Winning In The Rain: September 2017

Monday 25 September 2017

In Plain Sight

Saturday 30th September 2017
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition

2nd Round Tie
Oban Saints AFC v Plains AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Peter Kerr

Oban Saints face Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League opposition for the second consecutive fixture when they take on Plains in the Scottish Amateur Cup at Glencruitten this Saturday. After seeing off Cambusnethan Talbot Community in the West of Scotland Cup in their last outing Saints now turn their attention to the national cup competition and their quest to go one better than the semi-final stage achieved in each of the last two seasons.

Founded in 2015, Saturday's opposition joined the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League where the ended their debut season second bottom of the Second Division. Plains made significant progress with their league standing in their second season finishing seventh in the ten team Division 1B.

2016-17 also saw Plains lift their first silverware edging out Cambusnethan Talbot in the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Challenge Cup Final. In a thrilling match played in front of a crowd of almost four hundred spectators at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium first half goals from Jamie Brogan and Camby Captain Peter Cambridge saw the teams go in level at the break. The ebb and flow between the two evenly matched teams continued in the second half until, with the large crowd anticipating extra-time, Plains struck decisively in the dying minutes. Jamie Brogan notched his second of the match before Mark Fitzpatrick rounded off his Man of the Match performance with the killer third goal.

The North Lanarkshire men also reached the final of the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Chairman's Cup at New Tinto Park, Govan home of Benburb Juniors. Despite a brave fight a 4 - 1 defeat to Division 1A Hillwood brought a disappointing end to an otherwise satisfying season.

Plains began the defence of the Challenge Cup with a penalty shoot-out victory over Premier Division Windlaw after the sides had shared six goals at Airdrie Sports Centre. A home quarter final tie against Championship A high fliers Bridgeton Vale now awaits the holders.

A win and two draws from their opening league fixtures sees Plains in ninth place in this season's Championship B, trailing leaders Holytown Colts by six points but with two games in hand.

Unlike Saturday's opponents Plains who received a bye, Saints had to negotiate a tricky Scottish Amateur Cup first round tie against Mauchline United of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association First Division. A seventh minute opener from Shaun MacIver settled the early nerves before Skipper Craig MacEwan added three more goals to ease Saints through to the second round.

With squad numbers recovering Manager Alex Craik should be able to field a strong line-up for what is likely to be a thorough examination of Saints Scottish Amateur Cup credentials. Unlike almost every other cup competition in amateur football the Scottish Amateur Cup includes replays therefore Saints must put the tie to bed during the ninety minutes if they are to avoid a difficult trip to Airdrie in seven days time.

Plains results so far this season:-

Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Championship B

19th August 2017 Plains 2 - 2 Holytown Colts
23rd August 2017 Plains 2 - 2 Calderglen
26th August 2017 Plains 3 - 1 Southside White Cart

Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Cup Qualifying Competition

1st Round

Group 6
9th August 2017 Gartcairn 0 - 5 Plains
12th August 2017 Plains 3 - 5 AS Airdrie
15th August 2017 Newmains Hammers 1 - 3 Plains

Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Challenge Cup

1st Round
30th August 2017 Plains 3 - 3 Windlaw
Plains Win 4 - 2 on penalty kicks

Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Strathclyde Cup

1st Round
8th September 2017 Cleland Amateurs 1 - 7 Plains

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
30th September 2017 Oban Saints v Plains

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
16th September 2017 Plains 3 - 3 Holytown Colts (5 - 3 After Extra Time)

3rd Round
14th October 2017 Plains v Weir Recreation

Plains AFC Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Challenge Cup Winners 2016-17

Oban Saints 2017 - 18 Scottish Amateur Cup Campaign

1st Round

2nd September 2017 Oban Saints 4 - 0 Mauchline United

Team Captains Craig MacEwan and Liam O'Donnell with Referee Anthony McCann

Shaun MacIver's shot flies past Andrew Clark to opening the scoring

Craig MacEwan and Fraser MacFarlane congratulate Shaun MacIver on his opening goal

