Saturday 8th October 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Ferguslie Star AFC 5 - 4 Oban Saints AFC
Seedhill Community Sports Ground
Seedhill Road
Paisley PA1 1QR
Kick off 3pm
Referee Mr James Tedford
An uncharacteristically sloppy defensive performance cost Saints their unbeaten start to the season at Seedhill, Paisley last Saturday afternoon where Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division new boys Ferguslie Star took full advantage of Saints beneficence to edge a nine goal thriller in the first ever meeting between the two clubs.
Saints were without top scorer Donald Campbell with his place in the front three being taken by Paul Carmichael who proved to be an able deputy acquitting himself well up front with Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith. Dean himself was a late replacement for the unwell Ross Maitland who dropped to the bench suffering from a heavy cold. Otherwise it was a familiar Saints line-up with Thomas McCulloch in goal; a back four of David McArthur. Skipper Marc Maccallum, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland; and a midfield trio of Myles McAuley, Paul Kerr and Willie Gemmell. Joining Ross Maitland on the substitutes bench were Dougal Graham, Matthew Kelly and Brian Mackay.
Saints kicked off in bright sunshine attacking the Seedhill Pavilion end and immediately took the game to the hosts. Star lined up with a rigid 5-4-1 formation and appeared content to sit in and hit Saints on break which they did successfully in the sixth minute capitalising on a slip by Myles McAuley midway inside his own half. Steven Finlay broke quickly from midfield and found David Edwards on the eighteen yard line. The Star skipper beat his opposite number, Marc Maccallum, and cut into the box drilling a low shot past Thomas McCulloch's left hand to open the scoring. An eighth minute free kick won by Paul Carmichael on the corner of the box gave Saints their first opportunity to put Star keeper Raymond Brown under pressure but Willie Gemmell's cross was headed behind for a corner kick. Willie tried again from the corner flag this time finding Marc Maccallum at the near post who hooked the ball on target with the Star keeper showing good reactions to beat the ball out. The loose ball spun high into the air with Dene Cassells getting his head on it first but unfortunately unable to direct it on target sending his header eighteen inches over the crossbar. Saints continued to enjoy the majority of possession but could find no way through the five man Star defence. The home side counter attacked again to devastating effect in the fifteenth minute. Willie Gemmell was dispossessed in the centre circle with Steven Finlay picking up the loose ball and striding forward unchallenged through the inside right channel. Finlay reached the edge of the Saints box and squared for David Edwards who stroked another good finish past Thomas McCulloch to double the host's advantage. Leon Morrow picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon for a late challenge on Paul Kerr as the Saints midfield continued to probe for openings in the Star defence. Willie Gemmell's lofted delivery to the back post from the resulting free kick was comfortably dealt with by Raymond Brown. Saints were finally able to work the home keeper in the twentieth minute when Dean Smith turned on the eighteen yard line and rifled in a shot which Brown did well to hold. Skipper Marc Maccallum then popped up in an unusual position wide on the right and sent a dangerous cross into the box which the Star defence forced behind for a corner kick. Scott Maitland's in-swinger was partially cleared but only as far as David McArthur who sent a powerful shot on target which the Star keeper could only parry. Willie Gemmell was first to the loose ball but was quickly closed down by a three Star defenders and snatched his shot over the crossbar. In the twenty seventh minute Willie Gemmell had a chance to try his luck from a set piece after Dean Smith was brought down on the corner of Star box however the angle didn't particularly favour Willie and his effort sailed high over the crossbar. On the half hour mark Saints had a hopeful appeal for a penalty kick turned away by Referee Mr Tedford claiming in vain that a Star defender had used an arm to control a Scott Maitland corner kick before clearing his lines. Scott had another chance to put the ball into the danger area in the thirty fourth minute after Paul Carmichael had forced a corner kick on the left. Scott's out-swinger was headed out to David McArthur who saw his right foot volley tipped over the crossbar by Raymond Brown. Scott Maitland tried again from the left and this time found the head of Willie Gemmell who made good contact but flashed his header wide of Brown's right hand post. Saints finally made a breakthrough in the thirty seventh minute from an opportunity created by Dene Cassells. The Saints central defender made a good interception on the half-way line and made a driving run forward which was halted unceremoniously twenty eight yards from goal by Derik McGrory earning the Star defender the game's second yellow card. Willie Gemmell sent the free kick from the right across Raymond Brown with the Star keeper getting finger tips to it but only succeeding in turning the ball onto the inside of his left hand post and into the net. The final action of the first half saw Star defender David Cunningham become the third name in Mr Tedford's note book for a late challenge on Paul Carmichael and Dean Smith pick up a head knock trying to get on the end of the resulting free kick from Willie Gemmell.
