Winning In The Rain: January 2017

Monday, 30 January 2017

Last 32

Saturday 4th February 2017
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition

6th Round Tie
Tarbolton AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Tarbolton Public Park
Park Road
Montgomerie Street
Tarbolton
Mauchline
KA5 5QA
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Steven Nicholls

This Saturday the latest leg of this season's Scottish Amateur Cup adventure takes Oban Saints to Ayrshire to face Tarbolton of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier Division. So far the journey, which Saints hope will terminate at Hampden Park in May, has taken in stops at Glasgow Green, Bearsden, Edinburgh and their own Glencruitten Park but this latest installment has the potential to be the biggest test so far.

Saturday's opponents, who play their home fixtures at Tarbolton Public Park, currently occupy ninth place in the highly competitive Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League. The premier division in Ayrshire is one of the top amateur leagues in Scotland and among it's ranks boasts two time Scottish Amateur Cup winners Hurlford Thistle and current West of Scotland Amateur Cup holders Shortlees. It's clubs also provide the backbone of the Ayrshire Select Squad which currently holds the prestigious inter-league trophy.

Promotion

Runners-up spot in the 2012-13 First Division was enough to earn Tarbolton promotion to the Premier League where they consolidated their position with back to back third place finishes in their first two seasons. Last season's eighth place was a creditable finish in a league where no team could live with Champions Hurlford Thistle on a relentless march towards their seventh consecutive Premier League title.

This season's league campaign started badly for Tarbolton with an away defeat at Clark Drive and the misery continued for a further five matches before they finally put their first point on the board in their seventh match after a 2 - 2 draw at West Kilbride. Things eventually looked to have clicked into gear for Tarbolton when they bagged their first maximum points of the season with a 4 - 2 home win over Winlinton Wolves on 14th January, however only one point from their next two fixtures leaves them currently in ninth place with nine points from twelve matches and trailing undefeated leaders Glenburn Miners Welfare by a massive thirty points.

Cup

Tarbolton have so far reserved by far their best form for the Scottish Amateur Cup getting their campaign underway with an emphatic second round 11 - 0 home win over Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Division 1C basement boys Gartcairn. A high scoring home draw with Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Division One East title challengers Alford meant a third round replay in the chilly North East which they successfully negotiated returning home victorious by the odd goal in three. The fourth round draw did Tarbolton no favours sending them straight back up the A90 to face Dyce ITC Hydraulics. The long journey north had no detrimental effect on the Ayrshire men and they progressed to the fifth round courtesy of a 4 - 2 victory. After consecutive long distance trips Tarbolton's prayers for something a little closer to home in the fifth round were answered however an away tie at fellow Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League side Dirrans Athletic would certainly not have been their number one choice. The men from Kilwinning had already inflicted home and away defeats on Tarbolton banging in nine goals without reply but the league encounters provided no indication of how the cup tie would pan out. A convincing 4 - 0 away win for Tarbolton not only sealed their place in the sixth round but looks finally to have ignited an otherwise faltering season.

Familiar Territory

The sixth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup is, of course, familiar territory for Saints who have maintained their interest in the nation's premier cup competition beyond the Christmas and New Year break in nine of the past twelve seasons including three quarter-finals and last season's semi-final appearance.

This season's road to Hampden began with an extremely tough first round away fixture against former Scottish Amateur Football League rivals Finnart now of the Caledonian League Division 1B. A Craig MacEwan strike after eighteen minutes gave Saints the lead at Glasgow Green which they comfortably held onto until the half time interval. The second half started badly for Saints when a cheaply conceded corner kick allowed Finnart dead ball expert Andrew Robertson to find the head of Kieren Molloy in the six yard box and bring the home side level. Saints re-established their midfield domination and regained the lead just after the hour when second half substitute Paul Carmichael cracked a powerful drive off the underside of the crossbar and over the goal line. The Saints defence repelled an aerial onslaught from Finnart before a successfully converted Donald Campbell penalty kick in the eighty third minute made the tie safe.

A second round no show from Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League Premier Division outfit Bishopton denied the Saints faithful a home match on 1st October but saw Saints comfortably through to the third round by virtue of a walkover.

