The Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Saturday 25th February 2017
Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Third Round
Arkleston Barrhead AFC 1 - 3 Oban Saints AFC
Cowan Park 3G
Aurs Road
Glasgow
G78 2SJ
Kick off 1pm
Referee Mr John McNab
Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Martin Bonar
Jamie Graham
Dean Smith
Unused substitute:-
Alex Craik
Last Saturday at Cowan Park, Barrhead Oban Saints booked their place in the Quarter Finals of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy with a 3 - 1 victory over Premier Division 2B leaders Arkleston Barrhead. The journey to Barrhead was made in heavy rain on flooded roads but safe on the knowledge that the fixture was scheduled for the new 3G facility at Cowan Park. To the relief of all concerned no Ark was required and the rain cleared in time for kick off. The match was played in bright sunshine but with a strong wind blowing across the park towards the parkside touchline where the Saints contingent had assembled.
Fortunately no Ark was required
Manager Alex Craik made several changes from the line-up which had defeated Drumchapel Colts on Saints last outing the most notable being a first competitive appearance of the season for goalkeeper Graham "Sugar" Douglas. Matthew Kelly was restored to the right back slot with David McArthur moving infield to partner Skipper Marc Maccallum. Scott Maitland completed the back four occupying his regular left back position. After missing his first game of the season against Drumchapel Colts Paul Kerr returned to the midfield alongside Willie Gemmell and Brian Mackay. Up front Donald Campbell lead the line flanked by Ross Maitland and Craig MacEwan. The Gaffer named himself on a strong bench with Martin Bonar, Jamie Graham and Dean Smith for company.
Saints kicked off with the advantage of the slight slope and were quickly into their stride dominating the opening ten minutes. In the fifth minute Willie Gemmell split Arky defenders John McDade and David Fulton with an excellent pass for Donald Campbell to run onto. Unfortunately for Donald Arky keeper Andrew Duncan read the danger with the former Airdrieonians man coming quickly off his line to smother the ball at Donald's feet. Willie Gemmell then decided to try his luck from distance bringing a fine save from Andrew Duncan low down to his left after a lay off from Donald Campbell. Such was the ferocity of Willie's shot that the keeper was unable to hold it and Craig MacEwan pounced on the loose ball which he sent just over the junction of post and bar from the corner of the six yard box.
Arky began to come to terms with the Saints movement holding their shape well to deny their visitors openings they craved. The home side created the first of several presentable chances in the thirteenth minute with Kevin Brown making a good run on the left and cutting back for Paul Quinn who shot wide of Sugar's right hand post. Six minutes later, again from a break on the left, Sugar got his angles spot on to deny Kristoffer Cameron at his near post. Saints went immediately on the attack with an excellent passing move from the back all the way through to Craig MacEwan whose shot from a tight angle flew across the face of goal and wide of Andrew Duncan's right hand post. Arky Skipper David Fulton sent in a twenty second minute free kick causing a stramash in the Saints box with the ball eventually falling to Jamie Henderson who skewed a shot well wide of target and out for a throw-in. Henderson was involved again three minutes later finding Kevin Brown in space in the box with a cross from the left. With more time and space than he was entitled to expect Brown fired his shot straight at Graham Douglas who was relieved to make a comfortable save.
With the home side having come to terms with the Saints movement the visitors took the lead slightly against the run of play just before the half hour mark. The goal from Craig MacEwan was virtually identical to his opener against Ferguslie Star at Glencruitten four weeks ago save that the assist this time came from Marc Maccallum. Just as David McArthur had done previously Marc Maccallum carried the ball into the opposition half and sent a deep cross into the box looking for the head of Craig MacEwan. Craig timed his leap perfectly to get above John McDade and loop a header over Andrew Duncan into the the postage stamp corner. Saints were almost caught out from the restart when Marc Maccallum and David McArthur were both pulled out the centre leaving Kristoffer Cameron a free header from a Brian McWilliams cross from the right which he mercifully sent wide of Sugar's right hand post.
Saints doubled their advantage in the thirty third minute from a Ross Maitland corner from the left. Donald Campbell threaded a ball down up the left wing for Ross who made a jinking run into the box but was beaten by a well timed tackle from Gavin Holley. Ross sent his corner kick deep to the back post where Donald Campbell pulled the ball down and from ten yards lashed a shot past Andrew Duncan's despairing right hand, over the head of Gavin Holley on the goal line, and into the top corner of the net. Saints were well on top at this point and spurned two good chances to make the tie safe before the half-time interval. In the thirty sixth a good move from the left involving Scott Maitland, Brian Mackay, Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan worked the ball across the park for Ross Maitland who saw his shot from sixteen yards well saved by Andrew Duncan. Two minutes later another excellent defence splitting pass from Willie Gemmell sent Craig MacEwan spinning in behind the Arky back three however, from a tight angle, Craig could only find the side netting.