David Howat sends Daniel Croarkin tumbling

Graham Douglas collects a free-kick

Craig MacEwan slots away Ally McKerracher's through ball to double the lead

Ally McKerracher and Craig MacEwan celebrate Saints second goal

Shaun MacIver with Ryan O'Donnell and David Howat in attendance

Andrew Clark saves from Ally McKerracher

Fraser MacFarlane and Steven Leitch

Willie Gemmell

Matthew Kelly

Ally McKerracher heads over

Craig MacEwan hits the post from the penalty spot

Ruaridh Horne can't find a way past Darren McGill

Craig Campbell

Andrew Clark saves Willie Gemmell's free-kick

Craig MacEwan seals his hat-trick and rounds off the scoring at 4 - 0

#monthesaints

Bibs

With the Scottish Amateur Football League in it's traditional September Weekend shutdown, Oban Saints arranged a ninety minute eleven-a-side training match at Glencruitten last Saturday to keep the wheels turning ahead of Saturday's Scottish Amateur Cup tie against Plains. To allow the players to take in the spectacle unfolding at Ibrox, a 9.45 kick off was arranged although some will wish they had missed that particular event altogether.

The usual mix of injuries, holidays and work commitments dictated that youth team players and guest stars would be required to make up the numbers however those that appear certainly enjoyed a good workout.

In keeping with the informal nature of the match, the strips were kept in the kit bag in favour of the players own training gear and yellow bibs. None of Saints goalkeepers were available so grateful thanks are extended to Ben Pollock of Lochgilphead Red Star who kept goal for the bibs while the Gaffer donned the gloves at the other end.

The unexpected goalkeeping gig for Alex meant a late change of Referee with coach Peter MacCallum taking the whistle and stop watch. Dressed for an afternoon in Aulay's Bar rather than a football match, Peter wisely restricted his movements to a minimum rarely straying out of the centre circle.

Another Lochgilphead Red Star man, Andy Moore, opened the scoring for the non-bibs venturing out from the left side of defence and firing a thirty five yard screamer into the postage stamp corner past Red Star colleague Pollock.

The non-bibs doubled their advantage with crisp finish from Sol Smith low past Pollock's left hand.

A sensational header from Mark Robertson, powering home a Fraser MacFarlane free-kick, brought the bibs back into contention. Unfortunately for Mark his header was past his own goalkeeper earning him the dubious distinction of scoring one of the finest own goals ever witnessed at Glencruitten.

Donald Campbell drew the bibs level just before half-time getting on the end of a David Smith pass and slotting the ball low past Alex Craik's despairing left hand.

Chances were at a premium in the second half with only a moment of brilliance from Donald Campbell able to finally separate the two sides. Donald Collected a Daniel Croarkin through ball and, after tricking his way past Jude Bain and Marc Maccallum, beat Alex Craik from the tightest of angles guiding the ball inside the far post to seal victory for the bibs.

You surely don't expect me to run about dressed like this?

Alex Craik

Ben Pollock

Andy Moore

Sol Smith

Mark Robertson

Donald Campbell

David Smith

Fraser MacFarlane beats Marc Maccallum. Fraser was last spotted running down Glencruitten Drive with an incensed Marc in pursuit

Donald Campbell nets from the tightest of angles to seal victory for the bibs

Donald Campbell shares a joke with the vanquished Gaffer

The participants

#monthesaints

Monday 18 September 2017

Comfortably Through

Saturday 16th September 2017
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
2nd Round
Oban Saints AFC 9 - 0 Cambusnethan Talbot Community AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Donald Campbell
Daniel Croarkin
Steven MacLeod
Craig MacMillan
David Smith

Last Saturday at Glencruitten Oban Saints eased past Cambusnethan Talbot Community to confirm their place in the draw for the third round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup. Despite a spirited performance the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League men from Wishaw were no match for a Saints side slowly clicking into gear after a sluggish start to the season.

Injured pair Paul Carmichael and Ally McKerracher dropped out of the squad along with Bartosz Faron who was working. Shaun MacIver returned after illness and Donald Campbell made his first appearance of the season after recovering from a groin strain picked up in pre-season.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Matthew Kelly, David McPhee, Craig Campbell and Scott Maitland. Keith Millar, Willie Gemmell and Myles McAuley patrolled the midfield with Fraser MacFarlane, Shaun MacIver and Craig MacEwan forming the forward line. On the bench were Donald Campbell, Daniel Croarkin, Steven MacLeod, Craig MacMillan and David Smith.

Attacking the railway end in the first half Saints started slowly but still managed to open the scoring in the sixth minute with their first meaningful attack. Willie Gemmell played the ball up to Scott Maitland on the left who was hauled down by Mark Preston. Gemmell's free-kick from the just inside the touchline and level with the eighteen yard line picked out an intelligent near post run from Craig MacEwan who guided the ball past Robert Lofferty in the Camby goal and into the bottom corner.

