Saturday 11th March 2017
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
7th Round Tie Replay
Oban Saints AFC 4 - 3 Letham AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 1.30pm
Referee Mr Thomas Gilchrist
Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Dene Cassells
Myles McAuley
Dean Smith
Unused substitutes:-
Matthew Kelly
Ross Maitland
Last Saturday at Glencruitten Oban Saints and Perthshire Amateur Football Association Division One leaders and reigning Champions Letham served up the sequel to their Scottish Amateur Cup thriller which more than lived up to the previous week's first installment.
Injuries to Graham Douglas and Ross Maitland and the non-availability of Martin Bonar forced Manager Alex Craik to change his squad which he was also able to leave himself out of. Thomas McCulloch returned between the posts behind an unchanged back four of David McArthur, Skipper Marc Maccallum, Jamie Graham and Scott Maitland. The midfield also retained it's original cast of Paul Kerr, Willie Gemmell and Brian Mackay. Paul Carmichael was promoted from the bench to join Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan in attack. Dene Cassells and Myles McAuley returned after a two week absence to take their places on the bench alongside Matthew Kelly, Ross Maitland and Dean Smith.
Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end and the match was quickly up to the frantic speed of the previous encounter. A first minute barge into Paul Carmichael by Michael Rylance gave Saints a free kick midway inside the Letham half and wide on the Saints right. Willie Gemmell sent a dangerous ball to the back post where Gavin Smith beat Donald Campbell in the air to head behind for a corner kick on the Saints left. Willie Gemmell trotted across to take the kick and went low picking out Marc Maccallum at the near post. Marc let the ball run between his legs taking out three Letham defenders and opening up space for Paul Carmichael to slot the ball left footed low past Steven McEwan to open the scoring inside the second minute.
Saints kept Letham pinned backed and four minutes later had the opportunity to put some daylight between themselves and their visitors. A good passing move involving Paul Carmichael, Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan sent Brian Mackay racing into the Letham box chased by Sean Ferrie. The tall Letham skipper made a sliding tackle through the back of Brian winning the ball but felling the Saints man in the process. Referee Thomas Gilchrist had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and took the name of Letham midfielder Robbie Green for his protestations. Craig MacEwan had placed last week's penalty low to the keeper's right and that's exactly where Steven McEwan guessed this one would go. Craig however went diagonally opposite aiming for the postage stamp corner but sending the ball wide of the upright wasting the chance capitalise fully on Saints early domination.
Saints were almost in again in the ninth minute when a beautifully disguised Craig MacEwan pass from the eighteen yard line was fractionally too far in front of Donald Campbell running in from the blindside.
The Saints penalty miss gave the visitors a major confidence boost and Dale Smart stung the palms of Saints keeper Thomas McCulloch with a firmly struck shot from twenty five yards. In the eleventh minute Alan Cunningham lead a good counter attack on the Letham left firing a dangerous ball across the Saints goalmouth which just evaded Dale Smart racing in at the back post.
Willie Gemmell came within inches of doubling the Saints advantage in the thirteenth minute. Donald Campbell knocked down Willie's long ball to Craig MacEwan on the Letham eighteen yard line. Craig rolled the ball back to Willie who, from twenty eight yards, left Steven McEwan firmly rooted to the spot but sent his shot the wrong side of the Letham keeper's left hand post.
Jamie Graham was penalised for a sixteenth minute challenge on William Carle just inside the Saints half. Dale Smart sent a straight ball into the Saints box which was headed clear with Scott Maitland launching a swift counter attack. Brian Mackay raced into the Letham half but had his run matched stride for stride by Benn Blyth who made a vital challenge to halt Brian's run on the eighteen yard line.
Despite still making good use of the long throw-in Letham were a little less direct in their approach compared to the previous week and looked particularly dangerous on the left wing. In the eighteenth minute Jamie Graham was beaten by William Carle trying to see the ball out for a goal kick after another break on the Letham left. The big Letham striker dispossessed Jamie and fired a low cross into the six yard box where Scott Maitland was well placed to turn the ball behind for a corner kick. Letham carry a particular aerial threat but the Saints defence were equal to the task and cleared the corner kick from the right comfortably.
