Saturday 26th August 2017
VSN Sport Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division
Premier Division
East Kilbride FC Amateurs 1 - 2 Oban Saints AFC
K-Park Training Academy
Calderglen
East Kilbride
G75 0QZ
Calderglen
East Kilbride
G75 0QZ
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Jim Rose
Saints starting line-up:-
Unused substitutes:-
Craig MacMillan
David Smith
Oban Saints got their first league points of the new season on the board at the third time of asking with a hard fought win in East Kilbride last Saturday. Hosts East Kilbride FC Amateurs gave their visitors a thorough examination at their excellent K-Park home but the the makeshift Saints eleven produced a battling performance to clinch an unexpected but ultimately deserved first victory of the season.
Already seriously depleted, Saints were reduced to the bare bones when Craig Campbell, Paul Carmichael, Graham Douglas, Marc Maccallum and Dean Smith joined the lengthy unavailable list after the previous week's defeat to Motherwell Thistle. Thomas McCulloch answered the call to pull on the number one jersey while youngster Craig MacMillan was signed up on the morning of the match to bolster the number of the travelling party. Manager Alex Craik took his place in the middle of the back three flanked by David McPhee and Daniel Croarkin. Willie Gemmell, Keith Millar and Fraser MacFarlane occupied the centre of the five man midfield with Matthew Kelly and Scott Maitland providing the width. Up front Captain for the day Craig MacEwan was partnered by Shaun MacIver. New signing Craig MacMillan joined utility man David Smith on the bench.
East Kilbride were also much changed and fielded just six of team that had beaten Saints on their last visit in May. Included in Manager Dougie Gunning's new look sixteen man squad were a number of youngsters promoted from the club's now disbanded under 19's team.
Saints kicked off in pleasant sunshine attacking the pavilion end and made a good start against the 2015 - 16 Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions. A second minute measured through ball from Keith Millar was fractionally too heavy for Craig MacEwan whose claim that he had been impeded was ignored by Referee Jim Rose.
The hosts made their first meaningful foray forward in the fifth minute with Matthew Kelly having to make an important interception inside the eighteen yard box to deny Stuart McMillan a shot on goal.
A long ball over the top headed behind by David McPhee gave Kilby the first corner kick of the afternoon in the ninth minute. Ross Campbell's delivery from the left was deep for central defender Gary McDowall who hooked well wide at the back post.
Saints good start was undone after twelve minutes when McDowall's central defensive partner Craig Scott picked up a loose ball in the centre circle and was allowed to run unchallenged through the Saints midfield. The big defender unleashed a shot from twenty eight yards which smacked off the inside of Thomas McCulloch's right hand post and landed in the opposite bottom corner to give the hosts the lead.
Kilby had their noses in front for just three minutes when Saints skipper for the day Craig MacEwan pegged them back with his and Saints first goal of the season. David McPhee won the ball from Jonny Diack in the centre circle and fed Willie Gemmell inside the Kilby half. Willie's threaded pass through the inside left channel split the opposition defence and was perfectly weighted for Craig MacEwan who lifted the ball over the advancing Ross Meldrum and into the empty net.
Scott Maitland's running was causing problems for the Kilby defence with Craig Mackie forced to concede an eighteenth minute free-kick halting Scott's progress twenty eight yards from goal. Willie Gemmell curled a decent effort around the Kilby wall and inches wide of Ross Meldrum's left hand post.
From Meldrum's goal kick Kilby managed to get behind the Saints back three from where danger man Jonny Diack sent a shot from a good position just over Thomas McCulloch's crossbar.
The hosts were enjoying the majority of possession but certainly weren't having things all their own way against a hard working Saints eleven spurred on by old heads Alex Craik, Willie Gemmell and Keith Millar.
Kilby right back Gary Smith got forward in the twenty seventh minute hitting the bye-line and sending over a good cross which Karl Mauchin headed over the crossbar from ten yards out.
