Wednesday 17th May 2017
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Goldenhill AFC 2 - 3 Oban Saints AFC
Donald Dewar Leisure Centre
Garscadden Road
Drumchapel
Glasgow
G15 8SX
Kick off 7pm
Referee Mr John Campbell
Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitute:-
Martin Bonar
Unused substitutes:-
Alex Craik
Fraser MacFarlane
Last Wednesday night Oban Saints emerged victorious from the first of what looks likely to be four midweek away from home evening fixtures when they defeated Goldenhill at the Donald Dewar Centre, Drumchapel. With second place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division behind Champions St Joseph's FP still up for grabs Saints and hosts Goldenhill produced a high tempo match giving both teams a good workout ahead of impending crucial cup ties. Two second half wonder strikes from Paul Carmichael in response to an equally impressive hit from Goldenhill's Damon Gray helped Saints to a victory by the odd goal in five which keeps up their momentum ahead of next Friday's Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final.
Jamie Graham, Skipper Marc Maccallum and Dean Smith dropped out from the squad which had secured Saints place in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final with a 4 - 1 away win at Hillington four days earlier with Donald Campbell, Willie Gemmell and David McArthur returning to the travelling party.
Saints lined up with Thomas McCulloch in goal behind a back four of Matthew Kelly, David McArthur, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Willie Gemmell, Kerr Newbigging, Myles McAuley and Donald Campbell formed a midfield diamond with a twin strike force of Paul Carmichael and Craig MacEwan completing the line-up. Manager Alex Craik retained his place on the bench alongside Martin Bonar and Fraser MacFarlane.
The early exchanges on the tight grass park saw Goldenhill's Jack Bennett twice make vital interceptions to prevent Paul Carmichael getting on the end of Craig MacEwan flick on's and Kerr Newbigging tracking back well to cut off a Jonathon Dyer pass intended for James Gallagher.
Craig MacEwan came close to opening the scoring twice in as many minutes from a sixth minute counter attack after Dene Cassells had taken the ball away from Martin Lawlor on the Saints eighteen yard line. Saints broke up the left and Paul Carmichael took advantage of a mix-up between Gowdie defender Steven Dock and goalkeeper Ross Clark to set up Craig MacEwan for a shot which Jack Bennett took the sting out of with a flying block and Marc Morrison stopped on the goal line at the expense of a corner kick. Donald Campbell's corner kick from the right was headed out for a throw-in on the left from which Myles McAuley set up Craig for a shot from twenty yards which shaved the top of Ross Clark's crossbar.
Saints continued their bright start with a rampaging Paul Carmichael run winning a free-kick just outside the Gowdie box. Willie Gemmell's delivery into the box was headed clear for a throw-in from which Donald Campbell fizzed a low shot inches wide of Ross Clark's right hand post.
Paul Carmichael's direct runs continued to pose problems for the Gowdie rearguard and Paul won another free-kick in the fourteenth minute midway inside the Gowdie half. Willie Gemmell's lofted ball into the box was punched off the head of Kerr Newbigging by Gowdie keeper Ross Clark.
Goldenhill broke quickly through Reace Syed on the left and only a well timed sliding interception from Matthew Kelly prevented the speedy left winger from putting a dangerous ball into the box. Saints cleared the resulting corner and moved swiftly up the park where Craig MacEwan saw his back post header from a Willie Gemmell cross saved by Ross Clark.
The Gowdie keeper denied Paul Carmichael in the twenty first minute when a Willie Gemmell throw-in dropped invitingly for the big Saints striker on the six yard line. Clark did well to parry Carmichael's left foot effort and was quickly back on his feet gather when Kerr Newbigging sent the loose ball back on target.
Hearts were in mouths for the home side when a twenty fourth minute Willie Gemmell throw-in from the right came off the head of Christopher McGrath and flew inches wide of Ross Clark's right hand upright. Donald Campbell and Myles McAuley worked the resulting corner short and eventually across to Paul Carmichael at the back post whose spectacular overhead kick lacked the power to seriously extend Clark.
Goldenhill gained some respite from Saints early domination with a twenty seventh minute counter attack on the right where Paul O'Donnell drew a smart save from Thomas McCulloch at his near post. Jonathon Dyer followed this up one minute later with a snap shot from twenty five yards which cleared the top of the Saints crossbar by eighteen inches.