The third round draw paired Saints with another recent Scottish Amateur Football League defector FC Clydebank now of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1A. A significantly less assured performance than against Finnart somehow still managed to produce an identical result at Thorn Park Bearsden on 5th November. Dean Smith gave a sluggish Saints side a thirty eighth minute lead which they managed to hold until the closing stages despite an uncharacteristically disjointed performance. The eightieth minute introduction of Fraser MacFarlane proved to be an inspired change by Manager Alex Craik as, within three minutes of joining the action, young Fraser pounced on a loose ball in the Bankies' box to double the Saints advantage. A frantic period then ensued with Ross Hollinsworth pulling one back for the home side from a well worked short corner routine before Willie Gemmell settled the nerves on the touchline with a perfectly struck free kick into the postage stamp corner to send Saints into the fourth round.

Saints made a rare journey east to face Salvasen of the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association Lothian West Division in their biggest test of the season so far. With Skipper Marc Maccallum calling off due to illness Paul Kerr took the armband and successfully lead his troops into the fifth round against the previously undefeated Edinburgh side. Saints were assured throughout dominating possession and looking solid at the back. Goals either side of the half time interval from Dean Smith and Ross Maitland saw Saints comfortably through to a much welcomed and eagerly anticipated home tie against Westdyce.

The fifth round draw provided Saints with their first home cup tie of the season and just their fourth home match in all competitions. Opponents Westdyce of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Divison Two East were making their first ever trip west in Scottish amateur football's most prestigious competition and their first appearance at the fifth round stage. Things started well for the visitors when a clumsy challenge from Dene Cassells gave them a sixth minute penalty kick which Skipper Callum Mackay successfully converted. Despite dominating possession it took Saints ten minutes to get back on level terms and a further quarter of an hour before they eventually got their noses in front with both goals coming from Brian Mackay. Westdyce remained solid at the start of the second half but a sweet curling finish from Ross Maitland just before the hour mark finally broke their resilience. A near post Craig MacEwan header from a Ross Maitland corner five minutes later and a typical piece of individual brilliance from second half substitute Donald Campbell rounded off the scoring sending Saints through to the last thirty two.

Tarbolton AFC

Tarbolton AFC recent Ayrshire Amateur Football Association league finishes:-

2009-10 First Division 8th
2010-11 First Division 7th

2011-12 First Division 5th

2012-13 First Division 2nd Promoted

2013-14 Premier League 3rd
2014-15 Premier League 3rd

2015-16 Premier League 8th

Tarbolton AFC fixtures so far this season:-

Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League

6th August 2016 Clark Drive 3 - 0 Tarbolton
8th August 2016 Carrick 1 - 0 Tarbolton
13th August 2016 Tarbolton 0 - 4 Dirrans Athletic
17th August 2016 Shortlees 5 - 2 Tarbolton
22nd August 2016 Tarbolton 2 - 7 Galston United
10th September 2016 Dirrans Athletic 5 - 0 Tarbolton
8th October 2016 West Kilbride 2 - 2 Tarbolton
15th October 2016 Tarbolton 1 - 5 Kilbride Thistle
10th December 2016 Tarbolton 2 - 2 Clark Drive
14th January 2017 Tarbolton 4 - 2 Winlinton Wolves
21st January 2017 Galston 1 - 1 Tarbolton
28th January 2017 Tarbolton 2 - 3 Carrick

Ayrshire Cup

1st Round
27th August 2016 Beith 2 - 3 Tarbolton (After Extra Time)

2nd Round
3rd September 2016 Tarbolton 6 - 1 Symington Caledonian

3rd Round
29th October 2016 Shortlees 8 - 0 Tarbolton

Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Thistle Bar Trophy

1st Round
24th September 2016 Tarbolton 2 - 3 Cumnock

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round
17th September 2016 Tarbolton v Anniesland (Walkover to Anniesland)

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
1st October 2016 Tarbolton 11 - 0 Gartcairn