Donald Campbell spurned a good opportunity to work Steven McEwan in the Letham goal latching onto a twentieth minute Craig MacEwan turn and lay off but sending his shot from eighteen yards straight at the Letham keeper.
A calamitous five minute period from Saints completely undone their own good start and handed the initiative firmly to the visitors. A long throw from the left from Alan Cunningham bounced across the Saints box where Willie Gemmell inexplicably through out an arm to control the ball giving Mr Gilchrist an easy decision to award a penalty kick to Letham. The chance to bring his team back into the match was grabbed with both hands by William Carle who succeeded where Craig MacEwan had failed in finding the postage stamp corner.
Letham's only change from the previous week's encounter was to bring in Aaron Galletly to replace Jamie Ayton on the right. The powerful right sided midfielder became the second name in Mr Gilchrist's notebook for a late sliding challenge on Brian Mackay in the twenty fourth minute. The free kick came to nothing with the visitors able to make good ground on the left winning a throw-in level with the Saints eighteen yard line. Saints again failed to deal with the long throw-in allowing the ball to bounce in the box with Aaron Galletly nipping in at the near post to bundle home from six yards and turn the scoreline on it's head.
Things turned from bad to worse in the twenty seventh minute when Saints were carved open down their right hand side once again. Dale Smart turned the ball across the face of goal for strike partner William Carle to knock past the hopelessly exposed Thomas McCulloch leaving Saints a mountain to climb to get back into a game which they had been firmly in control of just five minutes earlier.
A shell shocked Saints dusted themselves down thankful that there was plenty of time left on the clock to complete their assent and took heart from a good opening created on the half hour mark although Craig MacEwan's shot at goal lacked the power to fully extend Steven McEwan who made a comfortable save.
Saints reached base camp in the thirty second minute with a trademark Willie Gemmell free kick. Aaron Galletly fouled Donald Campbell twenty eight yards from goal and slightly left of centre. Willie who had drawn two good saves low down to his right from Steven McEwan from similar positions in the first match decided to go up and over the wall on this occasion. In classic Beckhamesque style Willie curled the ball over the three man wall and into the bottom corner to bring Saints roaring back into the game.
Saints opened up the Letham back three again in the thirty sixth minute with a good passing move to send Brian Mackay racing into the eighteen yard box. Gavin Smith made an excellent tackle to halt Brian's run at the expense of a corner kick. Willie Gemmell's delivery from the left once again looked for Marc Maccallum at the near post where the Saints Skipper beat Benn Blyth to won the flick on but only succeeded in finding the gloves of Steven McEwan who held Marc's looping header well.
Saints assent of the mountain reached a crucial stage five minutes before the interval. Scott Maitland made good ground on the Saints left and rolled a pass up to Craig MacEwan who quickly sent Brian Mackay spinning in behind Gavin Smith and into the box. Benn Blyth came across to block Brian's progress with the Saints man forced to turn the ball back to Scott Maitland. Scott fed Donald Campbell in space ten yards out from where Donald curled a delicious finish into the bottom corner past Steven McEwan's left hand.
Scott Maitland was involved again on the stroke of half-time powering past Robbie Green and into the box before scuffing a shot at Steven McEwan which the Letham keeper held comfortably.
The topsy turvy first half ended all square with Saints definitely the happier of the two teams to have clawed their way back into a game which had threatened to run away from them.
The second half was an entirely different proposition with Saints dominating almost entirely limiting their opponents to occasional counter attacks. However, despite their domination, Saints were unable to turn their superiority into goals with a mixture of poor finishing and good goal keeping ensuring the tie remained in the balance until the closing minutes.
Saints survived a first second half minute scare when Jamie Graham and Thomas McCulloch got into a fankle leaving a long ball over the top to each other. Gavin Anderson raced in and lifted the ball over Thomas and fortunately wide of the Saints keeper's left hand upright.