Ross Campbell followed this up sixty seconds later with a tame shot from twenty two yards which Thomas McCulloch held comfortably.
Saints took the lead in fortunate style on the half hour mark. Daniel Croarkin lobbed a straight ball into the box which a backpedaling Gary McDowall attempted to head back to keeper Ross Meldrum. Meldrum found himself in no man's land and Craig MacEwan nipped in to nod the ball over the keeper's head and into the net.
Willie Gemmell's eye for a pass almost sent Fraser MacFarlane through in the thirty third minute however Meldrum anticipated the danger and came quickly off his line foil MacFarlane. Gemmell picked out MacFarlane again two minutes later with a delightful left foot diagonal ball which the Saints youngster controlled and played infield for Craig MacEwan on the edge of the box. Craig's shot was blocked behind for a corner kick which MacFarlane disappointingly sent too close to keeper Meldrum who gathered comfortably.
Cheaply conceded possession from a Saints throw in midway inside the Kilby half saw Kilby skipper Gavin Thomson gallop up the left wing, cut inside and continue his run along the eighteen yard line. The big left back then rolled the ball back to the unmarked Ross Campbell who wasted a good opportunity firing well over the crossbar.
Referee Jim Rose harshly penalised Daniel Croarkin for handball twenty eight yards from goal when a shot from Ross Campbell struck the Saints defender on the upper arm from point blank range. Mr Rose summoned the still protesting Willie Gemmell out of the Saints wall for a lecture just as Gavin Thomson was curling a left footed effort around the remainder of the wall and into the arms of Thomas McCulloch. The re-take was claimed by right footer Ross Campbell who clipped the ball over the wall but once again straight into the arms of the well positioned Saints keeper.
Saints passed up a fantastic opportunity in the dying seconds of the first half when the hosts had over-committed in search of an equaliser. Scott Maitland made an excellent interception on the edge of box and raced forward for a one-two with Craig MacEwan. Craig somehow failed to find the yawning gap between Gary McDowall and Craig Scott leaving Scott exasperated and the Kilby rearguard relieved.
Kilby Manager Dougie Gunning replaced Karl Mauchin with Reiss Talon for the start of the second half with the left winger immediately running Fraser MacFarlane and drawing a good sliding interception from Matthew Kelly.
Craig MacEwan fell foul of Referee Rose in the forty eighth minute picking up the first yellow card of the match after pulling back Craig Scott wide on the right and just inside the Saints half. From the resulting free-kick Ross Campbell sent another effort over the crossbar after Alex Craik had headed out a lofted ball from Gavin Thomson.
At the other end Craig MacEwan won a free-kick wide just short of the bye-line wide on the right. Willie Gemmell's clipped cross was agonisingly just behind Craig MacEwan in front of goal but broke kindly for Scott Maitland on the edge of the box. Scott's dipping shot was spectacularly tipped over the crossbar by Kilby player of the year for 2016-17 Ross Meldrum who safely held Willie Gemmell's ensuing corner kick from the Saints left.
As in the first half the hosts continued to dominate possession without putting the Saints defence, which was superbly marshaled by Alex Craik, under too much pressure. A good run up the right wing from right back Gary Smith eventually got Kilby in behind the Saints back line in the fifty fourth minute however his cross drifted harmlessly behind with Jonny Diack waiting in anticipation in the middle.
Unable to find a way through Kilby tried again from distance with David McPhee making a good block to send a Ross Campbell effort behind for a corner kick on the Kilby right. Despite the home sides height advantage Saints coped well with the aerial threat and cleared their lines.
Kilby Manager Dougie Gunning introduced another of his promising youngsters, Stuart Cox, on the hour mark to replace Craig Mackie in the middle of the park.
There was a loud penalty appeal from the home bench in the sixty third minute for a handball against Daniel Croarkin as Saints repelled another Kilby corner kick but Mr Rose was not convinced and signaled play on.