3rd Round
5th November 2016 Tarbolton 3 - 3 Alford

3rd Round Replay
12th November 2016 Alford 1 - 2 Tarbolton

4th Round
3rd December 2016 Dyce ITC Hydraulics 2 - 4 Tarbolton

5th Round
7th January 2017 Dirrans Athletic 0 - 4 Tarbolton

Oban Saints path to the Scottish Amateur Cup fifth round

1st Round

3rd September 2016 Finnart 1 - 3 Oban Saints

Donald Campbell beats Finnart's Brian Paton from the penalty spot to seal victory for Saints

2nd Round

1st October 2016 Oban Saints v Bishopton - Walkover to Saints

3rd Round

5th November 2016 FC Clydebank 1 - 3 Oban Saints

Thomas McCulloch shows safe hands to collect a corner under pressure from FC Clydebank's Gavin Mcqueen

4th Round

3rd December 2016 Salvesen 0 - 2 Oban Saints

Dean Smith opens the scoring against Salvesen

5th Round

8th January 2017 Oban Saints 5 - 1 Westdyce

Brian Mackay nets the first of his two goals to bring Saints level against Westdyce

#monthesaints

Sunday, 29 January 2017

Used Substitutes:-

Martin Bonar
Jay Cooper
Keith Millar
Fraser MacFarlane

Unused Substitute:-

Alex Craik

Oban Saints warmed up for their crunch Scottish Amateur Cup sixth round tie against Tarbolton Amateurs with an emphatic 6 - 1 league win over an understrength Ferguslie Star at Glencruitten last Saturday. The match had been in doubt twenty fours before kick-off with Star only able to muster eight players so full credit to the twelve who altered work and family commitments to ensure their club made it's first ever trip to Oban to fulfill the fixture.

Saints Gaffer Alex Craik also had selection problems with Donald Campbell, Dene Cassells, Myles McAuley and Marc Maccallum all missing from the previous week's line-up due to former player Allan Miller's wedding. Alex was however still able to name a strong starting eleven whose performance on the day will now give him a massive headache as he ponders his squad for the trip to Ayrshire. Thomas McCulloch continued in goal behind a new look central defensive pairing of David McArthur and Paul Carmichael with Matthew Kelly and Scott Maitland occupying the full back berths. Willie Gemmell made his first start since the away defeat at Drumchapel Amateurs Colts in November joining Brian Mackay and stand-in Skipper Paul Kerr in the middle of the park. Dean Smith and Ross Maitland were restored to the starting line-up with the on-fire Craig MacEwan making up the eleven. On the bench were utility man Martin Bonar, veterans Alex Craik and Keith Millar and youngsters Jay Cooper and Fraser MacFarlane.

The visitors kicked off in heavy rain attacking the Mossfield end and after some early sparring it was Saints who were first to show with Star keeper Raymond Brown coming off his line to gather a Ross Maitland cross from the right wing intended for Craig MacEwan. Paul Kerr also got forward on the right and picked out Brian Mackay whose knock down to Ross Maitland was met with a shot narrowly wide of Brown's left hand post. Willie Gemmell then tested Brown's handling with a low twenty five yard shot which the keeper fielded safely in the wet conditions. After ten minutes the rain eased off and as the good crowd's umbrellas came down Saints made the breakthrough. A well weighted pass from Willie Gemmell sent Brian Mackay scurrying through the inside left channel. Brian skipped two challenges making his way into the box and cutting back to Ross Maitland whose effort was blocked at his feet by Raymond Brown. The Star keeper hurt his left shoulder in the process and couldn't hold the ball which broke kindly for Dean Smith to roll into the net. There was a three minute delay for treatment to Brown's injured left shoulder before the Star keeper was thankfully able to continue. As the visitors tried to push forward in the twentieth minute Saints sprung a swift counter attack. Dean Smith turned well in the centre circle to beat David Cunningham before laying off to Craig MacEwan and bursting forward in search of a return ball. Craig sent the ball out wide to Ross Maitland on the left whose first time cross on the run was agonisingly out of reach for Dean sliding in eight yards out. One minute later a cheeky back heel flick in the box from Ross Maitland set up Craig MacEwan for a shot which the Star defence blocked behind for a corner kick. Saints doubled their advantage in the twenty fourth minute when David McArthur carried the ball a long way out from central defence and sent a deep cross into the Star box looking for the head of Craig MacEwan. Craig climbed above Leon Morrow and David Cunningham to loop a header out of the reach of Raymond Brown and into the bottom corner of the net. From the restart the visitors showed some attacking intent with Shaun Kelly driving forward on the left and flashing a drive across Thomas McCulloch which the Saints keeper could only palm across his six yard line. Fortunately for Saints Scott Maitland was on hand to mop up the loose ball comfortably with no other Star players up in support. Star tested McCulloch again in the thirty second minute when David Stewart delivered a cross from the right touchline which Paul Carmichael headed out but only as far as Martin Stewart who drew a good save from the Saints keeper with a well struck shot from twenty two yards. Saints countered immediately with Willie Gemmell's through ball forcing Raymond Brown to scamper off his line to smother the ball just inside his eighteen yard box just ahead of Ross Maitland. Gemmell's range of passing from midfield paid dividends in the thirty third minute when he picked out Dean Smith twenty five yards from goal. Dean turned away from the close attentions of Derek McGrory and from sixteen yards slotted past the advancing Raymond Brown to put Saints three goals in front. Three minutes later the Star keeper defied his shoulder injury leaping high to his left to palm away a curling Craig MacEwan effort from eighteen yards. Saints carved out another good opening on the left in the thirty eighth minute with Craig MacEwan sending Brian Mackay into the box. The perpetual motion midfielder cut back to Scott Maitland who was unfortunate to see his shot from twelve yards stopped by a good block from Leon Morrow. Saints ended a dominant first half performance with a David McArthur header over the crossbar after another driving run from Brian Mackay had given Ross Maitland the chance to send in a corner kick from the right.

