Winning In The Rain: Mackay's Farewell

Saturday 4th June 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC 1 - 1 Shawlands FP AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Kick Off 1pm
Referee Mr Gordon Kelso

Saints starting line-up:-

Thomas McCulloch

Ross Maitland
Marc Maccallum (Captain)
Dene Cassells
Scott Maitland

Willie Gemmell
Paul Kerr
Paul Carmichael

Dean Smith
Allan Mackay
Craig MacEwan

Used Substitute:-

Keith Millar

Unused Substitute:-

Alex Craik

Saints Goalscorer:-

Allan Mackay (penalty)

Saints played their final home game of the 2015-16 season at Glencruitten last Saturday afternoon against first time visitors Shawlands. Despite the oppressive heat and there being nothing but pride at stake the sides produced an entertaing spectacle for the Saints faithful. Manager Alex Craik's selection options were dealt a severe blow when Dougal Graham and Craig Campbell had to call off through injury joining Martin Bonar and Myles McAuley in the treatment room. Adding to the Manager's problems were unavailable trio Donald Campbell, Jamie Graham and David McArthur resulting in yet another shuffle of the pack for the Gaffer. Ross Maitland made the switch from attack to defence slotting in at right back alongside Sipper Marc Maccallum, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Willie Gemmell came into the midfield alongside Paul Kerr and Paul Carmichael with Allan Mackay, making his farewell home appearance for the club, spearheading the attack flanked by Dean Smith and Craig MacEwan. Goalkeeper Thomas McCulloch completed the line-up with Keith Millar dropping to the bench where he was kept company by Manager Craik.

After a quiet opening spell Saints had the first effort on target when Paul Carmichael beat Shawlands goalkeeper and Captain Anthony Curran in the air to head a Ross Maitland corner from the right back across goal only to see full back Keiran McKay hook the ball off the line just inside the post. The visitors were content to sit in and hit Saints on the counter attack a ploy which paid off for them just after the half hour after. Dene Cassells matched a good run from Mark Watt to get on the end of a long ball out from the back eventually getting in a sliding challenge to concede a corner kick. Gavin McCracken's outswinger from the left was met by the unmarked Ross McDougall who looped a header over Thomas McCulloch and into the net to the Warriors the lead. Almost immediately after the restart Anthony Curran produced an excellent save low down to his left to deny Dean Smith an equaliser clawing away Dean's shot and getting just enough on it to send the ball agonisingly out of the reach of Allan Mackay at the far post. In the thirty fourth minute Craig MacEwan found his way through the solid Warriors defence and from the left of the box sent a cross to the back post for Paul Carmichael who made good contact with his header down into the dry Glencruitten turf and unfortunately over the crossbar. At the other end the visitors once again showed their threat on the counter attack with Thomas McCulloch having to pull off an excellent save to deny Gavin McCracken. Saints equalised just before the interval and fittingly it was Allan Mackay who made it onto the score sheet on his final home appearance. Mackay peeled off at the back post for a Ross Maitland cross from the right and cushioned a cut back to Craig MacEwan who had the ball taken away from him by the arm of central defender Billy Gracie. Referee Gordon Kelso immediately blew for a penalty kick with Mackay eager to accept the challenge from the spot. The visitors were unhappy with where Allan had placed the ball and there followed a nervous wait while Mr Kelso paced out the twelve yards to satisfy his own mind. Thankfully the delay did nothing to unsettle Allan and he calmly slotted the ball to the Curran's left leaving the big keeper rooted on his goal line. Shawlands restarted the action and Saints turned the tables on their opponents counter attacking style. Centre forward Jonathan Stephen tried a shot from distance which Thomas McCulloch saved easily. The Saints keeper sent a towering clearance from hand which Allan Mackay was quickly onto getting beyond the Shawlands back line to crack a low shot off the inside of Curran's right hand post with the ball bouncing across the face of goal before being hoofed to safety.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with the tireless running of Mark Watt keeping Marc Maccallum and Dene Cassells very much on their toes. In the fifty first minute a long Willie Gemmell throw from level with the penalty spot on the Saints right was punched clear by Anthony Curran with David McKay sending a raking pass forward looking for the run of Watt. The live wire striker turned inside Dene Cassells and sent a powerful shot on target which Thomas McCulloch did well to beat away but only as far as Mark Robertson who angled a shot past McCulloch which Paul Kerr managed to intercept on the goal line with a clearance on the half volley. Manager Alex Craik made his only change in the fifty eighth minute replacing Willie Gemmell with Keith Millar a move which also brought about a switch to a 4-4-2 formation. Paul Carmichael joined Allan Mackay in attack with Dean Smith and Craig MacEwan dropping back into midfield alongside Paul Kerr and Keith Millar. Saints needed more width to get behind the solid Shawlands defence and the instructions from the Manager were for full backs Ross Maitland and Scott Maitland to push forward at every opportunity. Scott sent over a good cross from the left in the sixty eighth minute which Paul Carmichael did well to head back to Dean Smith unfortunately Dean couldn't keep his effort on the half volley on target sending it high over the cross bar. Mr Kelso allowed the players a water break in the seventieth minute to top up their fluid levels in the warm mid afternoon sun. The Manager's tactical switch looked like it might pay dividends with Saints finding ways through the visitor's defensive shield on a number of occasions. Paul Carmichael sent a flashing left foot drive from sixteen yards just wide of the foot of Anthony Curran's left hand post. Shortly afterwards Dean Smith made a good run from right to left and sent a cut back to the six yard line where Paul Carmichael couldn't get enough power on his shot on the turn to seriously trouble Curran. Carmichael managed more power on his next effort from a Ross Maitland free kick after Dene Cassells had his run from the back halted unceremoniously by Gavin McCracken. Carmichael got in a good hook shot but once again Curran was equal to the task tipping the ball round the post for a corner kick. With ten minutes remaining Curran was again the hero for the Warriors pulling off another terrific save from Dean Smith. Ross Maitland almost capped a good afternoon's work in an unfamiliar right back role by working a quick one-two with Dean Smith to break into the Shawlands box and taking aim for the bottom corner only to see his shot blocked by a well timed sliding interception by David McKay. Having successfully blunted the Saints attack the visitors committed more men to attack for the final minutes but the Saints defence, lead manfully by inspirational Skipper Marc Maccallum, stood firm to close out the match and earn a share of the points which on the balance of chances created was a fair result.

The sound of Mr Kelso's whistle brought proceedings to a close signalling the end of Allan Mackay's final home appearance for Saints. Plans for a lap of honour from Allan had to be abandoned however when Saints Skipper and Argyll & Bute Council Groundsman Marc Maccallum refused to allow Allan to bring his van onto the field and the veteran striker couldn't face walking a complete circuit of the pitch.