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The Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

Wednesday 11th May 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League
Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Semi Final Tie
Motherwell Thistle AFC 0 - 3 Oban Saints AFC
Millburn Park
Leven Street
Alexandria
G83 0SR
Kick off 7pm
Referee Mr Jim Rose
Assistant Referee Gordon Hay
Assistant Referee Jozef Nemec

Saints Starting line-up:-

Thomas McCulloch

David McArthur
Craig Campbell
Dene Cassells
Scott Maitland

Myles McAuley
Paul Kerr
Willie Gemmell

Ross Maitland
Dean Smith
Craig MacEwan

Used Substitutes:-

Donald Campbell
Jamie Graham
Allan Mackay
Keith Millar

Unused Substitute:-

Alex Craik

Saints Goalscorers:-

Ross Maitland ⚽
Willie Gemmell ⚽

Dene Cassells ⚽

Saints made their fourth consecutive Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final appearance last Wednesday night at bogey ground Millburn Park, Alexandria. Saints had never before won a match at the home of Vale of Leven Juniors but, despite an inauspicious start to the evening, finally managed to break that long standing hoodoo against Premier Division One promotion chasers Motherwell Thistle. A road traffic accident at the Halfway House resulting in the closure of the A85 almost put paid to Saints hopes of reaching Alexandria in time to play the match. However a perilous diversion along the verges of the almost totally gridlocked Connel back road eventually got the Saints minibus back on track albeit slightly later than planned with only a fifteen minute delay to kick off required.

Manager Alex Craik's enforced squad rotation continued with injury and work commitments forcing Paul Carmichael and Dougal Graham to drop out of the squad that had beaten East Kilbride Rolls Royce in the previous Saturday's league match. Craig MacEwan, Donald Campbell and Keith Millar returned with Craig going straight into the starting line-up while Donald and Keith joined the Gaffer, Jamie Graham and Allan Mackay on the substitiutes bench. The continuing absence through injury of skipper Marc Maccallum meant that Paul Kerr once again pulled on the Captain's armband in his accustomed midfield anchor role. Joining Paul in midfield were Myles McAuley and Willie Gemmell how would hope to provide the ammunition for the front three of Ross Maitland, Dean Smith and Craig MacEwan. At the back Saints has David McArthur, Craig Campbell, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland in front of goalkeeper Thomas McCulloch.

Saints kicked off with the low sun behind them and were quick to try to exploit the wide open spaces of the large playing surface. With barley ninety seconds on the clock Myles McAuley played a delightful through ball for Dean Smith who timed his run well to get in behind Thistle skipper Stuart Hunter but sent his right foot shot past keeper Paul Aiton's left hand post. Having skimmed the top of the crossbar with a long range shot last Saturday Skipper for the day Paul Kerr decided to try his luck again from twenty five yards this time sending his effort from a Dean Smith lay off a foot over the bar. The front three of Ross Maitland, Dean Smith and Craig MacEwan were looking lively and combined to devastating effect in the fourth minute opening up the Thistle defence for Ross Maitland to curl a shot from sixteen yards into the bottom corner past Paul Aiton's despairing left hand. The long park provided an inviting space in front of the Thistle back four for Willie Gemmell to test the keeper from distance and in the tenth minute he has a goal bound effort deflected wide for a corner kick. Two minutes later he did manage to hit the target after a good move on the left involving Ross and Scott Maitland. Scott dispossessed Daniel Young on the Saints left and found Ross on the edge of the Thistle box. Ross laid the ball off to Willie Gemmell who had taken up a good position but failed to generate enough power on his shot to fully extend Paul Aiton. Misplaced passes and cheaply conceded possession on the bumpy surface dissipated Saints early domination allowing Thistle to come more into the match. Influential midfielder Steven Dunn hit a powerful shot from thirty yards which sailed over Thomas McCulloch's crossbar. Unfortunately Dunn appeared to injure his right thigh in the process and, despite continuing for a brief spell after treatment, eventually had to leave the field in the twenty first minute making way for Rhys Haggarty. A simple ball over the top from Thistle play maker William McMaster caught out the Saints defence in the twenty third minute. McMaster's lofted ball in the inside left channel was anticipated by Ombeni Ruhanduka who ran in behind David McArthur and Craig Campbell and drew a good save from Thomas McCulloch at his near post. Saints mirrored this move at the other end with Willie Gemmell the provider for Craig MacEwan who was crowded out by David Knight and Stuart Hunter before he could get his shot away. Gemmell had another shooting opportunity in the twenty sixth minute again after good work on the left by Scott Maitland. This time it was Craig MacEwan providing the lay-off for Willie who sent a fizzing low drive inches wide of Paul Aiton's left hand post. A good spell of Saints pressure just before the half hour almost lead to Ross Maitland doubling his tally. Ross made a good run up the right wing and sent a tempting cross along the six yard line just out of the reach of Craig MacEwan. Craig did well to retain possession taking the ball to the bye-line before cutting back to Dean Smith who opted out of a left foot shot which totally wrong footed Willie Gemmell who was also well placed for a shot on target. Paul Kerr picked up the loose ball and picked out Craig MacEwan still lurking on the left of the Thistle box. A Cruyff turn from Craig took out two defenders and opened up space for a pass across the face of goal to Ross Maitland who looked certain to score. Unfortunately for Ross the ball took a wicked bounce and Paul Aiton was able to scramble across his goal-line and smother the ball at the wee man's feet. Saints had a thirty second minute penalty appeal turned down by Referee Jim Rose from a long Willie Gemmell throw for the left. Gemmell aimed for the head of Craig Campbell but the ball appeared to come off the hand of Stuart Hunter. However Mr Rose ruled that Craig had fouled Hunter and awarded a free kick in Thistle's favour. At the other end Thomas McCulloch was called into action coming out well to narrow the angle and save from Ombeni Ruhanduka when the live wire striker burst through between Scott Maitland and Dene Cassells. This close shave was followed in 36th minute by a good deep cross from the left wing by Antony Mitchell for striker John Fowler who looked well placed to test McCulloch until Scott Maitland got back to block his path and see the ball behind for a goal kick. With the clock ticking down to the half time interval Myles McAuley made a good run through the inside right channel bursting into the box only to be closed down by Scott Watson and David Knight who forced the ball behind for a corner kick. Ross Maitland sent over an out-swinger from the right which Dene Cassells headed wide of target after making a good run to get across his marker. This was the last significant action of the first half before Mr Rose and his assistants retired to the pavilion for a half time cup of tea leaving both sets of players to catch their breath at the side of the pitch.

