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| The Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy |
Friday 27th May 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League
Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final
Oban Saints AFC 2 - 1 St Joseph's FP
Millburn Park
Leven Street
Alexandria
G83 0SR
Kick off 7pm
Referee Mr Michael Mccart
Assistant Referee Stuart Cormack
Assistant Referee Derek Milton
Saints Starting Line-up:-
Thomas McCulloch
David McArthur
Marc Maccallum (Captain)
Dene Cassells
Dougal Graham
Keith Millar
Paul Kerr
Paul Carmichael
Scott Maitland
Dean Smith
Craig MacEwan
Used Substitutes:-
Willie Gemmell
Ross Maitland
Allan Mackay
Unused Substitutes:-
Craig Campbell
Jamie Graham
Saints Goalscorers:-
Paul Carmichael
Dougal Graham
After finally laying to rest their Millburn Park hoodoo against Motherwell Thistle on Wednesday 11th May, Saints made a swift return to Alexandria and the home of Vale of Leven Juniors last Friday night to face cup holders St Joseph's FP in the final of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy. Saints and St Joe's held a dress rehearsal for this fixture in Oban seven days previously with the men from Duntocher running out convincing winners albeit only by a 2 - 1 scoreline. Saints were fully aware that they would have to raise their game considerably from that performance if they were to prevent St Joe's from becoming the first team since Thorn Athletic in 2010 to retain the handsome trophy. Manager Alex Craik's options were given a timely boost when Skipper Marc Maccallum declared himself fit enough to start his first match since the league draw away at Alba Thistle on 27th April. The Gaffer was also relieved to see Scott Maitland come through his tour of duty with the Scottish Amateur Football Association Select in Lithuania unscathed, fit and raring to go. Scott went straight into the starting eleven where Alex pulled off a tactical surprise by deploying him on the left of a midfield diamond anchored by Paul Kerr with Keith Millar on the right and Paul Carmichael at the point. Thomas McCulloch in goal and a back four of David McArthur, Marc Maccallum, Dene Cassells and Dougal Graham gave the defence a familiar look with Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith completing the starting eleven. The vastly experienced substitutes line-up of Craig Campbell, Willie Gemmell, Jamie Graham. Allan Mackay and Ross Maitland gave Alex some good options from the bench with only back-up goalkeeper Graham Douglas, injured pair Martin Bonar and Myles McAuley, and holiday maker Donald Campbell missing out.
St Joe's Captain Colin Gailey won the toss of Referee Mccart's coin but the still, dull evening gave him no advantage to harness and he elected to remain as they were and kick off attacking the cricket ground end. Saints started with a sense of urgency that had deserted them at times in recent weeks and were first to show with Paul Carmichael's powerful run from midfield to get on the end of a Craig MacEwan lay off from a Dene Cassells pass. Paul's run through the inside right channel had Colin Gailey scampering back to make a crucial tackle two yards from the bye-line just as Paul was about to cut into the box. With long throw specialist Willie Gemmell on the bench throw-in duties were more evenly shared but David McArthur proved that he is no slouch in that department twice in the early stages finding Saints heads for near post flick on's which unfortunately found no takers for the second ball. Paul Carmichael continued to pose problems coming forward and in the fifth minute linked up with Craig MacEwan for a shot from the edge of the box which unfortunately lacked the power to fully extend Lee Mitchell in the St Joe's goal who made a comfortable save down to his right. Carmichael and MacEwan linked up again sixty seconds later with Paul this time the provider for Craig to try his luck from eighteen yards however the end product was similar and Mitchell gathered easily. The good start from Saints continued and Mitchell was eventually properly tested in the eighth minute. David McArthur started the move on the right with a ball into the channel for Paul Carmichael to run on to. Paul worked a give and go with Dean Smith which took him into the box for a shot across the keeper which Mitchell saved well diving to his right to parry out wide. Scott Maitland supporting from the left was first to the loose ball and sent a shot back across Mitchell which this time beat the keeper but flew inches wide of the far post. The first threat from the cup holders came in the ninth minute from a good set piece delivery from Ryan Craig. From a free kick on the right the St Joe's dead ball specialist picked out a near post run from Michael McGowan however the striker was unable to guide his header on target instead sending it wide of Thomas McCulloch's left hand post. Saints squandered the first