Saints started the second half confidently but without the urgency which had caused the visiting defence so many problems in the first half. The visitors were given some encouragement in the forty eighth minute when Skipper Andrew Turner beat two men before laying off to John Syme who sent his shot wide. Star followed this up three minutes later with David Stewart beating Scott Maitland on the right and feeding Leon Morrow for a shot on target which Thomas McCulloch saved comfortably. The visitor's good spell continued with a dipping volley from Andrew Turner which Thomas McCulloch saved well low down to his right. The big keeper immediately launched a counter attack with Brian Mackay, Dean Smith and Craig MacEwan carving open the Star defence with only the final pass missing as MacEwan's ball across the box just eluded Ross Maitland at the back post. Efforts from Brian Mackay and Matthew Kelly were blocked behind with the Star defence coping comfortably with Ross Maitland's corner kicks which strangely lacked their usual potency. In the fifty eighth minute Willie Gemmell made a rare run forward from midfield racing away from Leon Morrow and David Cunningham only for Raymond Brown to narrow the angle and spread himself well to save Willie's effort from seventeen yards. Disappointingly for Ross Maitland his supporting run went unnoticed by Willie as a pass from Willie would surely have left Ross a simple tap-in. Just before the hour mark Andrew Turner forced Thomas McCulloch into another save after turning away from David McArthur on the edge of the Saints box. With twenty minutes remaining the visitors were rewarded for their perseverance when Paul Carmichael brought down Andrew Turner just outside of the Saints box giving Derek McGrory the chance to demonstrate his prowess with the dead ball. McGrory had curled a wonderful free kick high past Thomas McCulloch in the corresponding fixture at Seedhill last October but this time shot low through a disintegrating Saints wall and into the bottom corner past Thomas McCulloch's despairing right hand. The goal from the visitors was exactly what Saints needed to wake them from their second half lethargy and within two minutes they restored their three goal advantage. Brian Mackay picked out Craig MacEwan's run forward and from eighteen yards the in-form Saints hit man lifted the ball over the on-rushing goalkeeper and into the bottom corner of the net. Manager Alex Craik elected not to join the action himself but used all four of his other options from the bench. With fifteen minutes remaining Martin Bonar and Keith Millar replaced Matthew Kelly and Willie Gemmell. and five minutes later Dean Smith and Ross Maitland made way for Jay Cooper and Fraser MacFarlane. In between times Dean was denied the chance of a hat-trick by a tight but correct offside decision by Referee John Stobo who acquitted himself well throughout. In the eighty fourth minute Star danger man Andrew Turner was denied when Thomas McCulloch made a fine save from Shaun Kelly crucially holding onto the ball to foil the lurking Turner. Saints have been guilty of not converting enough chances in recent weeks so Manager Alex Craik will have been delighted to see his charges notch two further goals in time added on for stoppages. Inside the ninetieth minute Craig MacEwan cut into the right hand side of the box turning Derek McGrory inside out before laying off to renowned goal sniffer Martin Bonar who calmly stroked the ball into the net from eight yards. Two minutes later Craig MacEwan put the icing on the cake of an excellent team performance rounding off an inspired personal performance with his second hat-trick in as many weeks. Brian Mackay demonstrated phenomenal energy reserves to drive forward from midway inside his own half. Leaving the Star midfield in his wake Brian hurdled a cynical challenge from Derek McGrory before setting up Craig MacEwan for a sweet left foot finish past the helpless Raymond Brown. Craig may yet ask the dubious goals panel to have another look at the goal against Campbeltown Pupils controversially awarded to Marc Maccallum which would have earned him three consecutive hat-tricks. Mr Stobo cautioned Derek McGrory for the challenge on Brian Mackay adding his name to that of Gary Gormley which he had taken earlier for dissent. The visitors were spared any further punishment with the Referee blowing for full time and a convincing home win which sends Saints to the top of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division.

