. Saints had the ball in the net again two minutes later after Springhill had cleared a Ross Maitland corner from the right. The ball came back out to Ross who flighted a deep cross to the back post towards Donald Campbell. Donald headed the ball back across goal for Craig MacEwan to nod into the net only for Referee Mr Stobo to rule Donald offside which was another close call from the man in the middle. Saints were very much in the ascendancy at this point and good work on the right from Craig MacEwan and Ross Maitland set up Donald Campbell for a thumping 35th minute left foot shot from the edge of the box which crashed off Graeme Marshall's right hand post with the big keeper firmly rooted to the spot. Two minutes later Craig MacEwan carved out a good opportunity for himself cutting in from the left past fullback Marc Burns and sending a rasping right foot drive just wide of the keeper's near post. Craig immediately came close again heading over from Ross Maitland's right wing cross after a delightful Willie Gemmell pass had set the wee man off on a run up the wing. With five minutes of the first half remaining Saints slackness in the centre of the park was punished when Paul Hughes pounced on a loose ball and quickly fed James Cordiner who made a good run forward and tucked a neat finish inside Thomas McCulloch's right hand post to halve Saints advantage. Saints ended a largely disappointing first half with a good turn and cross from Craig MacEwan on the right wing which fizzed across the face of goal with, sadly, no takers in navy blue.

The second half opened with Donald Campbell winning a free-kick wide on the left level with the Springhill penalty spot. Willie Gemmell flighted a deep cross which Craig MacEwan rose well to head back across goal where Springhill skipper Lori McLean out jumped Dean Smith to head clear of the danger area. Smith and McLean renewed their earlier hostilities in the 49th minute with McLean chopping down the Saints striker twenty yards from goal and slightly left of centre. Willie Gemmell curled a shot around the three man Springhill wall forcing keeper Marshall into a good save diving full length to his left to parry the ball wide. Ross Maitland was first to react and picked out Dean Smith who slid in at the near post to beat the close attention of McLean but couldn't direct his effort on target. Saints had two penalty appeals in as many minutes firstly for handball when Donald Campbell attempted to cut into the box from the left wing, secondly when Scott Maitland appeared to be bundled over when chasing down a Donald Campbell pass deep inside the Springhill box. Referee Stobo remained unconvinced and dismissed both appeals. Scott was in action again shortly afterwards and delivered a good cross from the left which Ross Maitland controlled well but steered wide of the keeper's left hand post. In the 55th minute another cynical foul on Dean Smith by Lori McLean earned the Springhill skipper a yellow card when Dean had looked well placed to cut through the visitor's defence for an attempt on goal. Saints profligacy in front of goal continued with Donald Campbell firing high over the crossbar from the edge of the box and Craig MacEwan sending a free header also over the bar from a Ross Maitland corner won on the right by Paul Kerr. A further chance was spurned in the 67th minute when Ross Maitland was closed down in the box before he could get a shot away after a good run and cross from the left by Scott Maitland. The goal which finally made the tie safe for Saints came just one minute later when Ross Maitland rifled a thirty yard shot into the bottom corner the pace and accuracy of which beat keeper Marshall low down to his right. Saints twice almost allowed Springhill an unlikely route back into the match with sloppy passing gifting opportunities to Matthew Wemyss and Declan Muir. Wemyss sent a shot from the edge of the box wide of target while Thomas McCulloch had to be quick to narrow the angle when Muir charged into the box forcing the Springhill substitute to snatch an effort inches past McCulloch's left hand post. From this second let off Saints broke up field in the 77th minute where Craig MacEwan picked out Donald Campbell with an excellent through ball. Donald fired in a shot from just outside the box which the advancing keeper Marshall did well to parry but only into the patch of Ross Maitland who stroked the ball home to complete his hat-trick. With the tie now well and truly safe Manager Alex Craik gave all five substitutes a ten minute run-out with Marc Maccallum, Dougal Graham, Keith Millar, Martin Bonar and Shaun MacIver replacing Dene Cassells, Scott Maitland, Willie Gemmell, Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith respectively. Within a minute of coming on Shaun MacIver showed good strength to hold off a strong challenge from John Kilmurray and sent in a good shot which was well saved by keeper Marshall. With five minutes remaining Saints got their fifth from the penalty spot. Ross Maitland made a terrific run into the penalty box, amidst a flurry of challenges the ball broke loose to Donald Campbell who steered the ball into the unguarded net however before the ball had reached Donald Referee Stobo spotted an infringement and blew for a penalty kick. Clearly frustrated that his original effort had been ruled out, Donald smashed his spot kick emphatically off the underside of crossbar for his second of the game and fourteenth goal in six matches. Saints rounded off the scoring in the final minute when Martin Bonar stooped at the back post to head home a lofted Ross Maitland free kick from the right.

Saints will face either Shawlands FP or New Farm Loch in the fourth round at Glencruitten on Saturday 12th December.