Winning In The Rain: Another Last Sixteen

Saturday 10th February 2018
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
5th Round
Oban Saints AFC 8 - 0 Woodhall Thistle AFC
Oban Community Sports Field (3G)
Soroba Road
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Kick Off 1pm

Referee Mr James Gallacher

Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Lewis Cameron

Jamie Graham

Ruaridh Horne

Connor Howe

Kerr Newbigging

Unused substitute:-

Craig MacMillan

Saints goalscorers:-

Donald Campbell (2)

Daniel MacCuish

Shaun MacIver (3)

Lewis Cameron (2)

A hat-trick from Shaun MacIver on his return from suspension helped Oban Saints see off the challenge of Woodhall Thistle last Saturday at the Oban Community Sports Field to book their place in the last sixteen of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup. The Caledonian League Division 1B visitors from Holytown posed one of two problems for Saints in the early exchanges however once Skipper Donald Campbell had given the home side the lead there was only ever going to be one winner. Youngster Daniel MacCuish got his second goal in as many games and new signing Lewis Cameron bagged a brace to mark his return to the club and set up an intriguing sixth round away tie against 2016 cup winners Shortlees in Ayrshire this coming Saturday.

Saints Secretary David Buchanan had taken the decision on Friday afternoon to switch the tie from Glencruitten to the all weather surface at Oban High School. This turned out to be an inspired move as heavy overnight rain rendered all grass parks in the town unplayable and wiped all except the Saints match from the sporting calendar.

Manager Alex Craik shook off the flu virus which had laid him low all week to take charge of arguably his strongest match day squad of the season so far. Keeper Graham Douglas lined-up behind a back four of Matthew Kelly, Steven MacLeod, Paul Carmichael and Scott Maitland. Selected for the crucial midfield battle were Myles McAuley, Willie Gemmell and Captain Donald Campbell. Leading the line was the returning Shaun MacIver flanked by Daniel MacCuish and Craig MacEwan. On the bench were Jamie Graham, Kerr Newbigging, youngsters Ruaridh Horne and Craig MacMillan and new signings Lewis Cameron and Connor Howe.

Saints kicked off attacking the old Games Park end in dry overcast conditions which quickly gave way to heavy rain. The change in the weather however did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the large crowd whose numbers were no doubt boosted by the cancellation of the remainder of the local sporting events.

The visitors were first to threaten with stand out player Dean Harper proving an early handful for the Saints defence. In the third minute Harper forced his way through and stung the palms of Saints keeper Graham 'Sugar' Douglas with a fierce right foot shot from just inside the box.

Two minutes later Harper was allowed to carry the ball a long way from right to left and set up Kieron McGowan for a curling right foot effort which Graham Douglas at full stretch did well to turn round his left hand upright.

Douglas claimed the corner kick from the right ahead of Dominic Greenhorn and launched a counter attack where Daniel MacCuish and Craig MacEwan opened up the Thistle defence for Donald Campbell to run in behind and slot the ball low past Alan Rennie in the visitor's goal and give Saints the lead. The Thistle keeper appealed in vain for an offside decision and continued his protestations too long for the Referee's liking earning the first caution of the match.

Thistle danger man Dean Harper threatened to break through again in the eighth minute but Graham Douglas was quickly off his line to snuff out the danger.

After ten minutes Saints forced a series of corners which the visitors did well to defend as Willie Gemmell and Shaun MacIver traded in-swingers from either flank.

Although not a dirty game Referee James Gallacher's notebook would prove to be well used with Christopher McCormack becoming entry number two after fifteen minutes.

Bombing forward from right back Matthew Kelly was beginning to get some joy in the attacking third and picked out a terrific Myles McAuley run into the box in the seventeenth minute. McAuley however couldn't extend his recent hot goal scoring streak and lifted the ball over the prostrate Alan Rennie but narrowly wide of the keeper's left hand post.

In the twenty first minute more excellent work on the right from Matthew Kelly received the finish it deserved when Daniel MacCuish, running in at the back post, knocked in his second goal in as many games from close range. Kelly's driving run and low cross took out Lee Knox, Alan Rennie and Anthony Blair leaving young MacCuish a simple tap-in to double the Saints lead.

Mr Gallacher gave the benefit of a tight offside decision to the visitors when Donald Campbell and Shaun MacIver looked to breach the Thistle back line in the twenty third minute. From the quickly taken free-kick Thistle immediately lost possession with Craig MacEwan catching Alan Rennie well off his line with a twenty five yard lob which landed on the roof of the net.

A pinpoint diagonal pass from Willie Gemmell onto the instep of Craig MacEwan in the twenty sixth minute saw MacEwan play a delicious first time ball along the six yard line for Daniel MacCuish on the stretch who succeeded in lifting the ball over the advancing Alan Rennie but unfortunately also over the big keeper's crossbar.

A thirty second minute lapse in concentration in the centre circle from Shaun MacIver gifted possession to Thistle danger man Dean Harper. The big striker was again given rather too much space to run into and picked out Anthony Blair for a strike on goal which Graham Douglas did well to hold.

Saints immediately raced to the other end where Craig MacEwan timed his run on the left to beat the Thistle offside trap and sent a cutback to Donald Campbell who steered a side footed effort from eighteen yards inches wide of Alan Rennie's left hand post.

The Thistle offside trap was breached once again in the thirty fifth minute by Shaun MacIver who slammed a measured through ball from Scott Maitland low past the keeper's right hand and into the bottom corner for Saints third goal.