of several good opportunities in the fourteenth minute when Dean Smith, inside the six yard box, could get only the slightest of touches on a low Scott Maitland cross from the left once again leaving Lee Mitchell with an easy save. Saints were almost made to pay immediately for this missed chance with a lightning quick St Joe's counter attack which was eventually halted on the edge of his own box by an excellent sliding interception from Marc Maccallum at the expense of a corner kick. Ryan Craig sent in a good ball from the right but Thomas McCulloch took command of his six yard box punching the ball well clear before it could reach the head of Craig Cameron. Saints built well again on the right in the seventeenth minute with the McArthur and Carmichael combination setting up Dean Smith inside the D. Although Paul Carmichael's pass was slightly behind him Dean still elected to shoot but failed to generate enough power to trouble Lee Mitchell. Paul Kerr just behind Dean was better placed for an effort on goal but a striker's instinct is to shoot so Dean was justified in taking on the shot himself. If there was one complaint against an otherwise good all round opening twenty minutes from Saints it was their tendency to give away possession from their own throw-ins. St Joe's almost cashed in on their opponents generosity in the twenty first minute sending a deep cross into the box straight from a Saints throw-in midway inside their own half on the left. Dene Cassells headed the ball clear but only as far as Michael McGowan who sent in a first time shot from nineteen yards through a forest of legs. Thomas McCulloch saw the ball extremely late but still managed to get down to his right producing an excellent save to fingertip the ball round the post for a corner kick. The big keeper dusted himself down and plucked Ryan Craig's corner kick off the head of Martin McGowan. In their previous encounter Saints had struggled to cope with St Joe's wide men Blair Mulgrew and Martin McGowan however with the Saints midfield four working hard to cut off the supply David McArthur and Dougal Graham had a far more comfortable evening despite the extra width of Millburn Park. For a second time a swift counter attack from a set-piece almost caught out the Saints rearguard. David McArthur's deep free-kick from the right after Dean Smith had been brought down was easily collected by Lee Mitchell who quickly launched the ball upfield looking for Gary Redpath. Saints Skipper Marc Maccallum was alive to the danger tracking the run well to turn the ball out for a throw-in. However, Colin Gailey's long throw from the right was inexplicably allowed to bounce twice in the box before the unmarked Ryan Craig fortunately hooked a shot wide of Thomas McCulloch's left hand post giving Saints a big let-off. Thankfully there was no case of third time lucky when in the thirty seventh minute a Dougal Graham free-kick from fifteen yards inside the St Joe's half on the Saints left failed to make it into the box and was headed clear launching yet another counter-attack. This time it was Michael McGowan bearing down on goal but with Marc Maccallum and Dougal Graham in hot pursuit the St Joe's central striker sent his shot from twenty yards well over the crossbar. St Joe's Captain Colin Gailey picked up the first of what was to be many yellow cards for his side in the thirty ninth minute for a late heavy challenge on Paul Kerr. David McArthur's delivery from the right was better this time and picked out a well timed run from Craig MacEwan who flashed a header wide of Lee Mitchell's left hand post. Saints were eventually rewarded for their first half dominance with just one minute of the forty five remaining. Dean Smith won another free kick on the left which, despite a comment on the touchline that he "can't cross a road", Paul Kerr elected to take. Paul way well have been taking lessons from the Green Cross Code Man as his ball to the back post was good and found the head of Dene Cassells. Dene's header looped back across the face of the six yard box and was watched all the way by Dean Smith who took it down and fired in a right foot shot which Lee Mitchell saved magnificently. Unluckily for the St Joe's keeper his two handed push up into the air failed to clear the clear the crossbar and came down nicely for Paul Carmichael to nod into the net from virtually on the goal-line. From the re-start Keith Millar was penalised for a foul on Gary Redpath just inside the Saints half on the St Joe's left. Kieran Boyce launched a deep ball into the box which Dene Cassells headed clear for Scott Maitland to run onto. Scott's progress up the left wing was brought to a halt by a tackle from behind from Craig Cameron which earned the St Joe's full back the game's second yellow card. That was the final action of the first half and the players and match officials headed back to the pavilion for a well earned breather.