With five of the first forty five minutes remaining Saints skipper Marc Maccallum was penalised for a foul on Kevin Brown thirty yards from goal with opposite number David Fulton sending the resulting free-kick high over the Saints crossbar. Maccallum was in the thick of the action just one minute later showing good strength to see out Kristoffer Cameron who had threatened to latch onto a miscued clearing header by David McArthur.
The hosts pulled one back on the stroke of half-time in slightly controversial circumstances. Jamie Henderson appeared to control a bouncing ball with his upper arm however there was no disputing the quality of his finish with a rasping drive from twenty eight yards flying past Graham Douglas and into his top right hand corner. The late counter from the hosts was a blow to Saints who really should have had more than a slender one goal advantage to show for their first half efforts.
The hosts kicked off the second half which, for almost thirty minutes, had Saints wishing they had made more of their early first half domination with the crucial fourth goal of the match looking just as likely to come for either side. In the fifty third minute Matthew Kelly was fouled just inside the Arky half by Paul Quinn. Donald Campbell took the free-kick quickly almost playing in Brian Mackay who was thwarted by Andrew Duncan's quick dash off his line snuff out the danger. The Arky keeper then launched the ball upfield where David McAthur got underneath his attempted clearing header sending the ball spinning back towards his own goal. With Kevin Brown bearing down on him Graham Douglas could only claw the ball behind for a corner kick. Sugar was far more assured with the corner kick safely collecting the in-swinger from the right under his crossbar. After a difficult few months Donald Campbell looks slowly to be returning to his best however the elusive killer pass continued to elude him with his fifty sixth minute run and cross from the right too close to the keeper and out of reach for Craig MacEwan racing in at the back post. The pattern continued just one minute later when Ross Maitland was left frustrated as Andrew Duncan cut out another Donnie delivery from the right. Arky second half substitute Michael Brown made an almost impact on proceedings following a good move on the right wing. Kevin Brown worked the ball along the eighteen yard line to namesake Michael who fired in a powerful shot drawing an excellent save from Graham Douglas who turned the ball around his left hand post for a corner kick.
After eighteen second half minutes Saints Manager Alex Craik rang the changes replacing Willie Gemmell and Ross Maitland with Jamie Graham and Dean Smith. The Gaffer also decided on a change of formation matching up with the home sides 3-5-2 with Jamie joining Marc Maccallum and David McArthur at the back and Dean partnering Craig MacEwan up front. Michael Brown tested Graham Douglas again in the sixty sixth minute with a good turn and shot which Sugar held comfortably. At the other end Dean Smith looked to make a similarly early impact trying to catch out Andrew Duncan at his near post with a shot which the Arky keeper did well to hold. The long ball over the top once again brought a moment of panic for the Saints defence when David McArthur and Jamie Graham lost Kevin Brown with the Arky striker thankfully lofting his first time effort over the crossbar.
Andrew Duncan brought off another fine save from Brian Mackay before John McDade picked up the first booking of the afternoon for a late challenge on Dean Smith in the seventy second minute, a card which was ultimately to prove costly to for the Arky defender. Donald Campbell lined up the free-kick but sent his effort from twenty two yards twelve inches over the Arky crossbar. The decisive goal came Saints way in the seventy second minute when a delightful lay-off by Dean Smith from a Donald Campbell pass sent Craig MacEwan in behind the Arky defence and through on goal. Craig kept his composure to slot the ball past Andrew Duncan and notch his fourteenth goal of a red hot scoring streak since the turn of the year.