Saints retaliated one minute later with Steven McEwan producing the first of a string of excellent saves to claw away a terrific Craig MacEwan effort from the corner of the eighteen yard box.
Paul Kerr's perseverance forced Benn Blyth to concede a fifty second minute corner kick on the right. Willie Gemmell's near post delivery was partially cleared but Saints kept the pressure up winning another chance for Gemmell to put the ball into the danger area. Willie's second cross was deeper and was again only partially cleared with Scott Maitland winning the ball back for Donald Campbell. Donald carried the ball along the eighteen yard line and brought another fine save from McEwan this time low down to his right.
Letham reminded Saints of their threat on the break launching a counter attack from a Willie Gemmell free kick after Brian Mackay had been felled on the right. Steven McEwan palmed away Willie's cross with Aaron Galletly playing the ball up to William Carle on the half-way line. Carle held of the challenge of Jamie Graham and laid the ball off to the overlapping Galletley who raced towards the Saints box where Paul Kerr had made good ground and was perfectly positioned to snuff out the danger. Paul was covering every blade of grass in an inspirational performance and was soon involved at the other end. A deft Craig MacEwan lay off sent Paul Carmichael into the box whose cross from two yards short of the dead ball line was fractionally too high for Paul Kerr at the back post.
Saints continued to ask most of the questions but the Letham defence remained resolute. In the sixty third minute Sean Ferrie snuffed out a promising opening for Paul Carmichael with a well timed challenge on the eighteen yard line. One minute later Steven McEwan denied Donald Campbell again acrobatically tipping over Donald's dipping shot for a corner kick. Not for the first time Marc Maccallum won the near post header and was unfortunate to see him effort stopped on the goal line by Nathan Kennedy.
Brian Mackay's industry was a constant source of worry for the Letham rearguard however his finishing proved less so with two very presentable chances spurned in as many minutes. A curling shot high and wide of Steven McEwan's right hand post was quickly followed by a low effort wide of the opposite post.
Willie Gemmell varied his corner routine in the seventy first minute pulling back to Brian Mackay on the corner of the box. Aaron Galletly read the danger and quickly turned defence into attack racing up the left wing only to be stopped by Paul Kerr who was once again on hand to mop up.
More chances came and went with Craig MacEwan narrowly failing to find Donald Campbell with a ball along the six yard line after a driving run into the Letham box. This was quickly followed in the seventy third minute by another Steven McEwan save this time from a Paul Kerr shot from the edge of the box.
Paul Carmichael found his way into Referee Gilchrist's notebook in the seventy fourth minute and then into his team mates' bad books one minute later opting for a difficult pass to Craig MacEwan instead of taking on a good shooting opportunity himself.
As the game wore on Saints were getting in behind the Letham defence with increasing regularity but the killer finish continued to elude them. Craig MacEwan's cross on the run from the right in the seventy sixth minute was agonisingly just behind Paul Carmichael.
A hopeful Letham appeal for handball against Marc Maccallum was dismissed by Mr Gilchrist with the Motherwell whistler indicating that Marc had controlled the ball with his chest. With ten minutes remaining there was another glimmer of a chance for the visitors when William Carle found himself in space at the back post however he was unable to control a looping cross from the right sending the ball behind for a goal kick.
Benn Blyth was fortunate to escape a booking for a trip on Brian Mackay on the halfway line in the eighty second minute with Mr Gilchrist content to give the stylish young central defender the benefit of the doubt.
With six minutes of the ninety remaining and extra time looking a distinct possibility Saints finally reached the summit of the mountain they had given themselves to climb. Donald Campbell made a surging run into the box holding off the close attentions of Michael Rylance to reach the bye-line. Donald's cut back was frustratingly just behind Paul Carmichael on the six yard line however Paul Kerr was on hand to rifle the ball home from eight yards beating Steven McEwan low down at his near post.
Knowing that a Letham aerial assault would be forthcoming Manager Alex Craik immediately withdrew Willie Gemmell replacing him with Dene Cassells to add height at the back. Dene was immediately into the thick of action winning a vital header against William Carle from a deep cross from the right wing.
