Winning In The Rain: Uphill Struggle

Saturday 12th August 2017
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Hillington AFC 2 - 0 Oban Saints AFC
Glasgow Club, Drumoyne
337 Langlands Road
Glasgow
G51 4EW
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr John McNab

Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Cameron Kerr
Shaun Maciver
David Smith

Unused substitute:-

Kenneth Black

Oban Saints kicked off their 2017 - 18 Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division campaign with a disappointing away defeat against newly promoted Hillington at Glasgow Club, Drumoyne last Saturday. Injuries, transfers and retirals dictated that the Saints line-up would contain just five survivors from the starting eleven which put four goals past Hillington in last season's Jimmy Marshall trophy semi-final. With a number of key players unavailable Saints Manager Alex Craik was forced to call up three of the club's youth players to the travelling party. Also a late call-off from Keith Millar had the Gaffer searching the kit bag for his own boots to make his first start in eight months. Graham "Sugar" Douglas lined up in goal behind a back three of Alex Craik, Skipper Marc Maccallum and youngster Nathan Allan. Daniel Croarkin, Willie Gemmell and Matthew Kelly patrolled the middle of the park with Fraser MacFarlane and Scott Maitland taking the wide roles. Up front were Dean Smith and last season's top goalscorer and player of the year Craig MacEwan. On the bench were youngsters Kenneth Black and Cameron Kerr, and new signings Shaun MacIver and David Smith.

Saints kicked off attacking down the slight slope and into the stiff breeze where they made most of the early running but lacked the guile to find a way through the Hillington defence. Good work on the right by Daniel Croarkin and Matthew Kelly created a fifth minute opening for Dean Smith who saw a decent effort well blocked by Scott Caskie. A well timed fourteenth minute run from Matthew Kelly took him in behind the Hillington back line on the end a Fraser MacFarlane pass. From twenty yards Matthew attempted to chip the advancing goalkeeper but Gordon Phillips extended himself fully to make a fine save and keep the scores level.

Saints bright start to the match began to fade as the hosts came more into the match making good use of set-pieces and long throws to put the Saints back line under pressure. A twenty first minute long throw-in from Hillington right back Ross McQuilter caught the Saints defence out completely with Thomas Cunningham ghosting in behind to send a terrific opportunity wide of Sugar's left hand post. Hillington followed this up two minutes later with a corner kick from the left after Marc Maccallum had stopped a promising break on the left from Stuart Ashton. Ashton's corner kick found Skipper Scott Gold who glanced a header across the face of goal and wide of target. Gold was once again the danger man as Saints failed to pick him up from another Ross McQuilter throw-in with the big Hillington skipper firing an effort wide of Sugar's left hand post.

Willie Gemmell had a twenty seventh minute opportunity to show his prowess with the dead ball after Mark McAllister had halted a Dean Smith run just outside the Hillington box. Willie's effort caught the top of the Hillington wall with Fraser MacFarlane's shot from the loose ball also blocked and cleared.

Dean Smith was involved again two minutes later gathering in a Willie Gemmell pass on the right and jinking along the eighteen yard line before send a left foor shot on goal which Gordon Phillips gathered comfortably.

Saints survived another let-off at the hands of Thomas Cunningham when the Hillington striker ghosted in unmarked at the back post and guided a Paul McDonald ball along the six yard line into the grateful arms of Graham Douglas.

At the other end Dean Smith's perseverance finally won him a clear sight of goal in the thirty fourth minute which he couldn't capitalise on sending his shot from sixteen yards just over the top of the Hillington crossbar.

Marc Maccallum had to react quickly in the forty second minute to cut out a ball over the top looking for Paul McDonald with early replacement for central defender Mark McAllister Martin O'Connor repeating the feat at the other end to prevent Matthew Kelly reaching a Craig MacEwan through ball.

Stuart Ashton and Steven Cunningham both sent snap shots well wide of target for the hosts before Referee John McNab blew the half-time whistle.

Hillington Skipper Scott Gold picked up the only yellow card of a sporting contest just two minutes after the re-start for a mistimed challenge on Matthew Kelly eight yards inside the Hillington half.