Brian Mackay turns away from Leon Morrow

Dean Smith shoots for goal

Brian Mackay and Craig MacEwan congratulate Dean Smith on his opening goal

Craig MacEwan and David Stewart

Dean Smith and Derek McGrory

Leon Morrow beats Craig MacEwan in the air

Craig MacEwan heads home David McArthur's cross for Saints second goal

Brian Mackay

Ross Maitland

Raymond Brown produces an excellent save to deny Craig MacEwan

David McArthur

Paul Kerr

Derek McGrory pulls one back for Ferguslie Star

Craig MacEwan restores Saints three goal advantage

Martin Bonar makes it 5 - 1

Fraser MacFarlane congratulates Martin Bonar on his goal

Craig MacEwan takes on Gary Gormley

Craig MacEwan seals his hat-trick

#monthesaints

Friday, 27 January 2017

This Saturday Saints welcome first time visitors Ferguslie Star to Glencruitten in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division. Formed in 2012 after the demise of Ferguslie AFC the Star have made a rapid rise to the Premier Division winning three successive promotions losing just ten out of sixty two league games and scoring 265 goals in the process. In this their first season in the top flight the boys from Paisley's Ferguslie Park currently occupy sixth place in the highly competitive Premier Division where they have already made their mark. In last October's encounter Star became the first of only three teams so far in all competitions to inflict defeat upon Saints taking full advantage of an uncharacteristically sloppy defensive performance from Alex Craik's men. A man of the match performance from Martin Stewart together with a goal from Derek McGrory and braces from Andrew Turner and inspirational Skipper David Edwards saw Star prevail in a nine goal thriller at Seedhill. In their four league matches since that win Star have returned mixed results with an away draw at Campbeltown Pupils and a home win against Inverclyde being overshadowed by a narrow away defeat at Shawlands FP and a home hammering from defending Champions East Kilbride FC Amateurs. Ferguslie Star's cup showings this season have also been a bit of a mixed bag with good early promise petering out to leave them now with just their Premier Division campaign to concentrate on.

The Star have gone through a number of personnel changes in recent months both on and off the field. Significant absentees from their first trip to Oban are former team Manager club stalwart Tam Kerr who has decided to take a back seat, and former Captain David "Buster" Edwards who has signed for Neilston Juniors. Both will be big losses for the club however with a new Management structure in place and David Brown taking the Captain's armband the club look still to be very much in safe hands.

Saints will be desperate to exact some revenge for the 5 - 4 defeat at Seedhill in October but in order to do so will first have to overcome what is sure to be a very determined Star side. The Glencruitten faithful can look forward to what promises to be a interesting struggle for three precious league points.