Having run himself into the ground Brian Mackay made way for Myles McAuley in the eighty seventh minute. Paul Kerr's heroic performance came to end moments later when he picked up a knock making a vital block to stop a Letham counter attack deep in the Letham half. Paul was replaced by Dean Smith whose fresh legs up front would provide the out ball with Paul Carmichael and Donald Campbell dropping deeper to bolster the midfield.
Saints survived one more aerial scare when Dene Cassells again denied William Carle a clean header with the Saints substitute getting a vital touch to head over his own crossbar for a corner kick.
Thankfully Saints saw off the danger and managed to run down the clock to inflict a first defeat of the season on their Perthshire opponents. The four additional minutes allowed by the Referee, who had an excellent game, were not without incident with Mr Gilchrist using all his experience to successfully keep the lid on a ninety third minute flash point when Gavin Anderson slid in late on Paul Carmichael on the touchline in front of the Letham Bench. The badly timed tackle sparked a melee which Mr Gilchrist brought under control and earned Anderson a yellow card which was the final act of a blockbuster of a cup tie full of skill and endeavour from both sides.
Saints will now face Barca-Milton 97 of the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Championship in the quarter finals. The tie is scheduled for Saturday 25th March at the Jewel, Duddingston, Edinburgh.
Oban Saints AFC 4 - 3 Letham AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 1.30pm
Referee Mr Thomas Gilchrist
Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Dene Cassells
Myles McAuley
Dean Smith
Unused substitutes:-
Matthew Kelly
Ross Maitland
Last Saturday at Glencruitten Oban Saints and Perthshire Amateur Football Association Division One leaders and reigning Champions Letham served up the sequel to their Scottish Amateur Cup thriller which more than lived up to the previous week's first installment.
Injuries to Graham Douglas and Ross Maitland and the non-availability of Martin Bonar forced Manager Alex Craik to change his squad which he was also able to leave himself out of. Thomas McCulloch returned between the posts behind an unchanged back four of David McArthur, Skipper Marc Maccallum, Jamie Graham and Scott Maitland. The midfield also retained it's original cast of Paul Kerr, Willie Gemmell and Brian Mackay. Paul Carmichael was promoted from the bench to join Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan in attack. Dene Cassells and Myles McAuley returned after a two week absence to take their places on the bench alongside Matthew Kelly, Ross Maitland and Dean Smith.
Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end and the match was quickly up to the frantic speed of the previous encounter. A first minute barge into Paul Carmichael by Michael Rylance gave Saints a free kick midway inside the Letham half and wide on the Saints right. Willie Gemmell sent a dangerous ball to the back post where Gavin Smith beat Donald Campbell in the air to head behind for a corner kick on the Saints left. Willie Gemmell trotted across to take the kick and went low picking out Marc Maccallum at the near post. Marc let the ball run between his legs taking out three Letham defenders and opening up space for Paul Carmichael to slot the ball left footed low past Steven McEwan to open the scoring inside the second minute.
Saints kept Letham pinned backed and four minutes later had the opportunity to put some daylight between themselves and their visitors. A good passing move involving Paul Carmichael, Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan sent Brian Mackay racing into the Letham box chased by Sean Ferrie. The tall Letham skipper made a sliding tackle through the back of Brian winning the ball but felling the Saints man in the process. Referee Thomas Gilchrist had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and took the name of Letham midfielder Robbie Green for his protestations. Craig MacEwan had placed last week's penalty low to the keeper's right and that's exactly where Steven McEwan guessed this one would go. Craig however went diagonally opposite aiming for the postage stamp corner but sending the ball wide of the upright wasting the chance capitalise fully on Saints early domination.
Saints were almost in again in the ninth minute when a beautifully disguised Craig MacEwan pass from the eighteen yard line was fractionally too far in front of Donald Campbell running in from the blindside.