The visitors continued to test the patience of Referee Gallacher who took the names of Stephen Molloy and Lee Knox in quick succession in the thirty seventh minute after a heavy challenge on Shaun MacIver. From the resulting free-kick Willie Gemmell found the head of Craig MacEwan ten yards out but the Saints top scorer failed to add to his tally sending his header wide of target.

From a quick fortieth minute breakaway Dean Harper won a corner kick for the visitors on the right. The Saints defence cleared the danger however Thistle were able to keep the pressure on after Craig MacEwan conceded a foul midway inside the Saints half. Stephen Molloy tried his luck from distance but failed to trouble Graham Douglas clearing the crossbar by several feet.

Thistle's meagre resources were stretched to the limit when central midfielder Christopher McCormack limped off on the stroke of half-time to be replaced by Joseph McDonald.

Saints Gaffer Alex Craik made the first of five changes for the start of the second half giving Myles McAuley's troublesome ankle a deserved rest and introducing Lewis Cameron who makes an extremely welcome return to the club after two seasons 'down under' with Rochedale Rovers in the Brisbane Premier League.

As in the first half it was the visitors who made the better start with Steven MacLeod getting a vital touch to take the sting out of another Dean Harper effort which Graham Douglas smothered at his near post with Jody Agnew ready to pounce on any handling error.

In the forty seventh minute Kieron McGowan powered away from Daniel MacCuish who had dropped back into midfield for the second half and fed Jody Agnew on the right. Agnew's cross on the run was well cut out by Steven MacLeod who enjoyed another steady afternoon at the centre of the Saints defence which would ultimately hold on for a much prized clean sheet.

After Dean Harper had shot wide of target in the fifty first minute Saints finally regained control of the midfield and soon had the ball in the back of the net again only for Mr Gallacher to rule the effort out for offside. After a driving run at the heart of the Thistle defence Scott Maitland picked out Shaun MacIver who rounded Alan Rennie and rolled the ball into the empty net only for Mr Gallacher to blow in favour of the visitors.

The Thistle keeper made the first of a string of fine second half saves in the fifty third minute denying Shaun MacIver after a sweeping Saints move involving Daniel MacCuish, Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron.

Saints stretched their advantage after ten second half minutes when Craig MacEwan raced from inside his own half onto a Paul Carmichael ball out from defence. MacEwan's run up the left and into the Thistle box drew Stephen Molloy out of the centre and left Shaun MacIver a simple tap-in at the back post from MacEwan's cutback.

Dominic Greenhorn picked up what was to prove a costly caution for a trip on Lewis Cameron on the hour mark. Craig MacEwan got in between Thistle Captain John Moran and Dominic Greenhorn to nod the ball down for Lewis Cameron who drew a good save from Alan Rennie low down to his right.

Rennie denied Cameron again just sixty seconds later standing up well on his six yard line to deflect Cameron's effort wide for a corner kick.

Saints Gaffer Alex Craik made two further changes replacing Paul Carmichael and Daniel MacCuish with Jamie Graham and Kerr Newbigging in the sixty second minute.

Steven MacLeod had the dubious honour of being the first Saints name in the Referee's notebook for pulling back Dean Harper just inside the Saints half on the Thistle left. From the resulting free-kick Stephen Molloy was too heavy with his ball to the far post looking for the run of Jody Agnew.

Shaun MacIver sealed his hat-trick in the sixty fifth minute once again springing the visitor's offside trap before skipping round Alan Rennie and rolling the ball into the unguarded net.

The fifth goal was the cue for Alex Craik to make the last of his changes handing debuts to Ruaridh Horne and Connor Howe who replaced Matthew Kelly and Willie Gemmell.

Shaun MacIver came close to adding to his tally in the sixty ninth minute sending a good chance across Alan Rennie but wide of his right hand post. Dominic Greenhorn's earlier caution then came back to haunt him when he had one too many words to say to Mr Gallacher who produced a second yellow and issued Greenhorn with his marching orders.

With twenty minutes remaining a Craig MacEwan effort from distance drew another fine save from Alan Rennie who had a good game despite the scoreline.

Kerr Newbigging found his way into Referee Gallacher's notebook in the seventy fifth minute for a high challenge on Lee Knox with Stephen Molloy sending the resulting free-kick high over the Saints crossbar. That proved to be Molloy's last serious involvement as he then picked up a second caution for deliberate handball and joined Dominic Greenhorn in having an early bath.

The nine men conceded again with ten minutes remaining after an adventurous run into the box by young Ruaridh Horne was halted by a shove in the back. Mr Gallacher had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot from where Donald Campbell gave Alan Rennie no chance firing high into the top corner.

As Saints tightened the screws Lewis Cameron met an eighty first minute Scott Maitland cross from the left with a crisp half volley which flew inches over.

There was no respite for the beleaguered Thistle defence with Rennie making a brave stop at the feet of Shaun MacIver before Connor Howe sent a good chance wide.

Lewis Cameron opened his goal scoring account with five minutes remaining but only after Alan Rennie had made another fine save to deny Craig MacEwan. MacEwan tricked his way past Christopher Gallagher but couldn't beat Rennie who came out well to narrow the angle on the corner of his six yard box. Rennie however was powerless to stop MacEwan turning the loose ball back across goal into the path of Lewis Cameron who thumped it into the roof of the net.

Cameron rounded off the scoring sixty seconds later working a one-two with Craig MacEwan and racing into the box to slot the the ball low past the cruelly exposed Thistle keeper.

The final whistle now couldn't come soon enough for the visitors who were spared the ignominy of a double figures defeat when Kerr Newbigging missed a glorious eighty seventh minute opening and keeper Alan Rennie safely fielded an eighty ninth minute Connor Howe shot before Mr Gallacher blew for full time.