Ferguslie Star AFC results so far this season:-

SAFL Premier Division

20th August 2016 Goldenhill 4 - 3 Ferguslie Star
3rd September 2016 Ferguslie Star 1 - 0 Shawlands FP
8th October 2016 Ferguslie Star 5 - 4 Oban Saints
15th October 2016 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 2 Ferguslie Star
29th October 2016 Ferguslie Star 4 - 3 Inverclyde
17th December 2016 Shawlands FP 2 - 1 Ferguslie Star
7th January 2017 Ferguslie Star 0 - 8 East Kilbride FC Amateurs

SAFL Centenary Cup

Group Section 4

13th August 2016 Neilston 1 - 2 Ferguslie Star
17th August 2016 Ferguslie Star 7 - 1 Paisley
24th August 2016 Ferguslie Star 6 - 2 Houston
27th August 2016 Rosehill Star 1 - 6 Ferguslie Star

Quarter Final

17th September 2016 Ferguslie Star 1 - 3 Alba Thistle

SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

26th November 2016 Claremont 3 - 3 Ferguslie Star
Ferguslie Star win 3 - 1 on penalty kicks

3rd Round

21st January 2017 Ferguslie Star 4 - 4 Hillington
Hillington win 4 - 2 on penalty kicks

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

1st October 2016 Ferguslie Star 12 - 0 Bargeddie Amateurs

3rd Round

5th November 2016 Tayside Fire Brigade 3 - 4 Ferguslie Star

4th Round

3rd December 2016 FC Kettledrum 5 - 4 Ferguslie Star

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

22nd October 2016 Cambusnethan Talbot Community 1 - 2 Ferguslie Star

3rd Round

19th November 2016 Ferguslie Star 6 - 1 Westercommon Star

4th Round

10th December 2016 Ferguslie Star 1 - 3 Harestanes

Ferguslie Star AFC SAFL finishes:-

2013 - 14 Division 1A 2nd Promoted
2014 - 15 Premier Division Two 3rd Promoted
2015 - 16 Premier Division One 2nd Promoted and Centenary Cup Winners

Ferguslie Star AFC

Action from Saints visit to Ferguslie Star last October

Raymond Brown saves from Marc Maccallum

Dene Cassells heads over the crossbar

Craig MacEwan tries to close down Raymond Brown

Dene Cassells

Myles McAuley

Dene Cassells is upended by Derik McGrory

Raymond Brown can't keep out Willie Gemmell's free kick

David Brown clears Willie Gemmell's second half free kick off the line

Paul Carmichael lets fly

Craig MacEwan fires home the first of his three goals

Brian Mackay

Matthew Kelly

Craig MacEwan lifts the ball over Raymond Brown to seal his hat-trick

#monthesaints

Sunday, 22 January 2017

Stroll In The Park

Saturday 21st January 2017
Scottish Amateur Football League
Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Second Round Tie
Port Glasgow Old Boys Union AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Parklea Playing Fields
Greenock Road
Port Glasgow
PA14 6TR
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Jim McNeil

Saints Starting Line-up:-

Used Substitutes:-

Willie Gemmell
Ross Maitland
Dean Smith

Last Saturday at Parklea Saints began their defence of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy in confident style against one of the stalwarts of the Scottish Amateur Football League Port Glasgow Old Boy's Union AFC. Port Glasgow OBU celebrated their 110th anniversary in 2016 which is a fantastic achievement, particularly in the current climate of long established clubs having to fold. True to their motto, Port Glasgow OBU have remained Sure and Steadfast throughout their history and have a long and happy association with the Scottish Amateur Football League. OBU have admirably chosen not to follow the well worn path to other leagues taken by many long standing SAFL member clubs including close neighbours Greenock High School Former Pupils and Gourock Athletic, electing instead to stay with the Scottish Amateur Football League and battle on in search of that elusive promotion to the Premier Division.

Line-up

Martin Bonar, Jamie Graham and Matthew Kelly dropped out from the squad named for the Argyll Derby win against Campbeltown Pupils with Dean Smith returning to make up a fourteen man travelling party. Ever present Thomas McCulloch continued in goal behind a back four of David McArthur, Skipper Marc Maccallum, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Myles McAuley and Paul Kerr anchored the midfield with Donald Campbell just in front. Paul Carmichael spearheaded the attack flanked by Brian Mackay and Craig MacEwan. The experienced trio of Willie Gemmell, Ross Maitland and Dean Smith made up a very attack minded bench.

