Winning In The Rain: Special K

Saturday 27th February 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League
Jimmy Marshall Trophy second round
East Kilbride FC Ams 1 - 2 Oban Saints

Saints starting line-up:-

Thomas McCulloch

David McArthur
Marc Maccallum (Captain)
Jamie Graham
Scott Maitland

Willie Gemmell
Paul Kerr
Donald Campbell

Ross Maitland
Allan Mackay
Craig MacEwan

Substitutes used:-

Dene Cassells
Dougal Graham
Myles McAuley
Keith Millar
Dean Smith

Match Report

Last Saturday Saints launched their Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy campaign with a narrow 2 - 1 victory over last season's beaten finalists East Kilbride FC Amateurs at the excellent K-park facilities which the amateurs share with Lowland League high flyers East Kilbride. Manager Alex Craik was able to include fit again Myles McAuley in his squad for the first time since the Mod Cup success over Glasgow Island last October and named him on a strong bench which also included Dene Cassells, Dougal Graham, Keith Millar and Dean Smith. Ross Maitland and Allan Mackay were restored to the starting line-up after starting the West of Scotland Cup defeat against Colville Park on the bench with Scott Maitland slotting in at left back in an otherwise unchanged starting eleven.

Saints started brightly on a bright crisp day perfect for football and had their first sight of goal inside the first minute. Ross Maitland got to the bye line on the Saints right and cut a cross back for Allan who hooked an acrobatic overhead kick inches wide of Kilby keeper Graeme McMillan's left hand post. Saints followed this up with several half chances which failed to trouble McMillan in the Kilby goal. The pick of the bunch being a second overhead kick of the day this time from skipper Marc Mccallum after a deep Ross Maitland corner kick; and a deft chip over the cross bar from Craig MacEwan after another Ross Maitland cut back from the right. In between times the Saints back four of David McArthur, Marc Maccallum, Jamie Graham and Scott Maitland kept Kilby centre forward and top scorer Jonny Diack in check restricting the home side to shots from distance which failed to find the target. As the half wore on Kilby became more of a threat with Saints losing their shape and their usual crisp passing. A quick throw-in on the left touchline gave Kilby skipper Gavin Thomson the chance to come forward from left back and stride into the Saints box where Jamie Graham had to be quick to take the ball off the toe of Jonny Diack after his skipper had tried to pick him out on the penalty spot. Thomson was involved again in the twenty seventh minute when his counterpart in the Saints ranks brought him down twenty five yards from goal. The Kilby skipper took the free kick himself but his effort lacked power and Saints keeper Thomas McCulloch made a comfortable save low down to his right. McCulloch was in action again three minutes later when Diack got in behind the Saints defence to collect a long pass from Jamie Innes. Under pressure from Scott Maitland and Jamie Graham, the Kilby man failed to make a solid connection with his shot and McCulloch made another comfortable save. The break through for the home side came shortly afterwards courtesy of a softly conceded penalty kick. Craig MacEwan found himself in unfamiliar territory on the edge of his own penalty area and, in a tangle, brought down Jamie Innes just inside the box. Referee Michael Mccart had no hesitation in pointing to the spot giving David Atha the chance to test Thomas McCulloch from twelve yards. The Kilby forward slotted the ball low into the left hand corner of McCulloch's goal sending the Saints keeper in the wrong direction in the process. The shaky period continued for the visitors with Paul Kerr having to clear off his own goal line when Craig Thomson turned a deep corner kick back across the face of the Saints goal; and Marc Maccallum making a perfectly timed last ditch challenge to dispossess Diack when the Kilby striker looked set to punish a mix-up between Jamie Graham and David McArthur. The latter incident initially appeared to come at a heavy cost as the Saints skipper limped about for several minutes before he eventually shook off a heavy knock to his left knee. Saints ended the first half on a far more positive note and came within millimetres of restoring parity just before the interval. Craig MacEwan slipped a defence splitting pass through the inside left channel for Donald Campbell who curled a terrific right foot shot towards the far corner only for Graeme MacMillan to pull off a remarkable save throwing himself full length to his left to fingertip the ball around the post for a corner kick. Ross Maitland's delivery from the corner flag was inches too high for Willie Gemmell's well timed run to the front post and the Kilby defence cleared for a throw in before Referee Mccart blew for half time.