Matthew Kelly made way for Martin Bonar in the seventy fifth minute with the big utility man taking up the wide right position in the five man midfield. Kevin Brown appealed more in hope than expectation for a seventy sixth minute penalty kick but Mr McNab, who had a good game, was not interested. Regrettably John McDade continued his protests too long for the Referee's liking receiving a second yellow card and consequently his marching orders. Spurred on by a sense of injustice Arky were in no mood to give up the fight and kept pressing forward leaving gaps at the back which Saints with their numerical advantage could and should have exploited. Two very tight offside calls from Mr McNab denied Dean Smith and Craig MacEwan clear sights of goal while at the other end a timely block by Marc Maccallum took the sting out of a Michael Brown shot leaving Graham Douglas with a comfortable save. Brown continued to keep the Saints defence occupied again latching onto a long ball to race through on goal only to have the ball taken away from him by a perfectly timed last ditch sliding challenge from Jamie Graham. The Arky substitute was convinced he should of had a penalty however the only award he received was a yellow card from Mr McNab. In the closing minutes Arky keeper Andrew Duncan denied Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith firstly shovelling Craig's shot onto his own crossbar before throwing out his right leg to deflect Dean's effort away from goal. Referee McNab made it a hat-trick of declined penalty appeals in the ninety first minute. Andrew Duncan appeared to impede Donald Campbell however as Donald managed to maintain his balance long enough to get his shot away the Referee turned down what looked a very strong claim for a penalty. Donald's shot from a very tight angle was turned behind for a corner kick by second half substitute Andrew Smith who had made up good ground to get back on the goal line. Dean Smith's corner kick from the left was too high for David McArthur and was the final action of the match with Mr McNab blowing for full time as the ball was cleared from the Arky box.
Saints reward for their exertions is a home quarter final tie against Arkleston Barrhead's Premier Division 2B title rivals Port Glasgow which will be the Glencruitten faithful's last chance to see their favourites in cup action on home soil this season.
Team Captains David Fulton and Marc Maccallum with Referee John McNab
Andrew Duncan
Brian Mackay and Donald Campbell
Scott Maitland hurdles a tackle from Gary Kelly
Craig MacEwan opens the scoring with a looping header
Donald Campbell rifles home Saints second goal
Donald Campbell receives the congratulations of his team-mates
Marc Maccallum and Kristoffer Cameron
Graham "Sugar" Douglas collects a cross
Arky goalscorer Jamie Henderson
Ross Maitland with Jamie Henderson in pursuit
Donald Campbell and Paul Quinn
Marc Maccallum
Matthew Kelly
Martin Bonar
Jamie Graham joins the attack
Craig MacEwan rounds off the scoring
Andrew Duncan saves at Dean Smith's feet
Craig MacEwan watches his effort come back off the crossbar
#monthesaints
 |
| The Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy |
Saturday 25th February 2017
Third Round
Cowan Park 3G
Aurs Road
Glasgow
G78 2SJ
Kick off 1pm
Referee Mr John McNab
Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Martin Bonar
Jamie Graham
Dean Smith
Unused substitute:-
Alex Craik
Last Saturday at Cowan Park, Barrhead Oban Saints booked their place in the Quarter Finals of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy with a 3 - 1 victory over Premier Division 2B leaders Arkleston Barrhead. The journey to Barrhead was made in heavy rain on flooded roads but safe on the knowledge that the fixture was scheduled for the new 3G facility at Cowan Park. To the relief of all concerned no Ark was required and the rain cleared in time for kick off. The match was played in bright sunshine but with a strong wind blowing across the park towards the parkside touchline where the Saints contingent had assembled.
 |
| Fortunately no Ark was required |
Manager Alex Craik made several changes from the line-up which had defeated Drumchapel Colts on Saints last outing the most notable being a first competitive appearance of the season for goalkeeper Graham "Sugar" Douglas. Matthew Kelly was restored to the right back slot with David McArthur moving infield to partner Skipper Marc Maccallum. Scott Maitland completed the back four occupying his regular left back position. After missing his first game of the season against Drumchapel Colts Paul Kerr returned to the midfield alongside Willie Gemmell and Brian Mackay. Up front Donald Campbell lead the line flanked by Ross Maitland and Craig MacEwan. The Gaffer named himself on a strong bench with Martin Bonar, Jamie Graham and Dean Smith for company.
Saints kicked off with the advantage of the slight slope and were quickly into their stride dominating the opening ten minutes. In the fifth minute Willie Gemmell split Arky defenders John McDade and David Fulton with an excellent pass for Donald Campbell to run onto. Unfortunately for Donald Arky keeper Andrew Duncan read the danger with the former Airdrieonians man coming quickly off his line to smother the ball at Donald's feet. Willie Gemmell then decided to try his luck from distance bringing a fine save from Andrew Duncan low down to his left after a lay off from Donald Campbell. Such was the ferocity of Willie's shot that the keeper was unable to hold it and Craig MacEwan pounced on the loose ball which he sent just over the junction of post and bar from the corner of the six yard box.