Saints made a deserved breakthrough just before the half hour mark after a concerted spell of pressure. Christopher McGrath picked up a yellow card for a shove on Paul Carmichael midway inside the Gowdie half on the Saints right. Willie Gemmell's free kick was headed out for a Myles McAuley throw-in on the right from which Donald Campbell worked the ball along the eighteen yard line to Craig MacEwan. Craig's low shot was well saved by Ross Clark diving full length to his right to palm the ball out for another throw-in. Saints kept the pressure on with the Gowdie defence unable to get out and finally Scott Maitland's driving run into the box and left foot shot across the keeper found the bottom corner.
Saints crisp passing kept them in the ascendancy and Paul Carmichael should have doubled the lead in the thirty seventh minute when Kerr Newbigging and Donald Campbell combined in the centre circle to send him racing through on goal pursued by Jack Bennett. Paul turned away from Bennett and lifted a delicate right foot chip over the head of Ross Clark stranded on his six yard line but unfortunately also over the crossbar.
Goldenhill rallied towards the end of the first half and Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland had to make important interceptions to stop Paul O'Donnell on the Gowdie right. Christopher McGrath had a shot from twenty five yards tipped over by Thomas McCulloch with David McArthur heading clear the resulting corner kick before Referee John Campbell blew for half-time.
The home side introduced Daniel Gibson and Damon Gray for the second half both of whom would make telling contributions. The narrow pitch was ideal for Gibson's long throws the first of which from the Gowdie right Matthew Kelly headed clear at the back post. Fellow substitute Gray brought the home side level with an incredible strike from the edge of the centre circle which left Thomas McCulloch clutching at thin air as it flew into the top corner past his right hand.
Gibson's electric pace on the right took him past Scott Maitland in the fifty third minute forcing Dene Cassells to come across to snuff out the danger at the expense of another of the wide man's long throw-ins. Saints defended the throw and worked their way up the right where Craig MacEwan's diagonal ball picked out Scott Maitland cutting in from the left to fire a low shot across the keeper and just wide of the far post.
Reace Syed and Jonathon Dyer picked their way through the Saints defence with an intricate series of one-two's which, fortunately for Saints, came to an end with Dyer's slightly over hit final ball allowing Thomas McCulloch to slide out and smother at Syed's feet.
Saints were struggling to rediscover the high tempo of the first forty five minutes but gradually fought their way back into second half contention weathering Goldenhill's early storm. Kerr Newbigging showed some neat footwork wide on the right playing the ball up to Craig MacEwan on the eighteen yard line and sending MacEwan's lay off inches over Ross Clark's crossbar.
On the hour mark Matthew Kelly's cross on the run after an overlapping run on the right fizzed across the six yard line but just too far in front of Craig MacEwan racing in at the back post.
Kerr Newbigging found his way into Referee John Campbell's notebook for a sixty first minute shove on Damon Gray as tempers briefly threatened to boil over in the middle of the park.
Two minutes later a Martin Lawlor foul on Paul Carmichael twenty five yards from goal gave Willie Gemmell a dead ball opportunity however his attempt from right of centre couldn't clear the four man Goldenhill wall.
Saints regained the lead in the sixty seventh minute after a hotly disputed throw-in award on the right touchline just inside the Goldenhill half. To the ire of Gowdie central defender Jack Bennett Referee Campbell gave the decision in Saints favour and with the home side still arguing Donald Campbell gathered the throw-in from Kerr Newbigging and played the ball up to Paul Carmichael just inside the Goldenhill box. Paul turned away from Steven Dock and fired an excellent left foot finish high into the net past Ross Clark's despairing right hand.
Martin Lawlor picked up a booking for dissent in the seventieth minute after Referee Campbell penalised Steven Dock for a foul on Paul Carmichael. The Saints free-kick came to nothing and Goldenhill quickly countered on the right. Saints appealed in vain for an offside decision against Daniel Gibson who raced away from David McArthur and sent a low cross along the six yard line. Thomas McCulloch got a hand to the cross but only succeeded in directing the ball into the path of Damon Gray who slammed it into the roof of the net for his second goal of the evening leveling the score once again. Dene Cassells' protests regarding the lack of an offside decision from Mr Campbell earned him a yellow card which was to prove very costly for the Saints defender.