The first half pattern continued in the opening stages of the second half with Saints playing some good football but still unable to find the incisive pass necessary to unlock the well organised home defence. Willie Gemmell had another opportunity to display his dead ball prowess in the forty ninth minute when Dean Smith was bundled over twenty yards from goal when trying to get on the end of a cut back from Myles McAuley. Willie lifted the ball up and over the five man Star wall easily beating the keeper but was denied by some quick thinking from David Brown who dropped back to hook the ball off the goal line and over the crossbar. Scott Maitland's corner kick from the right was met by the head of Dene Cassells who couldn't direct his header on target. Saints put together their best move of the match so far in the fifty fourth minute with Paul Carmichael and Dean Smith linking up well to send Paul spinning in behind the Star defence. Paul's run on the right was tracked by Darren Wilson but the Saints man beat the Star left back and cut back onto his left foot before firing in a shot which Raymond Brown did well to push over the crossbar. Just as in the first half Saints left the back door for the hosts to nip in and help themselves to another goal in the fifty ninth minute. Dene Cassells missed an attempted clearance ten yards inside his own half and, with no cover behind him, David Edwards was able to run through unchallenged and slot a good finish past Thomas McCulloch. Three minutes later Thomas McCulloch had to look lively to tip over a twenty five yard shot from Andrew Turner after the Star midfielder had robbed Scott Maitland inside the centre circle. Saints defended the resulting corner kick well and launched a swift counter attack with Dean Smith sending Paul Carmichael tearing up the right wing. Paul once again had the beating of Darren Wilson and sent a low cross along the six yard line which Craig MacEwan met at the back post sending the ball high into the net past Raymond Brown. Manager Alex Craik then made the first of his changes bringing on Brian Mackay for his first appearance of the season to replace Dean Smith. The change in personnel also brought about a switch to a 4-4-2 formation with Mackay adding his all action style to the Saints midfield. Barely two minutes later Saints drew level with Craig MacEwan again slamming home at the back post from a Paul Carmichael cross after Myles McAuley had sent the big striker wide with an excellent through ball. After working extremely hard to get themselves back in the game Saints then pressed the self destruct button once again. Scott Maitland saw yellow for a late challenge on second half Star substitute Stephen McCormick conceding a free kick ten yards inside the Saints half. Saints repelled the free kick but couldn't fully clear their lines with Myles McAuley conceding a further cheap free kick in an almost identical position to that from which Willie Gemmell had scored for Saints in the first half. Derik McGrory stepped up and curled a wonderful finish into the top corner leaving Thomas McCulloch firmly rooted to the spot. Saints went in search of a second equaliser with Dene Cassells hooking over a Willie Gemmell free kick after Myles McAuley had his heels clipped racing through from midfield. With fifteen minutes remaining the Gaffer made his final changes bringing on Dougal Graham and Matthew Kelly to replace Willie Gemmell and Paul Kerr. Dene Cassells picked up an eighty second minute booking which he would later regret for a foul midway inside the Star half. A fairly innocuous looking straight delivery from the free kick should have been easily dealt with by the Saints defence however Marc Maccallum sliced his attempted clearance behind him leaving David Edwards to stroll in behind and slot the ball beyond a bemused Thomas McCulloch. This latest calamity failed to knock the stuffing completely out of the determined Saints side and they kept plugging away looking for a way back into the match. An off the ball incident in the eighty fifth minute involving David Cunningham and Craig MacEwan left Craig on the deck however Referee Tedford didn't have clear sight of the incident and could take no action. He did however a clear view of a late challenge by Myles McAuley on Steven Finlay and added Myles to the list of names already in his notebook. With the watch ticking past the ninety minute mark Saints gave themselves a glimmer of hope of salvaging a draw when Craig MacEwan burst through to meet a Brian Mackay pass and calmly lifted the ball over the head of the advancing goalkeeper and into the unguarded net to complete his hat-trick. The late drama didn't end there and Saints looked to have sprung the Star offside trap once again in the ninety second minute however Mr Tedford gave the benefit of an extremely tight decision in favour of the home side sparking a furious backlash from the Saints players. Unsurprisingly the complaints fell on deaf ears with Dene Cassells continuing his complaints too long for Mr Tedford's liking earning himself a red card in the process. The game restarted with Raymond Brown launching the free kick up field and Mr Tedford blew for full time before Saints could launch another attack.