Arky began to come to terms with the Saints movement holding their shape well to deny their visitors openings they craved. The home side created the first of several presentable chances in the thirteenth minute with Kevin Brown making a good run on the left and cutting back for Paul Quinn who shot wide of Sugar's right hand post. Six minutes later, again from a break on the left, Sugar got his angles spot on to deny Kristoffer Cameron at his near post. Saints went immediately on the attack with an excellent passing move from the back all the way through to Craig MacEwan whose shot from a tight angle flew across the face of goal and wide of Andrew Duncan's right hand post. Arky Skipper David Fulton sent in a twenty second minute free kick causing a stramash in the Saints box with the ball eventually falling to Jamie Henderson who skewed a shot well wide of target and out for a throw-in. Henderson was involved again three minutes later finding Kevin Brown in space in the box with a cross from the left. With more time and space than he was entitled to expect Brown fired his shot straight at Graham Douglas who was relieved to make a comfortable save.
With the home side having come to terms with the Saints movement the visitors took the lead slightly against the run of play just before the half hour mark. The goal from Craig MacEwan was virtually identical to his opener against Ferguslie Star at Glencruitten four weeks ago save that the assist this time came from Marc Maccallum. Just as David McArthur had done previously Marc Maccallum carried the ball into the opposition half and sent a deep cross into the box looking for the head of Craig MacEwan. Craig timed his leap perfectly to get above John McDade and loop a header over Andrew Duncan into the the postage stamp corner. Saints were almost caught out from the restart when Marc Maccallum and David McArthur were both pulled out the centre leaving Kristoffer Cameron a free header from a Brian McWilliams cross from the right which he mercifully sent wide of Sugar's right hand post.
Saints doubled their advantage in the thirty third minute from a Ross Maitland corner from the left. Donald Campbell threaded a ball down up the left wing for Ross who made a jinking run into the box but was beaten by a well timed tackle from Gavin Holley. Ross sent his corner kick deep to the back post where Donald Campbell pulled the ball down and from ten yards lashed a shot past Andrew Duncan's despairing right hand, over the head of Gavin Holley on the goal line, and into the top corner of the net. Saints were well on top at this point and spurned two good chances to make the tie safe before the half-time interval. In the thirty sixth a good move from the left involving Scott Maitland, Brian Mackay, Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan worked the ball across the park for Ross Maitland who saw his shot from sixteen yards well saved by Andrew Duncan. Two minutes later another excellent defence splitting pass from Willie Gemmell sent Craig MacEwan spinning in behind the Arky back three however, from a tight angle, Craig could only find the side netting.
With five of the first forty five minutes remaining Saints skipper Marc Maccallum was penalised for a foul on Kevin Brown thirty yards from goal with opposite number David Fulton sending the resulting free-kick high over the Saints crossbar. Maccallum was in the thick of the action just one minute later showing good strength to see out Kristoffer Cameron who had threatened to latch onto a miscued clearing header by David McArthur.
The hosts pulled one back on the stroke of half-time in slightly controversial circumstances. Jamie Henderson appeared to control a bouncing ball with his upper arm however there was no disputing the quality of his finish with a rasping drive from twenty eight yards flying past Graham Douglas and into his top right hand corner. The late counter from the hosts was a blow to Saints who really should have had more than a slender one goal advantage to show for their first half efforts.
The hosts kicked off the second half which, for almost thirty minutes, had Saints wishing they had made more of their early first half domination with the crucial fourth goal of the match looking just as likely to come for either side. In the fifty third minute Matthew Kelly was fouled just inside the Arky half by Paul Quinn. Donald Campbell took the free-kick quickly almost playing in Brian Mackay who was thwarted by Andrew Duncan's quick dash off his line snuff out the danger. The Arky keeper then launched the ball upfield where David McAthur got underneath his attempted clearing header sending the ball spinning back towards his own goal. With Kevin Brown bearing down on him Graham Douglas could only claw the ball behind for a corner kick. Sugar was far more assured with the corner kick safely collecting the in-swinger from the right under his crossbar. After a difficult few months Donald Campbell looks slowly to be returning to his best however the elusive killer pass continued to elude him with his fifty sixth minute run and cross from the right too close to the keeper and out of reach for Craig MacEwan racing in at the back post. The pattern continued just one minute later when Ross Maitland was left frustrated as Andrew Duncan cut out another Donnie delivery from the right. Arky second half substitute Michael Brown made an almost impact on proceedings following a good move on the right wing. Kevin Brown worked the ball along the eighteen yard line to namesake Michael who fired in a powerful shot drawing an excellent save from Graham Douglas who turned the ball around his left hand post for a corner kick.