With the home side still appealing Saints looked to hit on the break and Ross Meldrum had to come quickly off his line to cut out a Craig MacEwan pass intended for Scott Maitland. A little too much back chat then earned Meldrum a yellow card from Mr Rose.
After more wayward shots from Jamie Innes and Gavin Thomson Saints countered again on the left with Craig MacEwan and Scott Maitland linking up well to win a free kick. Willie Gemmell took the kick short to Craig MacEwan whose path into the box was blocked by Gary Smith at the expense of a corner kick. Ross Meldrum climbed above Craig MacEwan and Shaun MacIver but could only palm Willie Gemmell's delivery to the back post and the waiting Fraser MacFarlane. Fraser's hooked left foot effort was blocked by the chest of substitute Matthew Meechan who then took Fraser's follow up right foot shot on his right cheek at point blank range preventing a certain goal. After a stoppage for treatment for Meechan play resumed with Meldrum this time claiming Fraser MacFarlane's corner kick from the right under pressure from Craig MacEwan.
Saints threat on the break almost produced a third goal in the seventy third minute when Craig MacEwan latched onto a Willie Gemmell through ball and lifted the ball over Ross Meldrum's head but unfortunately also inches over the crossbar.
Two minutes later at the other end the hosts passed up their best chance of the second half when skipper Gavin Thomson forced his way past Matthew Kelly on the Kilby left and sent a tempting delivery across the face of goal tantalisingly beyond the outstretched boots of Jonny Diack and Reiss Talon. That proved to be Diack's last involvement as he was replaced in the central striker role by Ross Bryden.
Thomas McCulloch's goal kicking gained Saints considerable territory in the seventy sixth minute from where Craig MacEwan won a throw-in on the left. Willie Gemmell's throw was gathered in by Shaun MacIver on the corner on the eighteen yard box who turned and flashed a drive across the face of goal and just wide of Ross Meldrum's left hand post.
Gemmell and MacIver combined again four minutes later on the right with the young Saints striker forcing his way into the box and drawing a good save from Meldrum at his near post.
After seeing out another Kilby corner kick in the eighty fourth minute Willie Gemmell spotted Kilby keeper Ross Meldrum off his line however his attempted lob from ten yards inside the Saints half didn't have the legs to seriously trouble Meldrum who recovered his ground to make a comfortable catch.
With the home side continually probing for openings Saints defended manfully restricting Kilby to shots from distance which failed to trouble Thomas McCulloch. At the other end Saints remained a threat on the break and passed up another good chance to settle any nerves in the eighty fifth minute. Craig MacEwan chased down what looked like a lost cause on the right wing and from almost on the bye-line cut back for Fraser MacFarlane who from eight yards out shot wide of the junction of post and bar.
With three valuable points within touching distance Manager Alex Craik resisted the temptation to make any changes which might upset the balance of his side preferring instead to take the ball to the corner flags at every opportunity to eat up valuable time. In the eighty ninth minute Kilby's Ross Campbell became the latest player to have his name taken by Mr Rose for dissent and he was quickly joined in the book by Shaun MacIver for clipping the heels of Gavin Thomson.
Saints withstood a late flurry from the home side riding their luck at times as the ball bounced around the penalty area before Mr Rose, who handled the game well, blew for full time after four added minutes. The Saints players who had worked tirelessly all afternoon were delighted with their victory against an impressive East Kilbride side who were unlucky not to take something from the game.
Saints will now turn their attention to Scottish Amateur Cup duty with the visit to Glencruitten next Saturday of Mauchline United of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association First Division.
Referee Mr Jim Rose
Saints starting line-up:-
Unused substitutes:-
Craig MacMillan
David Smith
Oban Saints got their first league points of the new season on the board at the third time of asking with a hard fought win in East Kilbride last Saturday. Hosts East Kilbride FC Amateurs gave their visitors a thorough examination at their excellent K-Park home but the the makeshift Saints eleven produced a battling performance to clinch an unexpected but ultimately deserved first victory of the season.
