Winning In The Rain: See You Next Season

Sunday 5th June 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Campbeltown Pupils AFC 2 - 1 Oban Saints AFC
Kintyre Park
Limecraigs Road
Campbeltown
Argyll
PA28 6JT
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr John Scott

Saints starting line-up:-

Thomas McCulloch

Jamie Graham
Marc Maccallum (Captain)
Alex Craik
Scott Maitland

Dene Cassells
Paul Kerr
Donald Campbell
Craig MacEwan

Dean Smith
Allan Mackay

Saints Goalscorer:-

Alex Craik

Saints brought the curtain down on a league season which started way back on the 15th of August at a sun drenched Kintyre Park, Campbeltown last Sunday. An Argyll Derby with the hosts desperate for all three points to avoid relegation was to prove a fitting end to a debut season of highs and lows for Manager Alex Craik and his charges. Not for the first time this season Saints were down to the bare bones with only eleven available players and some of those playing through the pain barrier. Work and family commitments saw Willie Gemmell, Keith Millar and Ross Maitland drop out from the squad which drew with Shawlands the previous afternoon with Donald Campbell and Jamie Graham making welcome returns. Jamie lined up at right back to make up a back four with Skipper Marc Maccallum. Scott Maitland and the Gaffer. Dene Cassells took an unusual right midfield role alongside Paul Kerr, Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan. The remaining places had a more familiar look with Thomas McCulloch in goal and a front pairing of Dean Smith and Allan Mackay.

As was to be expected the Pupils need for the three points saw them do most of the early pressing particularly down their right hand side where the powerful running of right back John McCallum was a constant threat. Despite the early pressure the Saints back four were coping well and denied the hosts any clear sights of goal. A mistimed tackle on Keith Mitchell by Allan Mackay gave the Pupils left back a chance to launch a high ball into the Saints box. Martin McCallum sent a header back across goal which Thomas McCulloch couldn't gather at the first attempt letting the ball squirm from his grasp to Ryan McConnachie. The Pupils striker skilfully took the ball around the Saints keeper but had his shot blocked by a timely Marc Maccallum interception at the expense of a corner kick. After a brief stoppage for some treatment to Martin McCallum the Pupils winger lined up an outswinging corner from the right which he sliced horribly towards the goal and away from the assembled throng on the six yard line. Thomas McCulloch attempted to claw the ball over his crossbar but the dip and swerve beat his right hand and the head of Scott Maitland guarding the back post to nestle in the back of the net. A hugely fortuitous goal for the home side but just the slice of good fortune required when battling relegation. With their goal safely in the bag the Pupils were happy to take a more defensive approach allowing Saints to dictate the play but generally managing to keep the visitors at arms length. On the few occasions that Saints did manage to get behind the well drilled Pupils back line they were thwarted by last ditch interceptions by Shaun Grumoli who was in no mood to let anybody past. With Ross Maitland missing due to work commitments namesake Scott assumed the role of corner kick taker and sent in some good deliveries but found Pupils keeper Craig Lamont to be in good form catching or punching anything that came his way. With passions running high and some meaty challenges going in from both sides Referee John Scott was quick to produce his yellow card to try and put a lid on things. Ryan Gilchrist was first to go into the book for a late lunge on Dene Cassells where he was soon joined by Jamie Graham and Marc Maccallum for mistimed tackles on Ryan Deans and Keith Mitchell respectively. Neither keeper was seriously troubled during what remained of the first half and on the Mr Scott's whistle the players trooped off for rest and a chance to take on some much needed fluids.

Saints made a good start to the second half but again found the Pupils defence a tough nut to crack with Donald Campbell being crowded out before he could get a shot away after a quickly taken short free kick from Allan Mackay. Although they seemed content to hold onto their one goal lead the Pupils did venture forward on occasion and tested Thomas McCulloch with a header from Ryan McConnachie and and rasping twenty five yard drive from Liam Renton which McCulloch acrobatically tipped over his crossbar. Missing from the last three games due to family holiday commitments Donald Campbell provided a few glimpses of what Saints had been missing slipping in delightful passes for Craig MacEwan, who was beaten by another last ditch tackle from Shaun Grumoli, and Allan Mackay who brought out an excellent save from Craig Lamont narrowing the angle to beat down what looked like a certain farewell goal from the Saints striker. When the Saints goal did come it was from an unlikely source and in rather unfortunate circumstances for the Pupils keeper. Allan Mackay was upended on the corner of the Pupils box by Ryan Gilchrist for a seventy sixth minute free kick. Donald Campbell drilled in a low shot from the edge of the box which Lamont spilled straight to Alex Craik who bundled the ball over the line from four yards. Unsurprisingly the equaliser brought about a drastic change in approach from the home side with full backs Mitchell and McCallum quickly re-assigned to attacking duties. The Pupils also made full use of their five substitutes to freshen up their options a luxury which unfortunately was not open to Saints. With just five minutes remaining the home sides increased sense of endeavour finally bore fruit when Mitchell picked up a loose ball on the half way line and was allowed to advance unchallenged to the edge of the Saints box. The diminutive full back threaded a pass into the box for his colleague from the opposite flank John McCallum. McCallum thumped a shot off the crossbar but his momentum carried him forward allowing him to get above McCulloch and head the rebound into the unguarded net for the winning goal. The elation from the dramatic Pupils winner was understandable as was the disappointment among the depleted Saints contingent who had a deserved share of the points cruelly snatched from their grasp right at the death. Mr Scott, who handled a potentially tricky fixture well, brought proceedings to an end confirming Campbeltown Pupils place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division for a third consecutive year and consigning Saints to their lowest league finish since the 2008-09 season.

Congratulations to Campbeltown Pupils on escaping the drop to Premier Division One and on giving the amateur football fans of Argyll at least two derby matches to look forward to next season.

Saints will now take a short but well earned rest before their pre-season schedule kicks off on Saturday 2nd July with the D&K Lafferty Cup Tournament.