Saturday 2nd September 2017
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
1st Round Tie
Oban Saints AFC 4 - 0 Mauchline United AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Anthony McCann
Oban Saints AFC 4 - 0 Mauchline United AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Anthony McCann
Two time beaten semi-finalists Oban Saints returned to the Scottish Amateur Cup trail last Saturday when they hosted Mauchline United in a first round tie at Glencruitten. Mauchline of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association First Division versus Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Oban Saints was one of twenty nine first round ties played across four regions with the remaining four hundred and eighty three entrants receiving byes.
Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Jay Cooper
Bartosz Faron
Ruaridh Horne
Craig MacMillan
Manager Alex Craik stuck closely to the line-up which had earned Saints their first league points of the season at East Kilbride this previous week but with three enforced changes. Graham Douglas returned in goal with Craig Campbell replacing Dalmally Show bound David McPhee in central defence. Craig lined up alongside the Gaffer with Matthew Kelly and Daniel Croarkin once again filling the fullback berths. Holiday maker Scott Maitland dropped out of the midfield and was replaced by new signing Ally McKerracher who lined up just in front of holding midfielders Willie Gemmell and Keith Millar. Their was no changes to the forward line with Shaun MacIver spearheading the attack flanked by Fraser MacFarlane and Skipper Craig MacEwan. On the bench were Jay Cooper and three more new signings Bartosz Faron, Ruaridh Horne and Craig MacMillan.
Visitors Mauchline United, whose small but vocal support were enjoying the Oban sunshine, kicked off attacking the Mossfield end however it was Saints who were first to threaten. Willie Gemmell sent a free-kick from just inside the Mauchline half and wide on the right into the Mauchline box for Ally McKerracher. Ally, who returns to the club after a thirty two month absence, flicked on Willie's free-kick to Craig MacEwan who drove to the bye-line but couldn't get the better of Mauchline right back Ryan O'Donnell who saw the danger out.
Shaun MacIver's perseverance forced John Rutherford into a hurried clearance in the fifth minute which didn't find touch and was quickly latched onto by Craig MacEwan. Craig's cross from the left found Ally McKerracher at the back post whose shot from nine yards was blocked by left-back Steven Leitch. The visitors couldn't fully clear their lines and from a Fraser MacFarlane corner kick from the left Craig Campbell climbed above Alisdair Murray but couldn't generate enough power in his header which looped into the gloves of Andrew Clark in the Mauchline goal.
The early pressure bore fruit for Saints in the seventh minute when Shaun MacIver burst through on the end of a Craig MacEwan pass to fire the ball into the roof of the net from eighteen yards after good work in midfield from Keith Millar and Ally McKerracher.
McKerracher almost made it two sixty seconds later cutting in from the right and flashing a low shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide of Andrew Clark's right hand post.
A David Howat trip on Daniel Croarkin gave Willie Gemmell another dead ball opportunity from which he was fractionally too heavy with a clever ball to the back post for Keith Millar's late run.
A heavy challenge on Matthew Kelly on the half-way line by John Rutherford earned the Mauchline defender a stern talking to from Central Scottish Amateur Football League Referee Anthony McCann as the visitors battled to get a foothold in the game.
A sloppy five minute spell from Saints gave Mauchline increased confidence and almost cost the home side the lead. In the twentieth minute David Howat made a terrific run up the right wing and fizzed a low cross along the six yard line inches away from Skipper Liam O'Donnell.
Saints capitalised fully on this let-off with O'Donnell's opposite number Craig MacEwan rounding off an excellent move for the first of his three goals of the afternoon. MacEwan sent Fraser MacFarlane scurrying forward on the right but, with his path blocked by Steven Leitch, the Saints wide man turned back inside and laid the ball back to Keith Millar. Millar kept the ball moving across to the left for Daniel Croarkin who in turn picked out Ally McKerracher. McKerracher split Ryan O'Donnell and Campbell Thomson with a perfectly weighted pass through the inside left channel for Craig MacEwan who slotted past Andrew Clark from eight yards beating the Mauchline keeper at his near post.
A late challenge through the back of Craig Campbell earned Liam O'Donnell a talking to from Mr McCann before John Rutherford became the first name in the Referee's notebook for whipping Ally McKerracher's legs away on the edge of the centre circle. From the resulting free-kick Willie Gemmell found Craig MacEwan who brought the ball down and laid back to Shaun MacIver for a left foot volley which Andrew Clark did well to hold diving high to his left.