Already seriously depleted, Saints were reduced to the bare bones when Craig Campbell, Paul Carmichael, Graham Douglas, Marc Maccallum and Dean Smith joined the lengthy unavailable list after the previous week's defeat to Motherwell Thistle. Thomas McCulloch answered the call to pull on the number one jersey while youngster Craig MacMillan was signed up on the morning of the match to bolster the number of the travelling party. Manager Alex Craik took his place in the middle of the back three flanked by David McPhee and Daniel Croarkin. Willie Gemmell, Keith Millar and Fraser MacFarlane occupied the centre of the five man midfield with Matthew Kelly and Scott Maitland providing the width. Up front Captain for the day Craig MacEwan was partnered by Shaun MacIver. New signing Craig MacMillan joined utility man David Smith on the bench.
East Kilbride were also much changed and fielded just six of team that had beaten Saints on their last visit in May. Included in Manager Dougie Gunning's new look sixteen man squad were a number of youngsters promoted from the club's now disbanded under 19's team.
Saints kicked off in pleasant sunshine attacking the pavilion end and made a good start against the 2015 - 16 Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions. A second minute measured through ball from Keith Millar was fractionally too heavy for Craig MacEwan whose claim that he had been impeded was ignored by Referee Jim Rose.
The hosts made their first meaningful foray forward in the fifth minute with Matthew Kelly having to make an important interception inside the eighteen yard box to deny Stuart McMillan a shot on goal.
A long ball over the top headed behind by David McPhee gave Kilby the first corner kick of the afternoon in the ninth minute. Ross Campbell's delivery from the left was deep for central defender Gary McDowall who hooked well wide at the back post.
Saints good start was undone after twelve minutes when McDowall's central defensive partner Craig Scott picked up a loose ball in the centre circle and was allowed to run unchallenged through the Saints midfield. The big defender unleashed a shot from twenty eight yards which smacked off the inside of Thomas McCulloch's right hand post and landed in the opposite bottom corner to give the hosts the lead.
Kilby had their noses in front for just three minutes when Saints skipper for the day Craig MacEwan pegged them back with his and Saints first goal of the season. David McPhee won the ball from Jonny Diack in the centre circle and fed Willie Gemmell inside the Kilby half. Willie's threaded pass through the inside left channel split the opposition defence and was perfectly weighted for Craig MacEwan who lifted the ball over the advancing Ross Meldrum and into the empty net.
Scott Maitland's running was causing problems for the Kilby defence with Craig Mackie forced to concede an eighteenth minute free-kick halting Scott's progress twenty eight yards from goal. Willie Gemmell curled a decent effort around the Kilby wall and inches wide of Ross Meldrum's left hand post.
From Meldrum's goal kick Kilby managed to get behind the Saints back three from where danger man Jonny Diack sent a shot from a good position just over Thomas McCulloch's crossbar.
The hosts were enjoying the majority of possession but certainly weren't having things all their own way against a hard working Saints eleven spurred on by old heads Alex Craik, Willie Gemmell and Keith Millar.
Kilby right back Gary Smith got forward in the twenty seventh minute hitting the bye-line and sending over a good cross which Karl Mauchin headed over the crossbar from ten yards out.
Ross Campbell followed this up sixty seconds later with a tame shot from twenty two yards which Thomas McCulloch held comfortably.
Saints took the lead in fortunate style on the half hour mark. Daniel Croarkin lobbed a straight ball into the box which a backpedaling Gary McDowall attempted to head back to keeper Ross Meldrum. Meldrum found himself in no man's land and Craig MacEwan nipped in to nod the ball over the keeper's head and into the net.
Willie Gemmell's eye for a pass almost sent Fraser MacFarlane through in the thirty third minute however Meldrum anticipated the danger and came quickly off his line foil MacFarlane. Gemmell picked out MacFarlane again two minutes later with a delightful left foot diagonal ball which the Saints youngster controlled and played infield for Craig MacEwan on the edge of the box. Craig's shot was blocked behind for a corner kick which MacFarlane disappointingly sent too close to keeper Meldrum who gathered comfortably.