After a slow start the second half came to life in the fifty fourth minute with a double let-off for Saints. Thomas McCulloch lost the flight of a William McMaster free kick from the left in the low sunlight allowing Rhys Haggarty to send a looping header back over McCulloch's head towards the unguarded net. Fortunately for Saints the ball hit the crossbar but came out to Ombeni Ruhanduka who, from four yards out, also managed the hit the bar with McCulloch eventually able to pluck the ball from the air. Saints immediately pushed forward on the right with David McArthur sending Ross Maitland up the touchline where he delivered a cross to the near post which Craig MacEwan hooked over his shoulder but only into the grateful arms of Paul Aiton. Craig was heavily involved in the build up to Saints second goal when his perseverance closed down David Knight and drew a foul from the Thistle defender twenty four yards out on the Saints right. Ross Maitland flighted a good ball to the back post which Craig headed down and back across the face of goal to Willie Gemmell who resisted the temptation to go for power and passed the ball into the net from seven yards. That proved to be Willie's last involvement as Manager Alex Craik called Donald Campbell from the substitutes bench to replace him. Saints looked to exploit another set-piece opportunity in the sixty sixth minute after Dean Smith had been brought down just inside the Thistle half. Myles McAuley launched the free kick to the edge of the Thistle box with Dean Smith winning a good flick on to Scott Maitland whose left foot shot was blocked for a corner kick. Ross Maitland sent another excellent delivery onto the six yard line which was powered into the net by Dene Cassells for Saints third goal. Saints survived another scare in the seventieth minute when a ball over the top took out David McArthur and left Thomas McCulloch in no man's land with Antony Mitchell sparing their blushes by scooping over the bar when a goal seemed a certainty. Two minutes later McCulloch atoned for his part in the earlier mix-up making a good near post save from a Daniel McEwan shot. This was to prove the last serious threat to an all too rare Saints clean sheet as although Thistle kept working hard it was Saints who remained firmly in control in the closing stages. Donald Campbell made an excellent jinking run into the Thistle box in the seventy third minute and slipped in Dean Smith who fired in a good shot which was well held by keeper Aiton. The pair were involved again just one minute later with Donald picking out a good run by Dean who laid the ball back to Myles McAuley for a low shot just inches wide of the keeper's left hand post. Dean Smith and Ross Maitland made way for Allan Mackay and Keith Millar in the seventy fifth minute in a move which signalling a switch to a 4-4-2 formation. Allan brought out a good save from Paul Aiton stinging the palms of the keeper's hands with a fierce right foot shot from a Craig MacEwan lay-off with the keeper happy to gather the ball at the second attempt. A little bit of the gloss was taken off an otherwise successful night's work when Myles McAuley limped off with an ankle injury in the eightieth minute with his place being taken by Jamie Graham. Jamie slotted in a right back with David McArthur moving forward to the right of the four man midfield. McArthur made an immediate impact in his new more advanced role working a one-two with Donald Campbell to create the space for a low cross into the box which frustratingly feel just behind Allan Mackay in the middle. Saints comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure a third Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final appearance in four years and end a punishing schedule of Wednesday night fixtures on a high note.