Another yellow card for dissent shortly followed for Gowdie keeper Ross Clark as the Referee's notebook started to fill up this despite there hardly being a single bad tackle made in the match.
Saints took the lead for the third time with fourteen minutes of play remaining with Paul Carmichael again the scorer. Remarkably similar to, but even better than his earlier strike Paul turned away from Jack Bennett and from twenty five yards arrowed an unstoppable left foot drive high into the roof of the net giving Ross Clark no chance.
Having regained the lead Saints were forced to see out the final twelve minutes with ten men after Dene Cassells picked up a second yellow card. Daniel Gibson threatened to break free again on the right with Dene receiving his marching orders for pulling back the pacy Goldenhill winger. Paul Carmichael showed his versatility by dropping back into central defence for the closing stages.
The Gibson - Gray combination almost paid off for the home side again with just four minutes remaining. Gibson briefly switched to the left skinning Matthew Kelly and firing over a cross which Thomas McCulloch palmed out to Gray. The tall Gowdie striker looked certain to complete his hat-trick with a looping effort towards the postage stamp corner only for Paul Carmichael to get back onto the line and head over the crossbar.
With just two minutes of the ninety remaining Saints Manager Alex Craik made his only change bringing on Martin Bonar to replace Craig MacEwan. Saints were able to see out the closing stages to seal a hard earned victory but not without one final scare as Matthew Kelly made an excellent sliding challenge to halt Jonathon Dyer's late run into the box.
The win keeps Saints firmly in the hunt for second place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division with trips to East Kilbride, Inverclyde and Champions St Joseph's FP still to be negotiated along with a solitary home match against Shawlands FP.
Donald Dewar Leisure Centre
Garscadden Road
Drumchapel
Glasgow
G15 8SX
Kick off 7pm
Referee Mr John Campbell
Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitute:-
Martin Bonar
Unused substitutes:-
Alex Craik
Fraser MacFarlane
Last Wednesday night Oban Saints emerged victorious from the first of what looks likely to be four midweek away from home evening fixtures when they defeated Goldenhill at the Donald Dewar Centre, Drumchapel. With second place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division behind Champions St Joseph's FP still up for grabs Saints and hosts Goldenhill produced a high tempo match giving both teams a good workout ahead of impending crucial cup ties. Two second half wonder strikes from Paul Carmichael in response to an equally impressive hit from Goldenhill's Damon Gray helped Saints to a victory by the odd goal in five which keeps up their momentum ahead of next Friday's Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final.
Jamie Graham, Skipper Marc Maccallum and Dean Smith dropped out from the squad which had secured Saints place in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final with a 4 - 1 away win at Hillington four days earlier with Donald Campbell, Willie Gemmell and David McArthur returning to the travelling party.
Saints lined up with Thomas McCulloch in goal behind a back four of Matthew Kelly, David McArthur, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Willie Gemmell, Kerr Newbigging, Myles McAuley and Donald Campbell formed a midfield diamond with a twin strike force of Paul Carmichael and Craig MacEwan completing the line-up. Manager Alex Craik retained his place on the bench alongside Martin Bonar and Fraser MacFarlane.
The early exchanges on the tight grass park saw Goldenhill's Jack Bennett twice make vital interceptions to prevent Paul Carmichael getting on the end of Craig MacEwan flick on's and Kerr Newbigging tracking back well to cut off a Jonathon Dyer pass intended for James Gallagher.
Craig MacEwan came close to opening the scoring twice in as many minutes from a sixth minute counter attack after Dene Cassells had taken the ball away from Martin Lawlor on the Saints eighteen yard line. Saints broke up the left and Paul Carmichael took advantage of a mix-up between Gowdie defender Steven Dock and goalkeeper Ross Clark to set up Craig MacEwan for a shot which Jack Bennett took the sting out of with a flying block and Marc Morrison stopped on the goal line at the expense of a corner kick. Donald Campbell's corner kick from the right was headed out for a throw-in on the left from which Myles McAuley set up Craig for a shot from twenty yards which shaved the top of Ross Clark's crossbar.
Saints continued their bright start with a rampaging Paul Carmichael run winning a free-kick just outside the Gowdie box. Willie Gemmell's delivery into the box was headed clear for a throw-in from which Donald Campbell fizzed a low shot inches wide of Ross Clark's right hand post.