Fraser MacFarlane came the width of the post away from increasing Saints lead in the twenty ninth minute. Ally McKerracher hurdled three challenges before picking out Fraser MacFarlane coming in from the right. Fraser's shot beat Andrew Clark low down to his left but struck the outside of the near post and flew behind for a goal kick.
McKerracher and MacFarlane combined again sixty seconds later with McKerracher hitting the bye-line and cutting back for MacIver who had the ball taken off his toes by a timely interception from John Rutherford.
McKerracher's direct running continued to pose problems for the Mauchline defence with Andrew Clark having to come quickly off his line to smother at the Saints man's feet in the thirty second minute.
With experienced duo Willie Gemmell and Keith Millar rolling back the years and pulling the strings in midfield Saints continued to push forward looking to kill the tie off before the half-time whistle. Daniel Croarkin linked up with Craig MacEwan on the left who turned inside and sent an excellent diagonal ball into the box for Ally McKerracher to fire inches wide of the keeper's left hand post.
Another driving run from McKerracher in the forty first minute saw the Saints midfielder delicately lift the ball over the advancing Andrew Clark but unfortunately also just over the crossbar.
At the other end the visitors gave Saints a reminder of their threat on the break when Liam O'Donnell made a smart turn away from Craig Campbell on the eighteen yard line and sent a low shot inches wide of the right hand post of Saints keeper Graham Douglas.
Despite their domination the much hoped for Saints third goal wouldn't come with the ebullient McKerracher missing two further half chances. With John Rutherford attempting to pull him back McKerracher burst through the middle and drew an excellent save from Andrew Clark throwing himself to his left to turn the ball behind for a corner kick. Fraser MacFarlane's delivery was knocked back out to him on the right with his second ball finding the outstretched boot of McKerracher who, under pressure from Campbell Thomson, sent the ball wide of Andrew Clark's right hand post.
On the stroke of half-time Mr McCann flashed the second yellow card of the afternoon in the direction of Liam O'Donnell for another late challenge on Craig Campbell before signalling the halfway point in proceedings.
Saints began the second half still very much on the front foot with Ally McKerracher winning a free kick thirty two yards out which Willie Gemmell scuffed wide of Andrew Clark's right hand post.
The visitors showed they couldn't be discounted as an attacking force when Liam O'Donnell got in behind the Saints defence on the right in the forty seventh minute and flashed a drive across Graham Douglas and inches wide of the far post.
Keith Millar joined the attack after five second half minutes feeding Fraser MacFarlane but not receiving the return pass he had hoped for as Fraser pushed into the box himself before over running the ball and allowing Campbell Thomson to make the interception.
Greg Mason became the third Mauchline player to fall foul of Referee Anthony McCann, who had a faultless afternoon, for pulling back Ally McKerracher in the fifty second minute.
Keith Millar sent Fraser MacFarlane in behind the Mauchline back four with a well measured pass in the fifty fourth minute from where the Saints wide man showed good composure to square the ball to the unmarked Craig MacEwan who, with the keeper left stranded, gratefully rolled the ball into the unguarded net for Saints third goal.
Only a terrific sliding interception by John Rutherford on Ally McKerracher denied Saints a quick fire fourth when Ally once again drove at the heart of the Mauchline defence from the restart.
A good ball over the top by Greg Mason looking for Liam O'Donnell was well cut out by Alex Craik who quickly turned defence into attack playing the ball up to Shaun MacIver who was just too heavy with his pass into the box looking for the run of Craig MacEwan.
The Gaffer, who together with Craig Campbell formed a solid partnership at the heart of the Saints defence, made another important interception in the sixty first minute to cut out David Howat's cross from the right intended for Liam O'Donnell. From the resulting corner kick Craik won the header at the expense of a throw-in on the left. The Saints defence momentarily switched off and were relieved to see Campbell Thomson slice a free shot wide of target.
Presentable chances for MacEwan, MacFarlane, MacIver and McKerracher all came and went before Manager Alex Craik signaled to the bench to ready the first changes in the seventy second minute. Daniel Croarkin, who had picked up an ankle injury, and Ally McKerracher made way for new signings Craig MacMillan and Ruaridh Horne. The replacements took up the fullback berths with Matthew Kelly moving into midfield to take up the position vacated by McKerracher.
With fifteen minutes remaining a sublime piece of trickery by Craig MacEwan on the bye-line took out Mauchline keeper Andrew Clark. Unfortunately it also caught Shaun MacIver on the back foot and the big striker was fractionally too slow to reach Craig's ball from an acute angle allowing John Rutherford to get back and make the block at the back post.