St Joe's were out very quickly for the start of the second half but were made to wait by Saints who in turn were made to wait by the officials who took advantage of their full allocation of time to polish off the tea and biscuits. Saints kicked off the second half looking to re-establish their domination. A long ball from Dene Cassells after he had dispossessed Michael McGowan sent Dean Smith off on a run through the inside right channel which Keiran Boyce brought to a sudden end with a scything tackle earning him the game's third yellow card. Paul Kerr sent in another perfectly weighted delivery for Craig MacEwan whose good run was unfortunately not matched by his header which flew wide of the keeper's left hand post. In the forty eighth minute Dean Smith and Paul Carmichael linked up well on the right to create another scoring opportunity for MacEwan. Dean got the better of Scott Dornan by the corner flag and chipped a cross to Paul on the corner of the six yard box. Paul's flick-on fell agonisingly just too far out of reach for Craig who could only manage the slightest of touches to direct the ball into the grateful arms of Lee Mitchell. The realisation that the Jimmy Marshall Trophy was heading towards joining the Centenary Cup and Premier Division title in slipping through their hands led St Joe's into making some uncharacteristically bad challenges with Kearn Docherty joining the growing list of miscreants in the Referee's notebook for another heavy tackle on Scott Maitland who was taking more than his fair share of punishment. Scott recovered sufficiently to take the free-kick himself and found the head of Paul Carmichael who, under pressure from Kieran Boyce, couldn't get quite high enough to direct his header on target. The almost inevitable red card for St Joe's arrived in the fifty third minute when the two Captains came together on the half way line with Colin Gailey clattering into Marc Maccallum. Mr Mccart awarded a free-kick to Saints and a second yellow to the St Joe's Skipper who could well have expected to receive a straight red. After some treatment from Davie Buchanan the miracle of modern medicine that is the Saints medical bag appeared to work it's magic on Marc however as time wore on it became more apparent that all was not well with Marc's right foot and only adrenaline and his indomitable spirit were keeping the Saints Skipper going. From the free-kick Saints missed a tremendous opportunity to immediately hammer home their advantage. Paul Carmichael got up well to knock down a David McArthur free-kick to Dean Smith on the corner of the six yard box who took aim for the near post but only succeeded in finding the side netting. St Joe's full back Craig Cameron was treading a fine disciplinary line and was lucky to escape a second yellow for a late sixty first minute challenge on Scott Maitland on the half-way line which Mr Mccart deemed worthy only of a free-kick. The Saints medical bag was back in action in the sixty fourth minute when an accidental face knock left Paul Kerr with a bleeding mouth which required treatment on the sidelines. Craig Cameron's disciplinary high wire act eventually came to grief in the sixty seventh minute when he injudiciously hauled back Paul Carmichael ten yards inside the St Joe's half picking up a second yellow card in the process. From the resulting free-kick Scott Maitland sent another good delivery into the box with Craig MacEwan once again finding the right run but the wrong finish flashing his header over the crossbar. Although down to nine men St Joe's were certainly in no mood to give up their push for an equaliser but their lack of numbers at the back and in midfield presented Saints with several more opportunities to stretch their advantage. Good pressing from Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith forced a corner on the left closing down Kieran Boyce as he attempted to carry the ball out from the back. Scott Maitland's corner was allowed to bounce in the box with Paul Carmichael, Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith all passing up chances to get a shot on target in the ensuing melee. Saints second and killer goal came in the seventy second minute in a moment of inspiration from Dougal Graham. Not for the first time Dougal found himself higher up the park and far more central than his Manager would have liked. With the St Joe's defence