Saints were beginning to find some joy on the left and an eighth minute through ball from Scott Maitland sent Myles McAuley in behind the Camby back four. Passing up a decent shooting opportunity Myles squared for Fraser MacFarlane who saw his shot blocked behind for a corner kick.

McAuley was involved again in the eleventh minute driving forward from midfield and slipping in Craig MacEwan who was adjudged by Referee Jimmy Litster to be in an offside position.

Shaun MacIver and Camby central defender John Hill received a ticking off from Mr Litster for some pushing and shoving as the two battled for supremacy through the middle.

Robert Lofferty made a good save at his near post to deny Craig MacEwan in the fifteenth minute with Shaun MacIver winning a free-kick on the edge of the D as Talbot struggled to clear the resulting corner kick. Willie Gemmell fancied his chances of working the keeper from that range however his low effort came back off the legs of Peter Cambridge in the Talbot wall before Andrew Wands charged down the rebound.

Myles McAuley sent a difficult headed chance wide of the post and Shaun MacIver was foiled by a good block by Craig Mcfadzean before Saints extended their lead in the twenty first minute. Scott Maitland and Fraser MacFarlane linked up well on the left of the Camby box with MacFarlane's lay off sending Maitland through on keeper Lofferty. From a tight angle Maitland cut the ball back to Craig MacEwan who found the the bottom corner beating Ryan Airth on the goal line.

With Keith Millar, Willie Gemmell and Myles McAuley controlling the midfield the chances kept coming for Saints. Getting on the end of a Craig MacEwan lay-off from a Willie Gemmell pass, Matthew Kelly bombed forward on the right in the twenty fourth minute and sent a shot across Robert Lofferty and inches wide of the big keeper's right hand post.

Willie Gemmell's short free-kick sixty seconds later presented Fraser MacFarlane with a shooting opportunity from twenty five yards which he gratefully accepted and was unlucky to see his deflected effort come back off the upright.

Another good lay-off from Fraser MacFarlane on the left sent Shaun MacIver in behind the Camby defence with the Saints centre forward drawing a good save from Robert Lofferty at his near post to keep out MacIver's left foot shot.

At the other end the visitors made a rare foray forward and Stuart Brown fired off a decent shot from the corner of the Saints box which cannoned off Craig Campbell and behind for a corner. Graham Douglas showed good handling to gather Mark Preston's corner kick under pressure from John Hill.

In the thirty fourth minute the simmering feud between Shaun MacIver and John Hill threated to boil over but Mr Litster quickly restored order and showed the yellow card to both players.

Mr Litster, who had a good game in his bright yellow kit, gave the benefit of another tight offside call to the visitors in the thirty seventh minute ruling Scott Maitland fractionally offside and halting another promising Saints move.

Camby's Stuart Brown was presented with a forty second minute chance to test Graham Douglas in the Saints goal after David McPhee had unfairly halted Mark Preston's progress twenty eight yards out. However Brown's left foot effort curled harmlessly high and wide of Sugar's right hand post.

Another good Craig MacEwan and Fraser MacFarlane combination on the left benefited Scott Maitland who cut into the box and flashed a low shot across the keeper but wide of the far post.

Craig MacEwan notched his third goal of the afternoon on the stroke of half-time beating the offside trap to get on the end of a well weighted Willie Gemmell pass. With the Camby defence appealing in vain for another offside decision, MacEwan rounded keeper Lofferty on the eighteen yard line and slotted the ball into the net past a last ditch attempted clearance from John Hill.

Fraser MacFarlane was rewarded for a good all round display with a goal just two minutes into the second half. The build-up this time came on the Saints right with Craig MacEwan, Myles McAuley and Matthew Kelly all heavily involved. Kelly's dinked cross was headed home by MacFarlane diving in at the back post to put the outcome of the time beyond any lingering doubt.

Camby keeper Lofferty denied Shaun MacIver once again in the forty eighth minute springing to his right to turn Shaun's eighteen yard shot round the post.

The visitors lost the services of play maker Mark Preston to a hamstring injury in the fifty first minute with his place being taken by Anthony O'Hare.

Camby danger man Stuart Brown drew a good save from Graham Douglas in the fifty second minute as the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the match. Sugar tipped Brown's effort round the post for a corner which Myles McAuley cleared to Shaun MacIver who was chopped down by Andrew Wands. The big Camby central midfielder became the third name in Mr Litster's notebook with his latest foul finally stretching the Referee's patience too far.

Brown showed he has an eye for a pass threading a ball through for Thomas McKnight which Matthew Kelly tracked back well to cut out.

