Winning In The Rain: Late Drama

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

7th Round Tie
Letham AFC 1 - 1 Oban Saints AFC
Seven Acres Park
Newhouse Road
Letham
Perth
PH1 2JB
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Kenny Taylor

Used Substitutes:-

Paul Carmichael

Dean Smith

Unused Substitutes:-

Martin Bonar

Alex Craik

Matthew Kelly

Last Saturday at Seven Acres Park, Perth Oban Saints and Letham served up a cracking Scottish Amateur Cup tie in front of a bumper crowd of 200 plus spectators. A successfully converted penalty kick from Craig MacEwan five minutes from time to equalise Sean Ferrie's fifty eighth minute opener earned Saints a hard fought draw with the sides now set to go again this Saturday at Glencruitten.

Hosts Letham are a club very much at the heart of the local community and the excellent turnout of spectators must have given them a major confidence boost in their bid for a first ever Scottish Amateur Cup quarter final place. The crowd was also swelled by a hardy band of Oban Saints fans who had travelled from Oban and Lochgilphead to cheer on their favourites. Saints would like to extend grateful thanks for their support.

The excellent 3G pitch at Seven Acres, just a goal kick away from St Johnstone's McDiarmid Park, is a fortress for Letham who were unbeaten in twenty six matches coming into Saturday's clash with Saints. The visitors own run of seven straight victories since the turn of the year made the tie a fascinating prospect which certainly didn't fail to deliver. Packed with incident and fizzing along at a frenetic pace from first minute to last the match was a fantastic advert for amateur football and a massive credit to both sides.

Saints Gaffer Alex Craik had his plans thrown into disarray when Matthew Kelly pulled up with a thigh strain during the warm-up forcing a shuffle in the back four. David McArthur moved to right back with Jamie Graham being promoted from the bench to partner Skipper Marc Maccallum in the centre. Scott Maitland took up his customary left back slot giving the back four a solid look in front of goalkeeper Graham Douglas who was making just his second appearance of the season. Elsewhere there were no changes to the side that had defeated Arkleston Barrhead in the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy on the previous Saturday. Paul Kerr and Willie Gemmell anchored the midfield behind Brian Mackay with Ross Maitland, Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan completing the line-up. The Gaffer named himself on a strong bench alongside Martin Bonar, Dean Smith and the fit again Paul Carmichael.

Saints settled quickly and had the game's first effort on target in the third minute. Willie Gemmell climbed well on the halfway line to win a header but was wiped out by a barge from Robbie Green whose lack of an attempt to play the ball earned him a ticking off from Referee Kenny Taylor. After some brief treatment Willie took the free kick himself rolling it up to Donald Campbell on the edge of the Letham box. Donald laid the ball off to Craig MacEwan who tee'd up Paul Kerr for a shot from the edge of the D. Paul's powerful effort was partially blocked by Letham Skipper Sean Ferrie taking the sting out of the shot on it's way through to Steven McEwan who made a smart save down to his left.

Saints quickly established control of the vital midfield area and threatened again after seven minutes. Donald Campbell picked out Brian Mackay's run through the inside left channel with a perfectly weighted pass which Brian latched onto outpacing Robbie Green's covering run. Brian cut inside Gavin Smith and shot across Steven McEwan beating the keeper's left hand but also the outside of the far post.

Saints measured approach was countered by the host's more direct style ensuring a busy afternoon for Marc Maccallum and Jamie Graham who had their hands full dealing with long balls played up to Dale Smart and William Carle. A miscued header from Jamie Graham put Scott Maitland under pressure forcing him to concede a corner kick on the Letham right. The home side looked particularly dangerous from set pieces but Saints kept their composure with Craig MacEwan beating Benn Blyth at the back post to head out for a second corner, this time from the left, which Jamie Graham held off the challenge of William Carle to head clear.

A fifteenth minute barge into the back of Brian Mackay by Michael Rylance twenty eight yards out and wide on the right gave Saints a set piece of their own to try and exploit. Unfortunately Ross Maitland, so often on the money from this position, sent his cross too close to Steven McEwan who made a comfortable catch under little pressure. Ross had a chance to improve on his delivery two minutes later after Michael Rylance sent Donald Campbell sprawling twenty eight yards out and wide on the right. Ross this time managed to find the head of Craig MacEwan who headed wide of the keeper's left hand upright.

Saints regular number one Thomas McCulloch was unavailable for this fixture but Graham Douglas proved to be an able deputy continuing the excellent form he showed against Arkleston Barrhead. An eighteenth minute corner kick from the left was won at the back post by William Carle and headed back across goal where Sean Ferrie attempted a spectacular overhead kick. Graham Douglas can't have seen much of it but produced an excellent instinctive save arching backwards and throwing up his right hand to finger tip the ball over the crossbar.

The strong start from Saints was now starting fade and the hosts were looking increasingly dangerous. In the twentieth minute Dale Smart raced in behind Jamie Graham and sent a shot across Graham Douglas but well wide of his left hand post. Barely sixty seconds later Dale Smart managed to get an effort on target however Graham Douglas was excellently positioned to make another vital save low down at his left hand post.

Saints responded with a good ball from the halfway line from Jamie Graham which Donald Campbell controlled and laid off to Willie Gemmell who snatched his shot well off target.

Letham rattled the woodwork in the thirty second minute when an excellent left foot volley from Gavin Anderson from twenty two yards crashed back off the crossbar with Graham Douglas well beaten.

Quick thinking from Willie Gemmell in the thirty seventh minute set up Craig MacEwan for a golden opportunity. Sean Ferrie felled Donald Campbell ten yards inside the Letham half and while the home side were still getting set for a high ball into the box Willie slotted a pass through the inside left channel for Craig MacEwan. Craig made a good turn on the eighteen yard line to open up space but from eight yards sent the ball just wide of Steven McEwan's left hand post just as Brian Mackay had done half an hour earlier.