As in the first half Saints made the better start but were again unable to find a way past the well organised Hillington defence. Steven Cunningham closed out a promising fifty first minute opening for Scott Maitland from a Craig MacEwan knock down showing good composure to play his way out of a tight corner.

Gordon Phillips was forced into action in the fifty fourth minute coming off his line to collect a Fraser MacFarlane cross looking for Daniel Croarkin after good work from Dean Smith and Matthew Kelly.

Scott Caskie was on his toes sixty seconds later to head behind a Willie Gemmell ball over the top looking for Craig MacEwan sparking a flurry of Saints corner kicks which Hillington rearguard successfully repelled.

The home side made their first foray up field in the fifty eighth minute when Stuart Ashton tricked his way past Fraser MacFarlane on the left wing before cutting inside and sending a right foot shot over the crossbar.

Two minutes later the home side got their noses in front severely punishing a misplaced Saints pass on the half-way line. Ashton again broke forward on the left and sent an inviting ball along the six yard line which Skipper Scott Gold knocked home sliding in at the back post.

Saints responded with Craig MacEwan collecting a Willie Gemmell pass and cutting in from the right before curling a left foot shot wide of target.

Manager Alex Craik made his first change in sixty fourth minute bringing to an end young Nathan Allan's competitive debut replacing him on the left of the back three with the experienced David Smith.

The Gaffer added further fresh legs in the sixty seventh minute with Daniel Croarkin and Dean Smith making way for Cameron Kerr and Shaun MacIver.

Youngster Kerr, another making his senior competitive debut, made an early contribution playing in Craig MacEwan who was bitterly disappointed not to make better contact with his shot sending an excellent chance wide of the keeper's left hand post.

With fifteen minutes remaining Hillington's Scott Caskie made a vital interception taking the ball off Craig MacEwan's toe from a Fraser MacFarlane cut-back after the Saints wide man had made a good run on the right wing.

From the resulting corner kick Gordon Phillips spread himself full length to his right to turn a Scott Maitland shot from eighteen yards around the post. Saints kept the pressure on continuing the procession of corner kicks and throw-ins without making any impression on the home defence.

Craig MacEwan's frustrating afternoon continued in the seventy sixth minute when he failed to make the desired contact with Willie Gemmell's bouncing through ball allowing Gordon Phillips to make another save.

When Saints finally managed to beat Phillips in the seventy eighth minute Referee John McNab, who had a good game, correctly ruled out Shaun MacIver's effort for offside.

Willie Gemmell was handed an ideal eighty seventh minute free-kick opportunity twenty two yards out and slightly left of centre. Willie successfully guided his effort on target with Gordon Phillips only able to parry the ball after it bounced six yards in front of him. Cameron Kerr managed to reach the loose ball but could only steer it wide of target under pressure from Steven Cunningham and Martin O'Connor.

Mr McNab gave the benefit of an extremely close off-side call to the home side in the eighty eighth minute with Craig MacEwan through one-on-one with goalkeeper Phillips.

With time ebbing away Hillington began knocking the ball into the corners to run down the clock a tactic which produced an unexpected bonus in the first of the four minutes added by Mr McNab. Marc Maccallum regained possession from Paul McDonald and knocking the ball back to Graham Douglas on the right edge of his penalty box. Sugar's clearance caught the top of Thomas Cunningham's head severely reducing it's effectiveness. The ball looped perfectly onto the instep of Hillington Skipper Scott Gold ten yards inside the Saints half who cushioned a delightful volley into the unguarded net to seal the win for his team.

Saints kept plugging away in search of a consolation goal and had a Shaun MacIver header from a Fraser MacFarlane corner saved before Fraser fired a decent opportunity into the side netting with the last kick of the game.

Despite having so many players missing Manager Alex Craik will be bitterly disappointed with the poor showing of his charges getting a potentially difficult season off to the worst possible start.

Already at the wrong end of the table in what has all the makings of an extremely competitive league campaign, Saints will be hoping for some encouraging news on the injury front to bolster their threadbare squad ahead of next Saturday's visit from Motherwell Thistle. The South Lanarkshire men, who were 3 - 2 winners on their only previous visit to Glencruitten, began their season last week with a convincing 3 - 0 Centenary Cup win over Kings Park Rangers and will be looking to continue their good start with another victory in Oban.