Saints made their first change of the afternoon in the fifty fifth minute when Craig Campbell made way for Steven MacLeod in a straight swap at centre back.

Saints looked strangely flat at this stage but Myles McAuley produced a couple of runs to try and lift things. In the fifty sixth minute he was chopped down twenty eight yards from goal by Craig Mcfadzean. Willie Gemmell's free-kick towards the back post was too heavy for Craig MacEwan and drifted behind for a goal kick. Saints quickly regained possession from Lofferty's clearance and McAuley raced at the Camby defence once more. This time it was Andrew Wands who unfairly halted McAuley's progress. However the ball broke kindly for Craig MacEwan in support and Mr Litster allowed a good advantage. MacEwan powered into the box but, from a tight angle, lifted the ball over the crossbar. Mr Litster had what would surely be his last word with Wands mercifully sparing him a second yellow card.

Robert Lofferty produced another fine save from Craig MacEwan in the fifty ninth minute after the Saints Captain had been played in by an excellent raking Willie Gemmell pass.

On the hour mark the visitors withdrew disciplinary tightrope balancing act Andrew Wands and replaced him with Scott Millar.

After sixty three minutes Saints Gaffer Alex Craik decided it was time to freshen things up a bit and made a triple substitution. Off went Willie Gemmell, Keith Millar and Shaun MacIver to be replaced by Donald Campbell, Daniel Croarkin and Craig MacMillan. Donald took the centre forward role vacated by Shaun while Daniel and Craig took the full back berths with Matthew Kelly and Scott Maitland moving into midfield.

Saints eventually rediscovered their rhythm and in the sixty seventh minute Scott Maitland picked out Craig MacEwan's run on the right. Craig darted past Ryan Airth and crossed for Donald Campbell who held off the challenge of Peter Cambridge to slot past Robert Lofferty for goal number five.

Chances were now coming thick and fast as the tiring Camby defence struggled to cope with Saints movement. Scott Maitland fired a decent effort just over the cross bar before a give and go with Craig MacEwan opened up the visiting defence for Donald Campbell who saw his shot well saved by Robert Lofferty at his near post.

With twenty minutes remaining Saints Gaffer Alex Craik made his final change sending on David Smith to replace David McPhee at centre back. Smith was quickly involved with a well timed challenge on Stuart Brown as he wriggled his way into the box on the Camby right.

Craig MacEwan rifled a right foot shot over the junction of post and bar before Donald Campbell notched a sixth goal for Saints in the seventy fourth minute. Linking up with Scott Maitland Donald strode through the static Camby defence and slammed the ball past Robert Lofferty.

Scott Maitland was reveling in his midfield role and getting forward at every opportunity. The legs of Robert Lofferty denied Scott after he again broke through on the left with the big keeper, who put a brave fight despite the score-line, also making a smart save to cut out a Fraser MacFarlane cross intended for Donald Campbell.

Lofferty frustrated Maitland again at his near post in the seventy ninth minute after a dribbling run from Scott had left John Hill and Craig Mcfadzean trailing in his wake.

There was nothing Lofferty could do to prevent Donald Campbell marking his comeback with a hat-trick as Donald powered home an eighty first minute header from a Craig MacEwan cross from the right.

Saints regained possession straight from the restart and, in behind the defence once again, Scott Maitland must have realised it wasn't to be his day in front of goal when he finally beat Lofferty only to see his effort hit the side netting.

Graham Douglas produced a moment of brilliance to keep his clean sheet intact backpedaling and stretching up to stop an attempted lob from Stuart Brown after the Camby striker had dispossessed David Smith.

A driving run into the box from Myles McAuley set up goal number eight in the eighty eighth minute. After forcing his way past Craig Thomson and John Hill, Myles had only the goalkeeper to beat but unselfishly squared the ball to Craig MacEwan teeing up the skipper for his fourth goal of the afternoon.

The ninth and final goal came in the ninetieth minute and owed much to the determination of young Craig MacMillan on the Saints left. Chasing down a Ryan Airth pass back, the Saints youngster refused to allow Robert Lofferty time on the ball and his hurried clearance fell at the feet of Craig MacEwan. Craig pushed into the Camby box and rounded the advancing keeper before lifting the ball from a tight angle over the retreating Ryan Airth and into the roof of the net.

There was barely any time left on the watch and Mr Litster blew for full time almost immediately after the restart sending Saints through to Tuesday's third round draw with a convincing 9 - 0 final score-line.