MacIver was on his toes three minutes later bursting into the box where Andrew Clark sent him tumbling for a penalty kick. Mr McCann showed Clark the yellow card before Craig MacEwan hit the outside of the post from twelve yards after sending Clark in the wrong direction.
Shaun MacIver and Fraser MacFarlane linked up well in the eighty first minute when Shaun picked out Fraser with a cross from the right for a spectacular bicycle kick which Andrew Clark saved well to his left.
That proved to be the last involvement for the pair who made way for Jay Cooper and, another new signing, Bartosz Faron from the Czech Republic.
Despite a dominant performance Saints didn't have things all their own way and were indebted to Craig Campbell for a double block on Liam O'Donnell and Darren McGill in the eighty third minute.
In the eighty ninth minute Willie Gemmell picked out Craig MacEwan with a free-kick from the centre circle which Craig chested down wide on the right and cut into the box before shooting straight at Andrew Clark.
Just sixty seconds later the pair repeated the trick with Craig this time finding the end product to match the build-up. John Rutherford was penalised for a heavy challenge on Jay Cooper with Referee Mr McCann resisting the temptation to issue a second yellow card. Willie Gemmell expertly lifted the free-kick into the box for Craig MacEwan who turned away from Ryan O'Donnell and Steven Leitch and, from six yards, slotted past Andrew Clark to round off the scoring and clinch his hat-trick.
Totally out of keeping with what had been a good natured match, tempers were ignited by a badly mistimed challenge by young Craig MacMillan on Stuart Hall in the fourth minute of added time. Mr McCann quickly restored order and showed a yellow card to Willie Gemmell for his part in the aftermath. MacMillan blocked the resulting free-kick behind for a corner kick which Ruaridh Horne headed clear before Mr McCann decided he had seen enough and blew for full time.
Saints Manager Alex Craik will be delighted by the progress made by in side in the last two games and more especially with the clean sheet. A sterner test awaits Saints in their next fixture where they welcome reigning Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions St Joseph's F.P. to Glencruitten.
Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Jay Cooper
Bartosz Faron
Ruaridh Horne
Craig MacMillan
Manager Alex Craik stuck closely to the line-up which had earned Saints their first league points of the season at East Kilbride this previous week but with three enforced changes. Graham Douglas returned in goal with Craig Campbell replacing Dalmally Show bound David McPhee in central defence. Craig lined up alongside the Gaffer with Matthew Kelly and Daniel Croarkin once again filling the fullback berths. Holiday maker Scott Maitland dropped out of the midfield and was replaced by new signing Ally McKerracher who lined up just in front of holding midfielders Willie Gemmell and Keith Millar. Their was no changes to the forward line with Shaun MacIver spearheading the attack flanked by Fraser MacFarlane and Skipper Craig MacEwan. On the bench were Jay Cooper and three more new signings Bartosz Faron, Ruaridh Horne and Craig MacMillan.
Visitors Mauchline United, whose small but vocal support were enjoying the Oban sunshine, kicked off attacking the Mossfield end however it was Saints who were first to threaten. Willie Gemmell sent a free-kick from just inside the Mauchline half and wide on the right into the Mauchline box for Ally McKerracher. Ally, who returns to the club after a thirty two month absence, flicked on Willie's free-kick to Craig MacEwan who drove to the bye-line but couldn't get the better of Mauchline right back Ryan O'Donnell who saw the danger out.
Shaun MacIver's perseverance forced John Rutherford into a hurried clearance in the fifth minute which didn't find touch and was quickly latched onto by Craig MacEwan. Craig's cross from the left found Ally McKerracher at the back post whose shot from nine yards was blocked by left-back Steven Leitch. The visitors couldn't fully clear their lines and from a Fraser MacFarlane corner kick from the left Craig Campbell climbed above Alisdair Murray but couldn't generate enough power in his header which looped into the gloves of Andrew Clark in the Mauchline goal.
The early pressure bore fruit for Saints in the seventh minute when Shaun MacIver burst through on the end of a Craig MacEwan pass to fire the ball into the roof of the net from eighteen yards after good work in midfield from Keith Millar and Ally McKerracher.
McKerracher almost made it two sixty seconds later cutting in from the right and flashing a low shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide of Andrew Clark's right hand post.
A David Howat trip on Daniel Croarkin gave Willie Gemmell another dead ball opportunity from which he was fractionally too heavy with a clever ball to the back post for Keith Millar's late run.
A heavy challenge on Matthew Kelly on the half-way line by John Rutherford earned the Mauchline defender a stern talking to from Central Scottish Amateur Football League Referee Anthony McCann as the visitors battled to get a foothold in the game.