backpedaling Dougal spotted Lee Mitchell off his line and without breaking stride sensationally lobbed the ball from forty yards over the keeper's head and into the empty net. Cue scenes of wild celebration not only on the pitch but also in the Saints technical area and among the Saints fans in the crowd. Manager Alex Craik decided to freshen things up taking off Dean Smith and Paul Carmichael replacing them with Allan Mackay and Ross Maitland. While Saints were still adjusting to the changes cheaply conceded possession in the middle of the park allowed St Joe's to break forward and give their defence some respite. Only a last gasp sliding challenge from Scott Maitland prevented Gary Redpath from finding substitute Martin McComish in the centre. Thomas McCulloch got a good solid punch to clear the corner but St Joe's regained possession with Ryan Craig firing in a terrific shot which had Thomas McCulloch at full stretch to tip over the crossbar. Saints again cleared the danger from the corner kick from the right but that man Craig got onto the loose ball once more this time slipping a pass to Gary Redpath who turned well in the box but fortunately for Saints sent his low shot wide of Thomas McCulloch's right hand post. With ten minutes remaining Manager Alex Craik made his third and final change taking off Keith Millar replacing him with Willie Gemmell. St Joe's policy of gambling at the back and looking for the quick counter attack finally paid off with eight minutes remaining. A free kick conceded by Paul Kerr thirty yards from goal and left of centre presented Ryan Craig with a chance to test Thomas McCulloch. Thomas had already produced two excellent saves to keep St Joe's at bay but this time, despite getting two strong hands to the ball low down at his right hand post, he only succeeded in pushing the ball into his own net. A slender one goal advantage against nine men brought back nightmares for Saints of the sloppily conceded equaliser away to Goldenhill in November. Similarly St Joe's were dreaming of emulating the last minute heroics which forced a penalty shoot-out in the Centenary Cup Final against Ferguslie Star. As it was it was Saints who held their nerve through the closing stages even affording themselves the luxury of the usually reliable Allan Mackay missing a gilt edged chance. Gary Redpath brought down Ross Maitland who was threatening to break clear on the left. Ross sent in a magnificent delivery which Allan Mackay three yards out somehow failed to connect with. Worryingly for Saints the game remained stretched but all over the park the players stuck manfully to the task in hand which only heightened the frustration among the St Joe's players. Keeper Lee Mitchell saw yellow for talking back to Referee Mccart while Gary Redpath joined him in the book for a kick at Ross Maitland. A miserable night for St Joe's was completed in the ninetieth minute when Ryan Craig took exception to Craig MacEwan and Ross Maitland playing keep-ball by the corner flag and launched an over exuberant tackle on Craig which earned his second and his team's tenth yellow card of the evening. Referee Mccart brought the match to an end after three minutes of added time signalling Saints second Jimmy Marshall Trophy win in three years.
There were solid all round performances from all in navy blue but an eye catching display at left back coupled with his second half wonder strike earned Dougal Graham the Man of the Match award which was presented by retiring Scottish Amateur Football League President Frank McCann. The President was fulsome in his praise of both teams, not just for producing such an entertaining final, but also for being the top teams in the league during his term of office. To warm applause from the crowd Mr McCann presented medals to the match officials, runners-up and finally to the victors before calling on Saints Skipper Marc Maccallum to accept the trophy.
The Saints celebrations continued well into the wee hours and rightly so for despite the Jimmy Marshall Trophy not being the big prize they were dreaming of just fifty seven days earlier it would have been a travesty for the players and management to have ended such a good season without some silverware. Everybody at the Club is grateful for the good luck and congratulatory messages received and for the large number of supporters who travelled to Alexandria to cheer on the team.