Stroll In The Park

The one mile stroll from the changing rooms at Parklea bowling club along the banks of the Clyde to the good sized grass park was a pleasant one made all the better when it revealed a good sized grass park bathed in January sunshine. The hosts kicked off but it was Saints who immediately gained possession with Craig MacEwan wining a free kick twenty three yards out and slightly left of centre. Donald Campbell took responsibility for the dead ball but sent a poor effort into the wall. Donald fared slightly better with the rebound getting his shot on target but with insufficient power to trouble Mark Turner in the OBU goal. Restored to the full back slot after a three match stint at centre half David McArthur was relishing the chance to get forward on the right wing and sent in a teasing cross in the fourth minute which Turner did well to pick out in the low sun ahead of Craig MacEwan. Donald Campbell had another dead ball opportunity in the fifth minute and lofted a good ball into the box however the low sun shining across the park made any high balls from the Saints right difficult to pick out and Paul Carmichael miscued his header high and wide. Carmichael followed this effort up with a strong run on the left supported by Myles McAuley. A sixteen yard shot from Myles was blocked with Craig MacEwan reacting first to the loose ball and curling an effort towards the postage stamp corner which Mark Turner got his fingertips to at the expense of a corner kick. There was again no joy from Donald Campbell's delivery from the right with the home defence comfortably clearing the danger. OBU ventured forward for the first time in the tenth minute with Skipper Iain McEwan getting away from Dene Cassells and sending in a shot from a tight angle which Thomas McCulloch could only parry across the face of his goal. Fortunately for Saints Skipper Marc Maccallum was alive to the danger getting back to mop up the loose ball ahead of lone OBU striker Kevin Franck. Saints raced to the other end and Scott Maitland had a low left foot shot blocked behind for a corner kick. Donald Campbell's in-swinger from the left was met by David McArthur on the six yard line who climbed well but couldn't direct his header on target sending it just wide of Mark Turner's left hand post. With only one striker to occupy the back four Saints full backs David McArthur and Scott Maitland were able to push forward at every opportunity. McArthur linked up well with Brian Mackay in the fourteenth minute to create a shooting chance for Mackay which cannoned off George McGowan and out for another corner kick from the right. Donald Campbell this time opted for a lower trajectory picking out David McArthur whose hook shot from nine yards hit Johnathon Archdeacon on the back and was hoofed clear. Myles McAuley had a run through the midfield halted unfairly by Jordan Axeworthy in the sixteenth minute. Paul Kerr took the free kick quickly rolling the ball to Craig MacEwan who fed Donald Campbell on the right hand corner of the box. Donald swung in a good cross looking for MacEwan's run but Craig's header, again made difficult by the low sun, looped wide of target. An almost identical cross from Donald two minutes later was met this time by the head of Paul Carmichael but with a similarly disappointing result. Saints made the breakthrough which their almost complete domination deserved in the nineteenth minute. Donald Campbell threaded a pass through the inside right channel for Brian Mackay who raced in behind the high OBU defensive line, around keeper Turner and squared to Paul Carmichael who slid in at the back post to poke the ball into the unguarded net. Saints doubled their advantage five minutes later when Paul Carmichael gave chase to a long diagonal ball from Dene Cassells beating Craig Hill in a foot race and picking out Donald Campbell who timed his run to the back post perfectly before calmly stroking home from six yards. The OBU defence claimed Donald had strayed offside however Referee Mr McNeil was not interested and turned down their appeals having words with Craig Hill. The sense of injustice continued from the home side and Jordan Axeworthy found his way into the Referee's note book for an over the ball challenge on Myles McAuley just inside the Saints half. Thankfully Myles sustained no damage and was able to link up with Scott Maitland from a throw-in on the left working his way into the box and shooting low to the near post forcing Mark Turner to save with his feet at the expense of a corner. McAuley was in the thick of the action again in the thirty eighth minute providing a cross from the left which Paul Carmichael volleyed home left footed for Saints third goal. Myles continued his purple patch creating an opportunity for Craig MacEwan in the thirty ninth minute whose low right foot shot grazed the outside of Mark Turner's left hand post on it's way wide. In the last action of the first half Craig MacEwan was clipped just outside of the OBU box and was inches away from connecting with Donald Campbell's free kick which also found it's way wide of Turner's left hand post.