Manager Alex Craik decided on a half time substitution bringing on Myles McAuley to replace Ross Maitland. The change reinvigorated Saints and straight from the re-start they were on the attack with David McArthur charging up the right wing and sending in a low cross looking for Craig MacEwan which was intercepted by Craig Thomson with the Saints striker ready to pounce. Just one minute later good interplay on the edge of the Kilby box by Craig MacEwan and Allan Mackay set up Donald Campbell for a shot on goal. The pass sent Donald slightly wide and his low shot beat McMillan in the Kilby goal but slipped agonisingly wide of the keeper's right hand post. Saints kept up the pressure with Scott Maitland making a powerful run up the left wing beating two men before cutting inside and narrowly failing to set up Paul Kerr for a shot from the edge of the box when perhaps taking on the shot himself would have been the better option. The pressure told for Saints in the forty ninth minute with Craig MacEwan and Allan Mackay again combining to set up Donald Campbell. This time Donald made no mistake tucking a left foot shot from fourteen yards through the legs of the advancing keeper to draw Saints level. The visitors certainly had their tails up now and were pressing for a second goal. Donald Campbell was hauled to the ground by Michael Peacock midway inside the Kilby half and slightly to the left of centre. Donald took the resulting free kick himself and played the ball who Craig MacEwan drove into the box from the left and squared across the face of goal looking for Myles McAuley at the back post only for Graeme McMillan to smother the ball before it could reach the Saints substitute. In the fifty eighth minute Willie Gemmell showed the quality of his passing with an excellent ball in behind the Kilby defence for Craig MacEwan to run on to. Craig got beyond Craig Thomson but sent his right foot shot wide of the keeper's left hand post. Manager Alex Craik was clearly intent on giving everybody a run out ahead of this Saturday's Scottish Amateur Cup seventh round match against Caledonian League Premier Division leaders Doune Castle and, on the hour mark, withdraw Jamie Graham and Allan Mackay replacing them with Dene Cassells and Dean Smith. Smith was immediately involved in the action getting on the end of a terrific ball from Craig MacEwan on the left before cutting onto his right foot and curling a shot towards the far post which Graeme McMillan did well to parry away. The Kilby defence couldn't clear the danger and David McArthur squared for Dean to have another go which this time he sent wide of the keeper's left hand post with a frustrated Donald Campbell unmarked in front of goal and screaming for a pass. Donald didn't have to wait too much longer for a shooting opportunity and it came from the penalty spot after a he had been tripped in the box by an injudicious challenge from Kilby defender Stuart Cox. The Kilby man protested his innocence but the Referee was in no doubt that contact had been made and pointed to the spot. Donnie dusted himself down and stroked the ball into the right hand corner of the net sending the keeper in the opposite direction to give Saints a deserved 2 - 1 lead. With twenty minutes remaining Saints made a fourth change with Dougal Graham coming on to replace Willie Gemmell. Dougal took up his accustomed left back position with Scott Maitland taking up the midfield berth vacated by Willie. In his more advanced role Scott forced a corner on the left from which Donald Campbell tried to catch out the Kilby defence by going straight for goal at the near post. The combined efforts of Jamie MacReady, Graeme McMillan and the near post kept the ball out and the loose ball fell once again to Donald who picked out Craig McMillan just inside the box for a curling shot which fell kindly into the midriff of keeper McMillan. Going into the final fifteen minutes the home side pressed higher up the pitch keeping Saints pinned back in their own half but skipper Maccallum marshaled his revamped back four now including Dene Cassells and Dougal Graham well to keep the Kilby attack at bay. With ten minutes remaining Saints made their final change when Keith Millar came on to replace Paul Kerr who had put in another steady shift in midfield. Saints were now looking to exploit the space in behind Kilby's high line and did so when Dougal Graham broke up the left wing and into the box shooting straight at the keeper who could only parry the shot but, unfortunately for Saints, got just enough on it to send it beyond Craig MacEwan allowing Stuart Cox to clear the danger. Marc Maccallum then reprised his obligatory once a match run upfield where, after two step overs and a fifty yard territorial gain, he was dispossessed by Craig Thomson just before he could slip in the unmarked Craig MacEwan. With Saints unable to find the killer third goal and dropping deeper into defence thoughts on the touchline turned to the last gasp equaliser conceded in similar circumstances at Goldenhill earlier in the season. Keith Millar found his way into the Referee's notebook in the eighty fifth minute for a mistimed challenge on Kilby substitute David Jamieson gifting the home side a free kick in a dangerous position. Skipper Gavin Thomson lofted in a tempting left foot cross but Thomas McCulloch safely plucked the ball from the air to calm the nerves on the bench. Dene Cassells then joined Keith Millar in the book in unfortunate circumstances when he made a lung bursting run out of defence to get on the end of a well weighted Donald Campbell through ball just inside the Kilby half. Referee Mccart, who handled his first match involving Premier Division sides well, gave the the benefit of a very tight offside decision to the home side however Dene continued his run and lofted his shot onto the crossbar earning himself a yellow card in the process. Saints had one final stoppage time opportunity to put the result beyond doubt when Donald Campbell sent Dougal Graham and Myles McAuley through on the left wing. With the two second half substitutes almost getting in each other's way Myles won the race to the ball but passed up the chance to shoot as did the supporting cast of Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith. Kilby then threatened to launch a counter attack but Marc Maccallum was quickly out of the blocks to race forward and snuff out the danger. After three minutes of stoppage time Referee Mccart decided he had seen enough and blew for full time sending Saints through to the third round where they will face an away trip to FC Clydebank of Premier Division Two.