A sloppy five minute spell from Saints gave Mauchline increased confidence and almost cost the home side the lead. In the twentieth minute David Howat made a terrific run up the right wing and fizzed a low cross along the six yard line inches away from Skipper Liam O'Donnell.
Saints capitalised fully on this let-off with O'Donnell's opposite number Craig MacEwan rounding off an excellent move for the first of his three goals of the afternoon. MacEwan sent Fraser MacFarlane scurrying forward on the right but, with his path blocked by Steven Leitch, the Saints wide man turned back inside and laid the ball back to Keith Millar. Millar kept the ball moving across to the left for Daniel Croarkin who in turn picked out Ally McKerracher. McKerracher split Ryan O'Donnell and Campbell Thomson with a perfectly weighted pass through the inside left channel for Craig MacEwan who slotted past Andrew Clark from eight yards beating the Mauchline keeper at his near post.
A late challenge through the back of Craig Campbell earned Liam O'Donnell a talking to from Mr McCann before John Rutherford became the first name in the Referee's notebook for whipping Ally McKerracher's legs away on the edge of the centre circle. From the resulting free-kick Willie Gemmell found Craig MacEwan who brought the ball down and laid back to Shaun MacIver for a left foot volley which Andrew Clark did well to hold diving high to his left.
Fraser MacFarlane came the width of the post away from increasing Saints lead in the twenty ninth minute. Ally McKerracher hurdled three challenges before picking out Fraser MacFarlane coming in from the right. Fraser's shot beat Andrew Clark low down to his left but struck the outside of the near post and flew behind for a goal kick.
McKerracher and MacFarlane combined again sixty seconds later with McKerracher hitting the bye-line and cutting back for MacIver who had the ball taken off his toes by a timely interception from John Rutherford.
McKerracher's direct running continued to pose problems for the Mauchline defence with Andrew Clark having to come quickly off his line to smother at the Saints man's feet in the thirty second minute.
With experienced duo Willie Gemmell and Keith Millar rolling back the years and pulling the strings in midfield Saints continued to push forward looking to kill the tie off before the half-time whistle. Daniel Croarkin linked up with Craig MacEwan on the left who turned inside and sent an excellent diagonal ball into the box for Ally McKerracher to fire inches wide of the keeper's left hand post.
Another driving run from McKerracher in the forty first minute saw the Saints midfielder delicately lift the ball over the advancing Andrew Clark but unfortunately also just over the crossbar.
At the other end the visitors gave Saints a reminder of their threat on the break when Liam O'Donnell made a smart turn away from Craig Campbell on the eighteen yard line and sent a low shot inches wide of the right hand post of Saints keeper Graham Douglas.
Despite their domination the much hoped for Saints third goal wouldn't come with the ebullient McKerracher missing two further half chances. With John Rutherford attempting to pull him back McKerracher burst through the middle and drew an excellent save from Andrew Clark throwing himself to his left to turn the ball behind for a corner kick. Fraser MacFarlane's delivery was knocked back out to him on the right with his second ball finding the outstretched boot of McKerracher who, under pressure from Campbell Thomson, sent the ball wide of Andrew Clark's right hand post.
On the stroke of half-time Mr McCann flashed the second yellow card of the afternoon in the direction of Liam O'Donnell for another late challenge on Craig Campbell before signalling the halfway point in proceedings.
Saints began the second half still very much on the front foot with Ally McKerracher winning a free kick thirty two yards out which Willie Gemmell scuffed wide of Andrew Clark's right hand post.
The visitors showed they couldn't be discounted as an attacking force when Liam O'Donnell got in behind the Saints defence on the right in the forty seventh minute and flashed a drive across Graham Douglas and inches wide of the far post.
Keith Millar joined the attack after five second half minutes feeding Fraser MacFarlane but not receiving the return pass he had hoped for as Fraser pushed into the box himself before over running the ball and allowing Campbell Thomson to make the interception.
Greg Mason became the third Mauchline player to fall foul of Referee Anthony McCann, who had a faultless afternoon, for pulling back Ally McKerracher in the fifty second minute.
Keith Millar sent Fraser MacFarlane in behind the Mauchline back four with a well measured pass in the fifty fourth minute from where the Saints wide man showed good composure to square the ball to the unmarked Craig MacEwan who, with the keeper left stranded, gratefully rolled the ball into the unguarded net for Saints third goal.
Only a terrific sliding interception by John Rutherford on Ally McKerracher denied Saints a quick fire fourth when Ally once again drove at the heart of the Mauchline defence from the restart.