Saints kicked off the second half and immediately resumed where they had left off. Craig MacEwan curled a right foot shot towards the postage stamp corner which Mark Turner at full stretch finger tipped behind for a corner kick. Donald Campbell's delivery from the corner flag was deep to the back post and was returned on the half volley by Brian Mackay whose shot across the face of the goal flew narrowly wide of the post. The early second half pressure from Saints bore fruit in the forty eighth minute when Craig MacEwan thumped a shot off the crossbar and had the presence of mind to gather the rebound, trick his way past two defenders and roll the ball past the OBU keeper from ten yards. There was to be no respite for the home defence as straight from the re-start Craig MacEwan and Paul Carmichael burst through again. Paul's shot was blocked by Mark Turner but Craig was on the spot to curl the loose ball high into the net for Saints fifth goal. Full credit to the home side who despite being well beaten all over the park never gave up or resorted to violent tactics. Their commitment to the cause was almost rewarded in the fifty first minute when for once they got the better of Saints solid midfield and defence to create an opening for Iain McEwan. The OBU Skipper sent a shot across Thomas McCulloch who had to throw out a strong left hand to turn the ball round the post. Saints rounded off a rampant fifteen minutes with a Myles McAuley shot just wide of target before the on fire Craig MacEwan sealed his hat-trick volleying home a Scott Maitland cross from the left. Tormentor in chief MacEwan declared on three and was replaced by Ross Maitland on the hour mark with Willie Gemmell and Dean Smith also joining the action to replace Paul Kerr and Brian Mackay respectively. Dene Cassells made a mazy run out from the back in the sixty second minute which was halted unfairly twenty eight yards from goal by the combined efforts of George McGowan and Peter Williamson. So often deadly from that range Willie Gemmell unfortunately sent the free kick crashing into the four man OBU wall. A long ball over the top in the sixty fifth minute caught out the otherwise untroubled Saints central defensive pairing of Marc Maccallum and Dene Cassells. Dene gave chase to Jordan Axeworthy fouling the OBU midfielder in the process. The free kick gave the home side the chance to test Thomas McCulloch but the uneventful afternoon continued for the big Saints keeper when Axeworthy's shot trundled harmlessly wide of his left hand post. As the sun disappeared from the sky both the temperature and the pace of the game dropped. Dene Cassells continued to push forward and combined with Ross Maitland to set up Willie Gemmell for a shot from distance which flew wide of Mark Turner's left hand post. In the seventy first minute a good pass on the right from David McArthur sent Paul Carmichael racing up the touchline. A terrific cross on the run from Paul was met at the near post by a diving header from Dean Smith on the six yard line which Dean was disappointed to see go well wide. Mr McNeil produced the second card of a quiet afternoon for him in the seventy third minute taking the name of Michael Hepburn for kicking the ball away after a push on Paul Carmichael resulted in a Saints free kick. From Willie Gemmell's delivery into the box Paul Carmichael attempted an overhead kick which unfortunately he couldn't connect well enough with skying his spectacular effort over the crossbar. Mark Turner produced three good saves in quick succession to deny Ross Maitland twice and then Dean Smith at the near post at the expense of a corner kick. The frustration continued for Dean in the seventy ninth minute when he was just behind a tempting cross from the right from David McArthur. Dean's desperation for a goal led him to snatch a twenty two yard shot high and wide when a pass to Ross Maitland looked a far better option. Paul Carmichael repeated the feat just one minute later to take the missed chances tally comfortably beyond those successfully converted. There was still time for Mark Turner to produce two more saves firstly leaping high to his left to claw away a Dene Cassells shot and then a considerably more routine stop from a weak Donald Campbell effort. Turner's saves and Saints wayward finishing ensured no further scoring with the six nil win sending Saints through to the third round where they will face a trip to either Arkleston United or Shawlands F.P.