Commiserations to St Joseph's who for long periods of the season looked set to complete a "domestic" treble but ultimately fell short on all three fronts. They are an excellent footballing side and their three red cards on the night were extremely out of character and born purely out of a deep sense of frustration at the prospect of another prize slipping through their fingers.
Despite it now being just five weeks to the D&K Lafferty Pre-Season Tournament Saints still have two league fixtures to fulfill starting at home to Shawlands FP on Saturday 4th June followed on Sunday 5th with a trip to face Campbeltown Pupils.
St Joe's Captain Colin Gailey won the toss of Referee Mccart's coin but the still, dull evening gave him no advantage to harness and he elected to remain as they were and kick off attacking the cricket ground end. Saints started with a sense of urgency that had deserted them at times in recent weeks and were first to show with Paul Carmichael's powerful run from midfield to get on the end of a Craig MacEwan lay off from a Dene Cassells pass. Paul's run through the inside right channel had Colin Gailey scampering back to make a crucial tackle two yards from the bye-line just as Paul was about to cut into the box. With long throw specialist Willie Gemmell on the bench throw-in duties were more evenly shared but David McArthur proved that he is no slouch in that department twice in the early stages finding Saints heads for near post flick on's which unfortunately found no takers for the second ball. Paul Carmichael continued to pose problems coming forward and in the fifth minute linked up with Craig MacEwan for a shot from the edge of the box which unfortunately lacked the power to fully extend Lee Mitchell in the St Joe's goal who made a comfortable save down to his right. Carmichael and MacEwan linked up again sixty seconds later with Paul this time the provider for Craig to try his luck from eighteen yards however the end product was similar and Mitchell gathered easily. The good start from Saints continued and Mitchell was eventually properly tested in the eighth minute. David McArthur started the move on the right with a ball into the channel for Paul Carmichael to run on to. Paul worked a give and go with Dean Smith which took him into the box for a shot across the keeper which Mitchell saved well diving to his right to parry out wide. Scott Maitland supporting from the left was first to the loose ball and sent a shot back across Mitchell which this time beat the keeper but flew inches wide of the far post. The first threat from the cup holders came in the ninth minute from a good set piece delivery from Ryan Craig. From a free kick on the right the St Joe's dead ball specialist picked out a near post run from Michael McGowan however the striker was unable to guide his header on target instead sending it wide of Thomas McCulloch's left hand post. Saints squandered the first of several good opportunities in the fourteenth minute when Dean Smith, inside the six yard box, could get only the slightest of touches on a low Scott Maitland cross from the left once again leaving Lee Mitchell with an easy save. Saints were almost made to pay immediately for this missed chance with a lightning quick St Joe's counter attack which was eventually halted on the edge of his own box by an excellent sliding interception from Marc Maccallum at the expense of a corner kick. Ryan Craig sent in a good ball from the right but Thomas McCulloch took command of his six yard box punching the ball well clear before it could reach the head of Craig Cameron. Saints built well again on the right in the seventeenth minute with the McArthur and Carmichael combination setting up Dean Smith inside the D. Although Paul Carmichael's pass was slightly behind him Dean still elected to shoot but failed to generate enough power to trouble Lee Mitchell. Paul Kerr just behind Dean was better placed