Saints followed this up two minutes later with another good move through the midfield involving Willie Gemmell, Brian Mackay and Donald Campbell. Donald eventually worked the ball to Ross Maitland on the right of the Letham box with the Saints wide man testing Steven McEwan low down at his near post.

The improvement from Saints continued towards the half-time interval with Paul Kerr having another shot from the edge of the box which the Letham defence did well to charge down. With one first half minute remaining Ross Maitland forced a corner on the right chasing down a David McArthur pass. The out-swinger from Ross found Willie Gemmell at the back post whose left foot volley was blocked behind for another corner by Sean Ferrie. The big Letham Skipper thwarted Saints again diving head long to head clear Ross Maitland's corner at the near post.

The Referee blew for half-time with Letham, unusually at this level, retiring to the pavilion leaving Saints and Mr Taylor to get their breath back on the touchline.

Saints started the second half well with Donald Campbell volleying a Ross Maitland cross just over the crossbar however, after the despair of another chance sprurned, it soon became a case of defences on top with both back lines keeping their direct opponents firmly in check for the next ten minutes or so. In an attempt to re-invigorate the Saints attack Manager Alex Craik withdrew Ross Maitland replacing him with Paul Carmichael. However before Paul could make any kind of impact Saints would find themselves behind. In the fifty sixth minute Dale Smart scooped a free kick from nineteen yards over the crossbar after Jamie Graham had been penalised for holding. Just two minutes later Smart put in a far more punishing ball with an in-swinging corner from the right which Benn Blyth glanced on at the near post. The ball bounced across the face of the Saints goal to William Carle who headed back in the opposite direction for Sean Ferrie to nod home from four yards.

Paul Carmichael's height and strength was beginning to have the effect the Gaffer was looking for and on the hour mark he helped a Willie Gemmell long throw tantalisingly across the face of goal but unfortunately with now takers in navy blue.

Dale Smart continued to ask questions of the Saints defence shooting wide of the post and then straight into the grateful arms of Graham Doulas as Letham probed for a second goal to kill the tie.

Saints proved they are no slouches themselves from set plays when Donald Campbell won a free-kick twenty eight yards from goal and wide on the right. Willie Gemmell found the head of Craig MacEwan at the back post with the Saints top scorer crashing a header of the post which Letham scrambled behind for a corner. Willie Gemmell's in-swinger from the left was gathered by Letham keeper Steven McEwan under pressure from Craig MacEwan and David McArthur amid loud appeals from the Saints duo that he had carried the ball behind his goal-line. Mr Taylor who didn't have the best of views was not moved and signalled play on.

Paul Carmichael's persistence won a seventy fifth minute free-kick twenty eight yards out and slightly left of centre. Willie Gemmell fancied his chances and almost caught out Steven McEwan at his near post with the Letham keeper scrambling across his goal line to turn the ball round the post for a corner kick.

With twelve minutes of the ninety remaining Saints were incensed when Mr Taylor turned down what appeared to be a stonewall penalty appeal. Paul Carmichael cut inside from the right and was barged into by second half substitute Jordan Turnbull. Once again the Saints appeals fell on deaf ears with Mr Taylor having words with the Gaffer and taking the name of Skipper Marc Maccallum to add to the sense of frustration.

Saints kept up the pressure with Brian Mackay shooting wide and then winning another dead ball opportunity for Willie Gemmell drawing a challenge from Sean Ferrie which brought the Letham Skipper the game's second yellow card. Willie once again aimed for the bottom corner a ploy which bore exactly the same result as previously with the Letham keeper once again equal to the task.

With five minutes remaining Saints were rewarded for their perseverance with Mr Taylor again playing a prominent part. Paul Carmichael chased a ball up the right wing which Michael Rylance attempted to shepherd out for a goal kick. The ball barely had the momentum to reach the bye-line and Mr Taylor penalised Rylance for obstruction. Willie Gemmell rolled the free kick to Donald Campbell on the corner of the eighteen yard box. With his back to goal Donald flicked the ball up however second half Letham substitute Daniel Mathew cut across him knocking the ball away with his arm. Mr Taylor was this time perfectly placed to spot the infringement and awarded Saints a penalty kick. Top scorer Craig MacEwan stepped forward and kept his head under pressure to send Steven McEwan the wrong way and bring Saints level.

Saints Gaffer Alex Craik then made his final change replacing Willie Gemmell with Dean Smith who joined Craig MacEwan up front for the closing minutes with Donald Campbell and Paul Kerr dropping back into midfield.

The pace remained relentless with both sides trying to force a last gasp winner. Mr Taylor, who had an excellent game, allowed an additional four minutes which had nerves jangling on the side lines. Letham launched a series of long balls into the Saints box which were repelled finally setting up a ninety fourth minute breakaway lead by Brian Mackay. Brian nipped in front of Gavin Anderson to intercept a long throw on the Saints eighteen yard line and raced to the half way line. Faced by Michael Rylance Brian sprayed a diagonal pass to David McArthur who carried the ball to edge of the Letham penalty area electing not to shoot but to play in Dean Smith. The Saints bench willed the net to bulge alas Letham keeper McEwan spread himself well to stop Dean's left foot shot from nine yards much to the relief of his team mates and the majority of the massive crowd.

There was no time left on the watch and Mr Taylor brought the match to an end ensuring both sides would live to fight another day. The replay to decide who will face Barca-Milton 97 of the Lothian and Edinburgh Championship in the quarter finals takes place at Glencruitten this Saturday and should provide excellent viewing for the Saints home faithful.