The Saints penalty miss gave the visitors a major confidence boost and Dale Smart stung the palms of Saints keeper Thomas McCulloch with a firmly struck shot from twenty five yards. In the eleventh minute Alan Cunningham lead a good counter attack on the Letham left firing a dangerous ball across the Saints goalmouth which just evaded Dale Smart racing in at the back post.
Willie Gemmell came within inches of doubling the Saints advantage in the thirteenth minute. Donald Campbell knocked down Willie's long ball to Craig MacEwan on the Letham eighteen yard line. Craig rolled the ball back to Willie who, from twenty eight yards, left Steven McEwan firmly rooted to the spot but sent his shot the wrong side of the Letham keeper's left hand post.
Jamie Graham was penalised for a sixteenth minute challenge on William Carle just inside the Saints half. Dale Smart sent a straight ball into the Saints box which was headed clear with Scott Maitland launching a swift counter attack. Brian Mackay raced into the Letham half but had his run matched stride for stride by Benn Blyth who made a vital challenge to halt Brian's run on the eighteen yard line.
Despite still making good use of the long throw-in Letham were a little less direct in their approach compared to the previous week and looked particularly dangerous on the left wing. In the eighteenth minute Jamie Graham was beaten by William Carle trying to see the ball out for a goal kick after another break on the Letham left. The big Letham striker dispossessed Jamie and fired a low cross into the six yard box where Scott Maitland was well placed to turn the ball behind for a corner kick. Letham carry a particular aerial threat but the Saints defence were equal to the task and cleared the corner kick from the right comfortably.
Donald Campbell spurned a good opportunity to work Steven McEwan in the Letham goal latching onto a twentieth minute Craig MacEwan turn and lay off but sending his shot from eighteen yards straight at the Letham keeper.
A calamitous five minute period from Saints completely undone their own good start and handed the initiative firmly to the visitors. A long throw from the left from Alan Cunningham bounced across the Saints box where Willie Gemmell inexplicably through out an arm to control the ball giving Mr Gilchrist an easy decision to award a penalty kick to Letham. The chance to bring his team back into the match was grabbed with both hands by William Carle who succeeded where Craig MacEwan had failed in finding the postage stamp corner.
Letham's only change from the previous week's encounter was to bring in Aaron Galletly to replace Jamie Ayton on the right. The powerful right sided midfielder became the second name in Mr Gilchrist's notebook for a late sliding challenge on Brian Mackay in the twenty fourth minute. The free kick came to nothing with the visitors able to make good ground on the left winning a throw-in level with the Saints eighteen yard line. Saints again failed to deal with the long throw-in allowing the ball to bounce in the box with Aaron Galletly nipping in at the near post to bundle home from six yards and turn the scoreline on it's head.
Things turned from bad to worse in the twenty seventh minute when Saints were carved open down their right hand side once again. Dale Smart turned the ball across the face of goal for strike partner William Carle to knock past the hopelessly exposed Thomas McCulloch leaving Saints a mountain to climb to get back into a game which they had been firmly in control of just five minutes earlier.
A shell shocked Saints dusted themselves down thankful that there was plenty of time left on the clock to complete their assent and took heart from a good opening created on the half hour mark although Craig MacEwan's shot at goal lacked the power to fully extend Steven McEwan who made a comfortable save.
Saints reached base camp in the thirty second minute with a trademark Willie Gemmell free kick. Aaron Galletly fouled Donald Campbell twenty eight yards from goal and slightly left of centre. Willie who had drawn two good saves low down to his right from Steven McEwan from similar positions in the first match decided to go up and over the wall on this occasion. In classic Beckhamesque style Willie curled the ball over the three man wall and into the bottom corner to bring Saints roaring back into the game.
Saints opened up the Letham back three again in the thirty sixth minute with a good passing move to send Brian Mackay racing into the eighteen yard box. Gavin Smith made an excellent tackle to halt Brian's run at the expense of a corner kick. Willie Gemmell's delivery from the left once again looked for Marc Maccallum at the near post where the Saints Skipper beat Benn Blyth to won the flick on but only succeeded in finding the gloves of Steven McEwan who held Marc's looping header well.