for an effort on goal but a striker's instinct is to shoot so Dean was justified in taking on the shot himself. If there was one complaint against an otherwise good all round opening twenty minutes from Saints it was their tendency to give away possession from their own throw-ins. St Joe's almost cashed in on their opponents generosity in the twenty first minute sending a deep cross into the box straight from a Saints throw-in midway inside their own half on the left. Dene Cassells headed the ball clear but only as far as Michael McGowan who sent in a first time shot from nineteen yards through a forest of legs. Thomas McCulloch saw the ball extremely late but still managed to get down to his right producing an excellent save to fingertip the ball round the post for a corner kick. The big keeper dusted himself down and plucked Ryan Craig's corner kick off the head of Martin McGowan. In their previous encounter Saints had struggled to cope with St Joe's wide men Blair Mulgrew and Martin McGowan however with the Saints midfield four working hard to cut off the supply David McArthur and Dougal Graham had a far more comfortable evening despite the extra width of Millburn Park. For a second time a swift counter attack from a set-piece almost caught out the Saints rearguard. David McArthur's deep free-kick from the right after Dean Smith had been brought down was easily collected by Lee Mitchell who quickly launched the ball upfield looking for Gary Redpath. Saints Skipper Marc Maccallum was alive to the danger tracking the run well to turn the ball out for a throw-in. However, Colin Gailey's long throw from the right was inexplicably allowed to bounce twice in the box before the unmarked Ryan Craig fortunately hooked a shot wide of Thomas McCulloch's left hand post giving Saints a big let-off. Thankfully there was no case of third time lucky when in the thirty seventh minute a Dougal Graham free-kick from fifteen yards inside the St Joe's half on the Saints left failed to make it into the box and was headed clear launching yet another counter-attack. This time it was Michael McGowan bearing down on goal but with Marc Maccallum and Dougal Graham in hot pursuit the St Joe's central striker sent his shot from twenty yards well over the crossbar. St Joe's Captain Colin Gailey picked up the first of what was to be many yellow cards for his side in the thirty ninth minute for a late heavy challenge on Paul Kerr. David McArthur's delivery from the right was better this time and picked out a well timed run from Craig MacEwan who flashed a header wide of Lee Mitchell's left hand post. Saints were eventually rewarded for their first half dominance with just one minute of the forty five remaining. Dean Smith won another free kick on the left which, despite a comment on the touchline that he "can't cross a road", Paul Kerr elected to take. Paul way well have been taking lessons from the Green Cross Code Man as his ball to the back post was good and found the head of Dene Cassells. Dene's header looped back across the face of the six yard box and was watched all the way by Dean Smith who took it down and fired in a right foot shot which Lee Mitchell saved magnificently. Unluckily for the St Joe's keeper his two handed push up into the air failed to clear the clear the crossbar and came down nicely for Paul Carmichael to nod into the net from virtually on the goal-line. From the re-start Keith Millar was penalised for a foul on Gary Redpath just inside the Saints half on the St Joe's left. Kieran Boyce launched a deep ball into the box which Dene Cassells headed clear for Scott Maitland to run onto. Scott's progress up the left wing was brought to a halt by a tackle from behind from Craig Cameron which earned the St Joe's full back the game's second yellow card. That was the final action of the first half and the players and match officials headed back to the pavilion for a well earned breather.