Cheaply conceded possession from a Saints throw in midway inside the Kilby half saw Kilby skipper Gavin Thomson gallop up the left wing, cut inside and continue his run along the eighteen yard line. The big left back then rolled the ball back to the unmarked Ross Campbell who wasted a good opportunity firing well over the crossbar.
Referee Jim Rose harshly penalised Daniel Croarkin for handball twenty eight yards from goal when a shot from Ross Campbell struck the Saints defender on the upper arm from point blank range. Mr Rose summoned the still protesting Willie Gemmell out of the Saints wall for a lecture just as Gavin Thomson was curling a left footed effort around the remainder of the wall and into the arms of Thomas McCulloch. The re-take was claimed by right footer Ross Campbell who clipped the ball over the wall but once again straight into the arms of the well positioned Saints keeper.
Saints passed up a fantastic opportunity in the dying seconds of the first half when the hosts had over-committed in search of an equaliser. Scott Maitland made an excellent interception on the edge of box and raced forward for a one-two with Craig MacEwan. Craig somehow failed to find the yawning gap between Gary McDowall and Craig Scott leaving Scott exasperated and the Kilby rearguard relieved.
Kilby Manager Dougie Gunning replaced Karl Mauchin with Reiss Talon for the start of the second half with the left winger immediately running Fraser MacFarlane and drawing a good sliding interception from Matthew Kelly.
Craig MacEwan fell foul of Referee Rose in the forty eighth minute picking up the first yellow card of the match after pulling back Craig Scott wide on the right and just inside the Saints half. From the resulting free-kick Ross Campbell sent another effort over the crossbar after Alex Craik had headed out a lofted ball from Gavin Thomson.
At the other end Craig MacEwan won a free-kick wide just short of the bye-line wide on the right. Willie Gemmell's clipped cross was agonisingly just behind Craig MacEwan in front of goal but broke kindly for Scott Maitland on the edge of the box. Scott's dipping shot was spectacularly tipped over the crossbar by Kilby player of the year for 2016-17 Ross Meldrum who safely held Willie Gemmell's ensuing corner kick from the Saints left.
As in the first half the hosts continued to dominate possession without putting the Saints defence, which was superbly marshaled by Alex Craik, under too much pressure. A good run up the right wing from right back Gary Smith eventually got Kilby in behind the Saints back line in the fifty fourth minute however his cross drifted harmlessly behind with Jonny Diack waiting in anticipation in the middle.
Unable to find a way through Kilby tried again from distance with David McPhee making a good block to send a Ross Campbell effort behind for a corner kick on the Kilby right. Despite the home sides height advantage Saints coped well with the aerial threat and cleared their lines.
Kilby Manager Dougie Gunning introduced another of his promising youngsters, Stuart Cox, on the hour mark to replace Craig Mackie in the middle of the park.
There was a loud penalty appeal from the home bench in the sixty third minute for a handball against Daniel Croarkin as Saints repelled another Kilby corner kick but Mr Rose was not convinced and signaled play on.
With the home side still appealing Saints looked to hit on the break and Ross Meldrum had to come quickly off his line to cut out a Craig MacEwan pass intended for Scott Maitland. A little too much back chat then earned Meldrum a yellow card from Mr Rose.
After more wayward shots from Jamie Innes and Gavin Thomson Saints countered again on the left with Craig MacEwan and Scott Maitland linking up well to win a free kick. Willie Gemmell took the kick short to Craig MacEwan whose path into the box was blocked by Gary Smith at the expense of a corner kick. Ross Meldrum climbed above Craig MacEwan and Shaun MacIver but could only palm Willie Gemmell's delivery to the back post and the waiting Fraser MacFarlane. Fraser's hooked left foot effort was blocked by the chest of substitute Matthew Meechan who then took Fraser's follow up right foot shot on his right cheek at point blank range preventing a certain goal. After a stoppage for treatment for Meechan play resumed with Meldrum this time claiming Fraser MacFarlane's corner kick from the right under pressure from Craig MacEwan.