Saints assent of the mountain reached a crucial stage five minutes before the interval. Scott Maitland made good ground on the Saints left and rolled a pass up to Craig MacEwan who quickly sent Brian Mackay spinning in behind Gavin Smith and into the box. Benn Blyth came across to block Brian's progress with the Saints man forced to turn the ball back to Scott Maitland. Scott fed Donald Campbell in space ten yards out from where Donald curled a delicious finish into the bottom corner past Steven McEwan's left hand.
Scott Maitland was involved again on the stroke of half-time powering past Robbie Green and into the box before scuffing a shot at Steven McEwan which the Letham keeper held comfortably.
The topsy turvy first half ended all square with Saints definitely the happier of the two teams to have clawed their way back into a game which had threatened to run away from them.
The second half was an entirely different proposition with Saints dominating almost entirely limiting their opponents to occasional counter attacks. However, despite their domination, Saints were unable to turn their superiority into goals with a mixture of poor finishing and good goal keeping ensuring the tie remained in the balance until the closing minutes.
Saints survived a first second half minute scare when Jamie Graham and Thomas McCulloch got into a fankle leaving a long ball over the top to each other. Gavin Anderson raced in and lifted the ball over Thomas and fortunately wide of the Saints keeper's left hand upright.
Saints retaliated one minute later with Steven McEwan producing the first of a string of excellent saves to claw away a terrific Craig MacEwan effort from the corner of the eighteen yard box.
Paul Kerr's perseverance forced Benn Blyth to concede a fifty second minute corner kick on the right. Willie Gemmell's near post delivery was partially cleared but Saints kept the pressure up winning another chance for Gemmell to put the ball into the danger area. Willie's second cross was deeper and was again only partially cleared with Scott Maitland winning the ball back for Donald Campbell. Donald carried the ball along the eighteen yard line and brought another fine save from McEwan this time low down to his right.
Letham reminded Saints of their threat on the break launching a counter attack from a Willie Gemmell free kick after Brian Mackay had been felled on the right. Steven McEwan palmed away Willie's cross with Aaron Galletly playing the ball up to William Carle on the half-way line. Carle held of the challenge of Jamie Graham and laid the ball off to the overlapping Galletley who raced towards the Saints box where Paul Kerr had made good ground and was perfectly positioned to snuff out the danger. Paul was covering every blade of grass in an inspirational performance and was soon involved at the other end. A deft Craig MacEwan lay off sent Paul Carmichael into the box whose cross from two yards short of the dead ball line was fractionally too high for Paul Kerr at the back post.
Saints continued to ask most of the questions but the Letham defence remained resolute. In the sixty third minute Sean Ferrie snuffed out a promising opening for Paul Carmichael with a well timed challenge on the eighteen yard line. One minute later Steven McEwan denied Donald Campbell again acrobatically tipping over Donald's dipping shot for a corner kick. Not for the first time Marc Maccallum won the near post header and was unfortunate to see him effort stopped on the goal line by Nathan Kennedy.
Brian Mackay's industry was a constant source of worry for the Letham rearguard however his finishing proved less so with two very presentable chances spurned in as many minutes. A curling shot high and wide of Steven McEwan's right hand post was quickly followed by a low effort wide of the opposite post.
Willie Gemmell varied his corner routine in the seventy first minute pulling back to Brian Mackay on the corner of the box. Aaron Galletly read the danger and quickly turned defence into attack racing up the left wing only to be stopped by Paul Kerr who was once again on hand to mop up.
More chances came and went with Craig MacEwan narrowly failing to find Donald Campbell with a ball along the six yard line after a driving run into the Letham box. This was quickly followed in the seventy third minute by another Steven McEwan save this time from a Paul Kerr shot from the edge of the box.
Paul Carmichael found his way into Referee Gilchrist's notebook in the seventy fourth minute and then into his team mates' bad books one minute later opting for a difficult pass to Craig MacEwan instead of taking on a good shooting opportunity himself.