St Joe's were out very quickly for the start of the second half but were made to wait by Saints who in turn were made to wait by the officials who took advantage of their full allocation of time to polish off the tea and biscuits. Saints kicked off the second half looking to re-establish their domination. A long ball from Dene Cassells after he had dispossessed Michael McGowan sent Dean Smith off on a run through the inside right channel which Keiran Boyce brought to a sudden end with a scything tackle earning him the game's third yellow card. Paul Kerr sent in another perfectly weighted delivery for Craig MacEwan whose good run was unfortunately not matched by his header which flew wide of the keeper's left hand post. In the forty eighth minute Dean Smith and Paul Carmichael linked up well on the right to create another scoring opportunity for MacEwan. Dean got the better of Scott Dornan by the corner flag and chipped a cross to Paul on the corner of the six yard box. Paul's flick-on fell agonisingly just too far out of reach for Craig who could only manage the slightest of touches to direct the ball into the grateful arms of Lee Mitchell. The realisation that the Jimmy Marshall Trophy was heading towards joining the Centenary Cup and Premier Division title in slipping through their hands led St Joe's into making some uncharacteristically bad challenges with Kearn Docherty joining the growing list of miscreants in the Referee's notebook for another heavy tackle on Scott Maitland who was taking more than his fair share of punishment. Scott recovered sufficiently to take the free-kick himself and found the head of Paul Carmichael who, under pressure from Kieran Boyce, couldn't get quite high enough to direct his header on target. The almost inevitable red card for St Joe's arrived in the fifty third minute when the two Captains came together on the half way line with Colin Gailey clattering into Marc Maccallum. Mr Mccart awarded a free-kick to Saints and a second yellow to the St Joe's Skipper who could well have expected to receive a straight red. After some treatment from Davie Buchanan the miracle of modern medicine that is the Saints medical bag appeared to work it's magic on Marc however as time wore on it became more apparent that all was not well with Marc's right foot and only adrenaline and his indomitable spirit were keeping the Saints Skipper going. From the free-kick Saints missed a tremendous opportunity to immediately hammer home their advantage. Paul Carmichael got up well to knock down a David McArthur free-kick to Dean Smith on the corner of the six yard box who took aim for the near post but only succeeded in finding the side netting. St Joe's full back Craig Cameron was treading a fine disciplinary line and was lucky to escape a second yellow for a late sixty first minute challenge on Scott Maitland on the half-way line which Mr Mccart deemed worthy only of a free-kick. The Saints medical bag was back in action in the sixty fourth minute when an accidental face knock left Paul Kerr with a bleeding mouth which required treatment on the sidelines. Craig Cameron's disciplinary high wire act eventually came to grief in the sixty seventh minute when he injudiciously hauled back Paul Carmichael ten yards inside the St Joe's half picking up a second yellow card in the process. From the resulting free-kick Scott Maitland sent another good delivery into the box with Craig MacEwan once again finding the right run but the wrong finish flashing his header over the crossbar. Although down to nine men St Joe's were certainly in no mood to give up their push for an equaliser but their lack of numbers at the back and in midfield presented Saints with several more opportunities to stretch their advantage. Good pressing from Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith forced a corner on the left closing down Kieran Boyce as he attempted to carry the ball out from the back. Scott Maitland's corner was allowed to bounce in the box with Paul Carmichael, Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith all passing up chances to get a shot on target in the ensuing melee. Saints second and killer goal came in the seventy second minute in a moment of inspiration from Dougal Graham. Not for the first time Dougal found himself higher up the park and far more central than his Manager would have liked. With the St Joe's defence backpedaling Dougal spotted Lee Mitchell off his line and without breaking stride sensationally lobbed the ball from forty yards over the keeper's head and into the empty net. Cue scenes of wild celebration not only on the pitch but also in the Saints technical area and among the Saints fans in the crowd. Manager Alex Craik decided to freshen things up taking off Dean Smith and Paul Carmichael replacing them with Allan Mackay and Ross Maitland. While Saints were still adjusting to the changes cheaply conceded possession in the middle of the park allowed St Joe's to break forward and give their defence some respite. Only a last gasp sliding challenge from Scott Maitland prevented Gary Redpath from finding substitute Martin McComish in the centre. Thomas McCulloch got a good solid punch to clear the corner but St Joe's regained possession with Ryan Craig firing in a terrific shot which had Thomas McCulloch at full stretch to tip over the crossbar. Saints again cleared the danger from the corner kick from the right but that man Craig got onto the loose ball once more this time slipping a pass to Gary Redpath who turned well in the box but fortunately for Saints sent his low shot wide of Thomas McCulloch's right hand post. With ten minutes remaining Manager Alex Craik made his third and final change taking