Saints threat on the break almost produced a third goal in the seventy third minute when Craig MacEwan latched onto a Willie Gemmell through ball and lifted the ball over Ross Meldrum's head but unfortunately also inches over the crossbar.
Two minutes later at the other end the hosts passed up their best chance of the second half when skipper Gavin Thomson forced his way past Matthew Kelly on the Kilby left and sent a tempting delivery across the face of goal tantalisingly beyond the outstretched boots of Jonny Diack and Reiss Talon. That proved to be Diack's last involvement as he was replaced in the central striker role by Ross Bryden.
Thomas McCulloch's goal kicking gained Saints considerable territory in the seventy sixth minute from where Craig MacEwan won a throw-in on the left. Willie Gemmell's throw was gathered in by Shaun MacIver on the corner on the eighteen yard box who turned and flashed a drive across the face of goal and just wide of Ross Meldrum's left hand post.
Gemmell and MacIver combined again four minutes later on the right with the young Saints striker forcing his way into the box and drawing a good save from Meldrum at his near post.
After seeing out another Kilby corner kick in the eighty fourth minute Willie Gemmell spotted Kilby keeper Ross Meldrum off his line however his attempted lob from ten yards inside the Saints half didn't have the legs to seriously trouble Meldrum who recovered his ground to make a comfortable catch.
With the home side continually probing for openings Saints defended manfully restricting Kilby to shots from distance which failed to trouble Thomas McCulloch. At the other end Saints remained a threat on the break and passed up another good chance to settle any nerves in the eighty fifth minute. Craig MacEwan chased down what looked like a lost cause on the right wing and from almost on the bye-line cut back for Fraser MacFarlane who from eight yards out shot wide of the junction of post and bar.
With three valuable points within touching distance Manager Alex Craik resisted the temptation to make any changes which might upset the balance of his side preferring instead to take the ball to the corner flags at every opportunity to eat up valuable time. In the eighty ninth minute Kilby's Ross Campbell became the latest player to have his name taken by Mr Rose for dissent and he was quickly joined in the book by Shaun MacIver for clipping the heels of Gavin Thomson.
Saints withstood a late flurry from the home side riding their luck at times as the ball bounced around the penalty area before Mr Rose, who handled the game well, blew for full time after four added minutes. The Saints players who had worked tirelessly all afternoon were delighted with their victory against an impressive East Kilbride side who were unlucky not to take something from the game.
Saints will now turn their attention to Scottish Amateur Cup duty with the visit to Glencruitten next Saturday of Mauchline United of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association First Division.
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| Team Captains Gavin Thomson and Craig MacEwan with Referee Jim Rose |
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| Daniel Croarkin and Stuart McMillan |
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| Willie Gemmell and Craig Mackie |
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| Keith Millar and Stuart McMillan |
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| Craig Scott is congratulated on his goal |
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| Scott Maitland and Fraser MacFarlane congratulate Craig MacEwan on his equalising goal |
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| Scott Maitland and Craig Mackie |
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| Alex Craik heads clear under pressure |
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| Thomas McCulloch |
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| Shaun MacIver and Gary McDowall |
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| Willie Gemmell |
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| Thomas McCulloch gathers Ross Campbell's cross under pressure from Jonny Diack |
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| Alex Craik and Gary McDowall aerial duel |
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| Scott Maitland shot tipped over by Ross Meldrum |
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| Determination written all over the face of Fraser MacFarlane |
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| Matthew Meechan turns the other cheek to block Fraser MacFarlane's shot |
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| Keith Millar practices his first aid technique on Matthew Meechan |
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| Ross Meldrum gathers Fraser MacFarlane's corner under pressure from Craig MacEwan |
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| Late pressure in the Saints box |
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| Craig MacEwan battles Craig Scott and Jamie Innes to run down the clock |