After eighteen second half minutes Saints Manager Alex Craik rang the changes replacing Willie Gemmell and Ross Maitland with Jamie Graham and Dean Smith. The Gaffer also decided on a change of formation matching up with the home sides 3-5-2 with Jamie joining Marc Maccallum and David McArthur at the back and Dean partnering Craig MacEwan up front. Michael Brown tested Graham Douglas again in the sixty sixth minute with a good turn and shot which Sugar held comfortably. At the other end Dean Smith looked to make a similarly early impact trying to catch out Andrew Duncan at his near post with a shot which the Arky keeper did well to hold. The long ball over the top once again brought a moment of panic for the Saints defence when David McArthur and Jamie Graham lost Kevin Brown with the Arky striker thankfully lofting his first time effort over the crossbar.
Andrew Duncan brought off another fine save from Brian Mackay before John McDade picked up the first booking of the afternoon for a late challenge on Dean Smith in the seventy second minute, a card which was ultimately to prove costly to for the Arky defender. Donald Campbell lined up the free-kick but sent his effort from twenty two yards twelve inches over the Arky crossbar. The decisive goal came Saints way in the seventy second minute when a delightful lay-off by Dean Smith from a Donald Campbell pass sent Craig MacEwan in behind the Arky defence and through on goal. Craig kept his composure to slot the ball past Andrew Duncan and notch his fourteenth goal of a red hot scoring streak since the turn of the year.
Matthew Kelly made way for Martin Bonar in the seventy fifth minute with the big utility man taking up the wide right position in the five man midfield. Kevin Brown appealed more in hope than expectation for a seventy sixth minute penalty kick but Mr McNab, who had a good game, was not interested. Regrettably John McDade continued his protests too long for the Referee's liking receiving a second yellow card and consequently his marching orders. Spurred on by a sense of injustice Arky were in no mood to give up the fight and kept pressing forward leaving gaps at the back which Saints with their numerical advantage could and should have exploited. Two very tight offside calls from Mr McNab denied Dean Smith and Craig MacEwan clear sights of goal while at the other end a timely block by Marc Maccallum took the sting out of a Michael Brown shot leaving Graham Douglas with a comfortable save. Brown continued to keep the Saints defence occupied again latching onto a long ball to race through on goal only to have the ball taken away from him by a perfectly timed last ditch sliding challenge from Jamie Graham. The Arky substitute was convinced he should of had a penalty however the only award he received was a yellow card from Mr McNab. In the closing minutes Arky keeper Andrew Duncan denied Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith firstly shovelling Craig's shot onto his own crossbar before throwing out his right leg to deflect Dean's effort away from goal. Referee McNab made it a hat-trick of declined penalty appeals in the ninety first minute. Andrew Duncan appeared to impede Donald Campbell however as Donald managed to maintain his balance long enough to get his shot away the Referee turned down what looked a very strong claim for a penalty. Donald's shot from a very tight angle was turned behind for a corner kick by second half substitute Andrew Smith who had made up good ground to get back on the goal line. Dean Smith's corner kick from the left was too high for David McArthur and was the final action of the match with Mr McNab blowing for full time as the ball was cleared from the Arky box.
Saints reward for their exertions is a home quarter final tie against Arkleston Barrhead's Premier Division 2B title rivals Port Glasgow which will be the Glencruitten faithful's last chance to see their favourites in cup action on home soil this season.
 |
| Team Captains David Fulton and Marc Maccallum with Referee John McNab |
 |
| Andrew Duncan |
 |
| Brian Mackay and Donald Campbell |
 |
| Scott Maitland hurdles a tackle from Gary Kelly |
 |
| Craig MacEwan opens the scoring with a looping header |
 |
| Donald Campbell rifles home Saints second goal |
 |
| Donald Campbell receives the congratulations of his team-mates |
 |
| Marc Maccallum and Kristoffer Cameron |
 |
| Graham "Sugar" Douglas collects a cross |
 |
| Arky goalscorer Jamie Henderson |
 |
| Ross Maitland with Jamie Henderson in pursuit |
 |
| Donald Campbell and Paul Quinn |
 |
| Marc Maccallum |
 |
| Matthew Kelly |
 |
| Martin Bonar |
 |
| Jamie Graham joins the attack |
 |
| Craig MacEwan rounds off the scoring |
 |
| Andrew Duncan saves at Dean Smith's feet |
 |
| Craig MacEwan watches his effort come back off the crossbar |
No comments:
Post a Comment