Paul Carmichael's direct runs continued to pose problems for the Gowdie rearguard and Paul won another free-kick in the fourteenth minute midway inside the Gowdie half. Willie Gemmell's lofted ball into the box was punched off the head of Kerr Newbigging by Gowdie keeper Ross Clark.
Goldenhill broke quickly through Reace Syed on the left and only a well timed sliding interception from Matthew Kelly prevented the speedy left winger from putting a dangerous ball into the box. Saints cleared the resulting corner and moved swiftly up the park where Craig MacEwan saw his back post header from a Willie Gemmell cross saved by Ross Clark.
The Gowdie keeper denied Paul Carmichael in the twenty first minute when a Willie Gemmell throw-in dropped invitingly for the big Saints striker on the six yard line. Clark did well to parry Carmichael's left foot effort and was quickly back on his feet gather when Kerr Newbigging sent the loose ball back on target.
Hearts were in mouths for the home side when a twenty fourth minute Willie Gemmell throw-in from the right came off the head of Christopher McGrath and flew inches wide of Ross Clark's right hand upright. Donald Campbell and Myles McAuley worked the resulting corner short and eventually across to Paul Carmichael at the back post whose spectacular overhead kick lacked the power to seriously extend Clark.
Goldenhill gained some respite from Saints early domination with a twenty seventh minute counter attack on the right where Paul O'Donnell drew a smart save from Thomas McCulloch at his near post. Jonathon Dyer followed this up one minute later with a snap shot from twenty five yards which cleared the top of the Saints crossbar by eighteen inches.
Saints made a deserved breakthrough just before the half hour mark after a concerted spell of pressure. Christopher McGrath picked up a yellow card for a shove on Paul Carmichael midway inside the Gowdie half on the Saints right. Willie Gemmell's free kick was headed out for a Myles McAuley throw-in on the right from which Donald Campbell worked the ball along the eighteen yard line to Craig MacEwan. Craig's low shot was well saved by Ross Clark diving full length to his right to palm the ball out for another throw-in. Saints kept the pressure on with the Gowdie defence unable to get out and finally Scott Maitland's driving run into the box and left foot shot across the keeper found the bottom corner.
Saints crisp passing kept them in the ascendancy and Paul Carmichael should have doubled the lead in the thirty seventh minute when Kerr Newbigging and Donald Campbell combined in the centre circle to send him racing through on goal pursued by Jack Bennett. Paul turned away from Bennett and lifted a delicate right foot chip over the head of Ross Clark stranded on his six yard line but unfortunately also over the crossbar.
Goldenhill rallied towards the end of the first half and Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland had to make important interceptions to stop Paul O'Donnell on the Gowdie right. Christopher McGrath had a shot from twenty five yards tipped over by Thomas McCulloch with David McArthur heading clear the resulting corner kick before Referee John Campbell blew for half-time.
The home side introduced Daniel Gibson and Damon Gray for the second half both of whom would make telling contributions. The narrow pitch was ideal for Gibson's long throws the first of which from the Gowdie right Matthew Kelly headed clear at the back post. Fellow substitute Gray brought the home side level with an incredible strike from the edge of the centre circle which left Thomas McCulloch clutching at thin air as it flew into the top corner past his right hand.
Gibson's electric pace on the right took him past Scott Maitland in the fifty third minute forcing Dene Cassells to come across to snuff out the danger at the expense of another of the wide man's long throw-ins. Saints defended the throw and worked their way up the right where Craig MacEwan's diagonal ball picked out Scott Maitland cutting in from the left to fire a low shot across the keeper and just wide of the far post.
Reace Syed and Jonathon Dyer picked their way through the Saints defence with an intricate series of one-two's which, fortunately for Saints, came to an end with Dyer's slightly over hit final ball allowing Thomas McCulloch to slide out and smother at Syed's feet.
Saints were struggling to rediscover the high tempo of the first forty five minutes but gradually fought their way back into second half contention weathering Goldenhill's early storm. Kerr Newbigging showed some neat footwork wide on the right playing the ball up to Craig MacEwan on the eighteen yard line and sending MacEwan's lay off inches over Ross Clark's crossbar.