off Keith Millar replacing him with Willie Gemmell. St Joe's policy of gambling at the back and looking for the quick counter attack finally paid off with eight minutes remaining. A free kick conceded by Paul Kerr thirty yards from goal and left of centre presented Ryan Craig with a chance to test Thomas McCulloch. Thomas had already produced two excellent saves to keep St Joe's at bay but this time, despite getting two strong hands to the ball low down at his right hand post, he only succeeded in pushing the ball into his own net. A slender one goal advantage against nine men brought back nightmares for Saints of the sloppily conceded equaliser away to Goldenhill in November. Similarly St Joe's were dreaming of emulating the last minute heroics which forced a penalty shoot-out in the Centenary Cup Final against Ferguslie Star. As it was it was Saints who held their nerve through the closing stages even affording themselves the luxury of the usually reliable Allan Mackay missing a gilt edged chance. Gary Redpath brought down Ross Maitland who was threatening to break clear on the left. Ross sent in a magnificent delivery which Allan Mackay three yards out somehow failed to connect with. Worryingly for Saints the game remained stretched but all over the park the players stuck manfully to the task in hand which only heightened the frustration among the St Joe's players. Keeper Lee Mitchell saw yellow for talking back to Referee Mccart while Gary Redpath joined him in the book for a kick at Ross Maitland. A miserable night for St Joe's was completed in the ninetieth minute when Ryan Craig took exception to Craig MacEwan and Ross Maitland playing keep-ball by the corner flag and launched an over exuberant tackle on Craig which earned his second and his team's tenth yellow card of the evening. Referee Mccart brought the match to an end after three minutes of added time signalling Saints second Jimmy Marshall Trophy win in three years.
There were solid all round performances from all in navy blue but an eye catching display at left back coupled with his second half wonder strike earned Dougal Graham the Man of the Match award which was presented by retiring Scottish Amateur Football League President Frank McCann. The President was fulsome in his praise of both teams, not just for producing such an entertaining final, but also for being the top teams in the league during his term of office. To warm applause from the crowd Mr McCann presented medals to the match officials, runners-up and finally to the victors before calling on Saints Skipper Marc Maccallum to accept the trophy.
The Saints celebrations continued well into the wee hours and rightly so for despite the Jimmy Marshall Trophy not being the big prize they were dreaming of just fifty seven days earlier it would have been a travesty for the players and management to have ended such a good season without some silverware. Everybody at the Club is grateful for the good luck and congratulatory messages received and for the large number of supporters who travelled to Alexandria to cheer on the team.
Commiserations to St Joseph's who for long periods of the season looked set to complete a "domestic" treble but ultimately fell short on all three fronts. They are an excellent footballing side and their three red cards on the night were extremely out of character and born purely out of a deep sense of frustration at the prospect of another prize slipping through their fingers.
Despite it now being just five weeks to the D&K Lafferty Pre-Season Tournament Saints still have two league fixtures to fulfill starting at home to Shawlands FP on Saturday 4th June followed on Sunday 5th with a trip to face Campbeltown Pupils.
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| The teams line up for the pre-match presentations |
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| Colin Gailey gets in a good tackle on Paul Carmichael |
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| David McArthur |
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| Thomas McCulloch saves from Michael McGowan |
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| Thomas McCulloch makes a clean catch from a corner kick |
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| Dean Smith keeps his eyes on the ball in the build up to Saints opening goal |
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| Paul Carmichael heads Saints into the lead |
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| Paul Carmichael is congratulated by his team mates following his opening goal |
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| Scott Maitland takes on Gary Redpath |
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| Craig MacEwan takes on Kearn Docherty |
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| Dean Smith and Gary Redpath |
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| Thomas McCulloch tips over from Ryan Craig |
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| Paul Kerr leaves the field for treatment to his mouth injury |
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| St Joe's keeper Lee Mitchell who generously gave his runners-up medal to Keith Millar's son Reece |
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| Man of the Match Dougal Graham |
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| Marc Maccallum receives the trophy from SAFL President Frank McCann |
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| Oban Saints AFC Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners 2015 - 16. Reece Millar (second from right, front row) still can't take his eyes off his medal. |
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