As the game wore on Saints were getting in behind the Letham defence with increasing regularity but the killer finish continued to elude them. Craig MacEwan's cross on the run from the right in the seventy sixth minute was agonisingly just behind Paul Carmichael.
A hopeful Letham appeal for handball against Marc Maccallum was dismissed by Mr Gilchrist with the Motherwell whistler indicating that Marc had controlled the ball with his chest. With ten minutes remaining there was another glimmer of a chance for the visitors when William Carle found himself in space at the back post however he was unable to control a looping cross from the right sending the ball behind for a goal kick.
Benn Blyth was fortunate to escape a booking for a trip on Brian Mackay on the halfway line in the eighty second minute with Mr Gilchrist content to give the stylish young central defender the benefit of the doubt.
With six minutes of the ninety remaining and extra time looking a distinct possibility Saints finally reached the summit of the mountain they had given themselves to climb. Donald Campbell made a surging run into the box holding off the close attentions of Michael Rylance to reach the bye-line. Donald's cut back was frustratingly just behind Paul Carmichael on the six yard line however Paul Kerr was on hand to rifle the ball home from eight yards beating Steven McEwan low down at his near post.
Knowing that a Letham aerial assault would be forthcoming Manager Alex Craik immediately withdrew Willie Gemmell replacing him with Dene Cassells to add height at the back. Dene was immediately into the thick of action winning a vital header against William Carle from a deep cross from the right wing.
Having run himself into the ground Brian Mackay made way for Myles McAuley in the eighty seventh minute. Paul Kerr's heroic performance came to end moments later when he picked up a knock making a vital block to stop a Letham counter attack deep in the Letham half. Paul was replaced by Dean Smith whose fresh legs up front would provide the out ball with Paul Carmichael and Donald Campbell dropping deeper to bolster the midfield.
Saints survived one more aerial scare when Dene Cassells again denied William Carle a clean header with the Saints substitute getting a vital touch to head over his own crossbar for a corner kick.
Thankfully Saints saw off the danger and managed to run down the clock to inflict a first defeat of the season on their Perthshire opponents. The four additional minutes allowed by the Referee, who had an excellent game, were not without incident with Mr Gilchrist using all his experience to successfully keep the lid on a ninety third minute flash point when Gavin Anderson slid in late on Paul Carmichael on the touchline in front of the Letham Bench. The badly timed tackle sparked a melee which Mr Gilchrist brought under control and earned Anderson a yellow card which was the final act of a blockbuster of a cup tie full of skill and endeavour from both sides.
Saints will now face Barca-Milton 97 of the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Championship in the quarter finals. The tie is scheduled for Saturday 25th March at the Jewel, Duddingston, Edinburgh.
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| Team Captains Sean Ferrie and Marc Maccallum with Referee Thomas Gilchrist |
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| Paul Carmichael opens the scoring |
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| Craig MacEwan beats Robbie Green in the air |
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| Thomas McCulloch punches clear |
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| William Carle with the first of Letham's three goals |
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| Willie Gemmell brings Saints back into the match |
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| Scott Maitland and Aaron Galletly |
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| Craig MacEwan takes on Gavin Smith |
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| Brian Mackay races into the Letham box |
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| Donald Campbell wheels away in celebration after netting the equaliser |
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| Brian Mackay, Donald Campbell and Scott Maitland celebrate Donald's equaliser |
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| Scott Maitland brushes past Robbie Green |
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| Craig MacEwan turns away from Benn Blyth |
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| Gavin Smith makes a vital interception |
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| Marc Maccallum |
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| Nathan Kennedy blocks Marc Maccallum's header on the line |
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| Willie Gemmell |
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| Paul Kerr and Benn Blyth |
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| Donald Campbell and Michael Rylance |
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| Letham Skipper Sean Ferrie hooks clear |
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| Steven McEwan |
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| Paul Kerr beats Steven McEwan at his near post to seal victory for Saints |
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| Paul Kerr, Brian Mackay and Paul Carmichael celebrate Paul's winning goal |
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