The first half pattern continued in the opening stages of the second half with Saints playing some good football but still unable to find the incisive pass necessary to unlock the well organised home defence. Willie Gemmell had another opportunity to display his dead ball prowess in the forty ninth minute when Dean Smith was bundled over twenty yards from goal when trying to get on the end of a cut back from Myles McAuley. Willie lifted the ball up and over the five man Star wall easily beating the keeper but was denied by some quick thinking from David Brown who dropped back to hook the ball off the goal line and over the crossbar. Scott Maitland's corner kick from the right was met by the head of Dene Cassells who couldn't direct his header on target. Saints put together their best move of the match so far in the fifty fourth minute with Paul Carmichael and Dean Smith linking up well to send Paul spinning in behind the Star defence. Paul's run on the right was tracked by Darren Wilson but the Saints man beat the Star left back and cut back onto his left foot before firing in a shot which Raymond Brown did well to push over the crossbar. Just as in the first half Saints left the back door for the hosts to nip in and help themselves to another goal in the fifty ninth minute. Dene Cassells missed an attempted clearance ten yards inside his own half and, with no cover behind him, David Edwards was able to run through unchallenged and slot a good finish past Thomas McCulloch. Three minutes later Thomas McCulloch had to look lively to tip over a twenty five yard shot from Andrew Turner after the Star midfielder had robbed Scott Maitland inside the centre circle. Saints defended the resulting corner kick well and launched a swift counter attack with Dean Smith sending Paul Carmichael tearing up the right wing. Paul once again had the beating of Darren Wilson and sent a low cross along the six yard line which Craig MacEwan met at the back post sending the ball high into the net past Raymond Brown. Manager Alex Craik then made the first of his changes bringing on Brian Mackay for his first appearance of the season to replace Dean Smith. The change in personnel also brought about a switch to a 4-4-2 formation with Mackay adding his all action style to the Saints midfield. Barely two minutes later Saints drew level with Craig MacEwan again slamming home at the back post from a Paul Carmichael cross after Myles McAuley had sent the big striker wide with an excellent through ball. After working extremely hard to get themselves back in the game Saints then pressed the self destruct button once again. Scott Maitland saw yellow for a late challenge on second half Star substitute Stephen McCormick conceding a free kick ten yards inside the Saints half. Saints repelled the free kick but couldn't fully clear their lines with Myles McAuley conceding a further cheap free kick in an almost identical position to that from which Willie Gemmell had scored for Saints in the first half. Derik McGrory stepped up and curled a wonderful finish into the top corner leaving Thomas McCulloch firmly rooted to the spot. Saints went in search of a second equaliser with Dene Cassells hooking over a Willie Gemmell free kick after Myles McAuley had his heels clipped racing through from midfield. With fifteen minutes remaining the Gaffer made his final changes bringing on Dougal Graham and Matthew Kelly to replace Willie Gemmell and Paul Kerr. Dene Cassells picked up an eighty second minute booking which he would later regret for a foul midway inside the Star half. A fairly innocuous looking straight delivery from the free kick should have been easily dealt with by the Saints defence however Marc Maccallum sliced his attempted clearance behind him leaving David Edwards to stroll in behind and slot the ball beyond a bemused Thomas McCulloch. This latest calamity failed to knock the stuffing completely out of the determined Saints side and they kept plugging away looking for a way back into the match. An off the ball incident in the eighty fifth minute involving David Cunningham and Craig MacEwan left Craig on the deck however Referee Tedford didn't have clear sight of the incident and could take no action. He did however a clear view of a late challenge by Myles McAuley on Steven Finlay and added Myles to the list of names already in his notebook. With the watch ticking past the ninety minute mark Saints gave themselves a glimmer of hope of salvaging a draw when Craig MacEwan burst through to meet a Brian Mackay pass and calmly lifted the ball over the head of the advancing goalkeeper and into the unguarded net to complete his hat-trick. The late drama didn't end there and Saints looked to have sprung the Star offside trap once again in the ninety second minute however Mr Tedford gave the benefit of an extremely tight decision in favour of the home side sparking a furious backlash from the Saints players. Unsurprisingly the complaints fell on deaf ears with Dene Cassells continuing his complaints too long for Mr Tedford's liking earning himself a red card in the process. The game restarted with Raymond Brown launching the free kick up field and Mr Tedford blew for full time before Saints could launch another attack.
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| Raymond Brown saves from Marc Maccallum |
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| Dene Cassells heads over the crossbar |
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| Craig MacEwan tries to close down Raymond Brown |
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| Dene Cassells |
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| Myles McAuley |
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| Dene Cassells is upended by Derik McGrory |
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| Raymond Brown can't keep out Willie Gemmell's free kick |
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| David Brown clears Willie Gemmell's second half free kick off the line |
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| Paul Carmichael lets fly |
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| Craig MacEwan fires home the first of his three goals |
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| Brian Mackay |
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| Matthew Kelly |
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| Craig MacEwan lifts the ball over Raymond Brown to seal his hat-trick |
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