On the hour mark Matthew Kelly's cross on the run after an overlapping run on the right fizzed across the six yard line but just too far in front of Craig MacEwan racing in at the back post.
Kerr Newbigging found his way into Referee John Campbell's notebook for a sixty first minute shove on Damon Gray as tempers briefly threatened to boil over in the middle of the park.
Two minutes later a Martin Lawlor foul on Paul Carmichael twenty five yards from goal gave Willie Gemmell a dead ball opportunity however his attempt from right of centre couldn't clear the four man Goldenhill wall.
Saints regained the lead in the sixty seventh minute after a hotly disputed throw-in award on the right touchline just inside the Goldenhill half. To the ire of Gowdie central defender Jack Bennett Referee Campbell gave the decision in Saints favour and with the home side still arguing Donald Campbell gathered the throw-in from Kerr Newbigging and played the ball up to Paul Carmichael just inside the Goldenhill box. Paul turned away from Steven Dock and fired an excellent left foot finish high into the net past Ross Clark's despairing right hand.
Martin Lawlor picked up a booking for dissent in the seventieth minute after Referee Campbell penalised Steven Dock for a foul on Paul Carmichael. The Saints free-kick came to nothing and Goldenhill quickly countered on the right. Saints appealed in vain for an offside decision against Daniel Gibson who raced away from David McArthur and sent a low cross along the six yard line. Thomas McCulloch got a hand to the cross but only succeeded in directing the ball into the path of Damon Gray who slammed it into the roof of the net for his second goal of the evening leveling the score once again. Dene Cassells' protests regarding the lack of an offside decision from Mr Campbell earned him a yellow card which was to prove very costly for the Saints defender.
Another yellow card for dissent shortly followed for Gowdie keeper Ross Clark as the Referee's notebook started to fill up this despite there hardly being a single bad tackle made in the match.
Saints took the lead for the third time with fourteen minutes of play remaining with Paul Carmichael again the scorer. Remarkably similar to, but even better than his earlier strike Paul turned away from Jack Bennett and from twenty five yards arrowed an unstoppable left foot drive high into the roof of the net giving Ross Clark no chance.
Having regained the lead Saints were forced to see out the final twelve minutes with ten men after Dene Cassells picked up a second yellow card. Daniel Gibson threatened to break free again on the right with Dene receiving his marching orders for pulling back the pacy Goldenhill winger. Paul Carmichael showed his versatility by dropping back into central defence for the closing stages.
The Gibson - Gray combination almost paid off for the home side again with just four minutes remaining. Gibson briefly switched to the left skinning Matthew Kelly and firing over a cross which Thomas McCulloch palmed out to Gray. The tall Gowdie striker looked certain to complete his hat-trick with a looping effort towards the postage stamp corner only for Paul Carmichael to get back onto the line and head over the crossbar.
With just two minutes of the ninety remaining Saints Manager Alex Craik made his only change bringing on Martin Bonar to replace Craig MacEwan. Saints were able to see out the closing stages to seal a hard earned victory but not without one final scare as Matthew Kelly made an excellent sliding challenge to halt Jonathon Dyer's late run into the box.
The win keeps Saints firmly in the hunt for second place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division with trips to East Kilbride, Inverclyde and Champions St Joseph's FP still to be negotiated along with a solitary home match against Shawlands FP.
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| Team Captains James Gallagher and Donald Campbell with Referee John Campbell |
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| Craig MacEwan's shot is blocked by the combined efforts of Jack Bennett and Marc Morrison |
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| Paul Carmichael |
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| Ross Clark beats Kerr Newbigging to a Willie Gemmell free-kick |
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| Paul Carmichael overhead kick |
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| Ross Clark saves from Paul Carmichael |
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| Paul Carmichael shoots over |
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| Donald Campbell contests a back post header with Reace Syed and Paul O'Donnell |
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| Donald Campbell, Myles McAuley and Paul Carmichael congratulate Scott Maitland on his goal |
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| Craig MacEwan and Steven Dock |
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| Donald Campbell and Christopher McGrath |
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| Paul O'Donnell slides in on Scott Maitland |
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| Kerr Newbigging |
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| Craig MacEwan and Jonathon Dyer |
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| Dene Cassells and Jonathon Dyer aerial joust |
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| Thomas McCulloch collects Reace Syed's header |
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| Matthew Kelly and Reace Syed |
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