A good ball over the top by Greg Mason looking for Liam O'Donnell was well cut out by Alex Craik who quickly turned defence into attack playing the ball up to Shaun MacIver who was just too heavy with his pass into the box looking for the run of Craig MacEwan.
The Gaffer, who together with Craig Campbell formed a solid partnership at the heart of the Saints defence, made another important interception in the sixty first minute to cut out David Howat's cross from the right intended for Liam O'Donnell. From the resulting corner kick Craik won the header at the expense of a throw-in on the left. The Saints defence momentarily switched off and were relieved to see Campbell Thomson slice a free shot wide of target.
Presentable chances for MacEwan, MacFarlane, MacIver and McKerracher all came and went before Manager Alex Craik signaled to the bench to ready the first changes in the seventy second minute. Daniel Croarkin, who had picked up an ankle injury, and Ally McKerracher made way for new signings Craig MacMillan and Ruaridh Horne. The replacements took up the fullback berths with Matthew Kelly moving into midfield to take up the position vacated by McKerracher.
With fifteen minutes remaining a sublime piece of trickery by Craig MacEwan on the bye-line took out Mauchline keeper Andrew Clark. Unfortunately it also caught Shaun MacIver on the back foot and the big striker was fractionally too slow to reach Craig's ball from an acute angle allowing John Rutherford to get back and make the block at the back post.
MacIver was on his toes three minutes later bursting into the box where Andrew Clark sent him tumbling for a penalty kick. Mr McCann showed Clark the yellow card before Craig MacEwan hit the outside of the post from twelve yards after sending Clark in the wrong direction.
Shaun MacIver and Fraser MacFarlane linked up well in the eighty first minute when Shaun picked out Fraser with a cross from the right for a spectacular bicycle kick which Andrew Clark saved well to his left.
That proved to be the last involvement for the pair who made way for Jay Cooper and, another new signing, Bartosz Faron from the Czech Republic.
Despite a dominant performance Saints didn't have things all their own way and were indebted to Craig Campbell for a double block on Liam O'Donnell and Darren McGill in the eighty third minute.
In the eighty ninth minute Willie Gemmell picked out Craig MacEwan with a free-kick from the centre circle which Craig chested down wide on the right and cut into the box before shooting straight at Andrew Clark.
Just sixty seconds later the pair repeated the trick with Craig this time finding the end product to match the build-up. John Rutherford was penalised for a heavy challenge on Jay Cooper with Referee Mr McCann resisting the temptation to issue a second yellow card. Willie Gemmell expertly lifted the free-kick into the box for Craig MacEwan who turned away from Ryan O'Donnell and Steven Leitch and, from six yards, slotted past Andrew Clark to round off the scoring and clinch his hat-trick.
Totally out of keeping with what had been a good natured match, tempers were ignited by a badly mistimed challenge by young Craig MacMillan on Stuart Hall in the fourth minute of added time. Mr McCann quickly restored order and showed a yellow card to Willie Gemmell for his part in the aftermath. MacMillan blocked the resulting free-kick behind for a corner kick which Ruaridh Horne headed clear before Mr McCann decided he had seen enough and blew for full time.
Saints Manager Alex Craik will be delighted by the progress made by in side in the last two games and more especially with the clean sheet. A sterner test awaits Saints in their next fixture where they welcome reigning Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions St Joseph's F.P. to Glencruitten.
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| Team Captains Craig MacEwan and Liam O'Donnell with Referee Anthony McCann |
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| Shaun MacIver's shot flies past Andrew Clark to opening the scoring |
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| Craig MacEwan and Fraser MacFarlane congratulate Shaun MacIver on his opening goal |
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| David Howat sends Daniel Croarkin tumbling |
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| Graham Douglas collects a free-kick |
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| Craig MacEwan slots away Ally McKerracher's through ball to double the lead |
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| Ally McKerracher and Craig MacEwan celebrate Saints second goal |
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| Shaun MacIver with Ryan O'Donnell and David Howat in attendance |
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| Andrew Clark saves from Ally McKerracher |
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| Fraser MacFarlane and Steven Leitch |
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| Willie Gemmell |
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| Matthew Kelly |
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| Ally McKerracher heads over |
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| Craig MacEwan hits the post from the penalty spot |
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| Ruaridh Horne can't find a way past Darren McGill |
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| Craig Campbell |
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| Andrew Clark saves Willie Gemmell's free-kick |
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| Craig MacEwan seals his hat-trick and rounds off the scoring at 4 - 0 |
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