Downhill

Saturday 24th March 2018

VSN Sport Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division

Oban Saints AFC 4 - 1 Hillington

Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH

Kick off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster



Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

James Ford

Ruaridh Horne

Craig MacMillan

Unused substitutes:-

Alex Craik

Steven MacLeod

A brace from Shaun MacIver at Glencruitten last Saturday book-ended strikes from Craig MacEwan and Willie Gemmell to avenge Oban Saints opening day of the season at the hands of newly promoted Hillington. Sadly for Hillington the defeat, their thirteenth of a very difficult season, confirms their immediate return to Premier Division One for next season. 

Both teams have undergone major personnel changes since their last meeting on 12th August with only five of each starting line-up surviving. Saints Manager Alex Craik kept up his record of naming a different team for every match so far this season which saw Jamie Graham, Willie Gemmell, Paul Carmichael and Scott Maitland form a back four in front of goalkeeper Graham Douglas. Kerr Newbigging, Matthew Kelly and Myles McAuley lined up in midfield with Shaun MacIver, Craig MacEwan and Captain Donald Campbell in attack. Keeping the Gaffer company on the bench were Steven MacLeod, James Ford, Ruaridh Horne and Craig MacMillan.

Saints Skipper Donald Campbell had the first sight of goal in the second minute but sent a tame effort straight at Hillington keeper Gordon Phillips when sent clean through by Craig MacEwan.

MacEwan set up a second Saints chance in the fourth minute with a run up the left touchline from deep inside his own half. MacEwan played the ball up to Donald Campbell on the eighteen yard line whose lay-off found Matthew Kelly who, unfortunately, was closed down by Ian McFadyen and Neil Walsh before he could get his shot away. The visitors turned defence into attack with a quick counter where Willie Gemmell had to look lively to cut out a Scott Gold through ball for Aaron Boyle.

Experienced Hillington central defender Ian McFadyen was similarly alert to make a fine last ditch sliding interception on Donald Campbell in the eighth minute after the Saints Skipper had beaten the Hillington offside trap.

The visitors forced the first corner of the match in ninth minute but Stuart Ashton's delivery from the left was too high for Aaron Boyle at the back post and drifted harmlessly behind. 

Saints opened the scoring from the goal kick with Myles McAuley winning a header in the centre circle which Matthew Kelly seized upon. Kelly quickly played Shaun MacIver in behind the Hillington back four who, from the corner of the box, drilled a low shot past the advancing keeper and into the net.

Too many stray passes prevented Saints from building on their early lead but when they did eventually click it took a well timed twenty second minute Lee Wales tackle to prevent Myles McAuley from doubling the advantage. Willie Gemmell sent Scott Maitland away on the left with the left back allowed to run a long way before playing the ball up to Donald Campbell on the edge of the box. The Skipper picked out McAuley's supporting run but, with the Saints midfielder poised to pull the trigger, Wales somehow got back to take the ball off McAuley's toe on the six yard line.

Saints slackness in possession was punished in the twenty ninth minute when Aaron Boyle pounced on a misplaced pass out from the back and raced through on goal. Graham Douglas came off his line to try and cut out the danger but slipped on the soggy Glencruitten turf. Boyle took the ball around the prostrate keeper but, with the Saints defence getting back in numbers, was clipped from behind by Paul Carmichael giving Referee Jimmy Litster an easy decision to award a penalty kick. Stuart Ashton made no mistake sending Graham Douglas the wrong way from the penalty spot and giving the visitors what was a deserved equaliser at the stage.

The home side responded well and came close again straight from the restart. Scott Maitland won a throw-in on the left midway inside the Hillington half which he sent up to the feet of Donald Campbell. The Skipper turned Craig Phillips and played in Craig MacEwan who shaved the outside of the Hillington keeper's left hand post with a low shot from fourteen yards.

There was a large slice of good fortune attached to Saints second goal in the thirty seventh minute. Matthew Kelly played a long ball over the top looking for Donald Campbell whose run was matched by Craig Phillips who played the ball back his goal keeper on the corner of the eighteen yard box. The keeper then fired his attempted clearance straight at Craig MacEwan who, unfortunately for the Hillington number one, was able to get the ball quickly under control and lift it over the stranded keeper and into the unguarded net.

Saints stretched their advantage with five minutes of the first half remaining. Steven Cunningham felled Matthew Kelly on the edge of the D giving Willie Gemmell an opportunity to add to his already impressive goals tally. The Saints dead ball expert didn't disappoint and found the bottom corner bending the ball around the five man Hillington wall and beating the despairing left hand of Gordon Phillips.

Young Hillington striker Aaron Boyle continued to make a nuisance of himself and pressured Paul Carmichael and Graham Douglas into a slip at the back in the forty second minute. The keeper's hurried clearance from Carmichael's pass back was charged down by Boyle with Douglas having to scamper back to smother the ball on his goal line.

There was another let-off for Saints on the stroke of half-time when left winger Stuart Ashton got in behind Jamie Graham and fired a dangerous ball across the face of goal but, fortunately for Saints, too far in front of the chasing pack of Scott Gold and David Murdoch.

Mr Litster brought a high tempo first half to an end with the visitors slightly unlucky to find themselves two goals behind.

Saints kicked off the second half attacking the Mossfield end and were quickly on the attack through Scott Maitland on the left. Maitland's run opened up space for Craig MacEwan who tee'd up Kerr Newbigging for a shot from twenty yards. Gordon Phillips could only parry Newbigging's shot into the path of Donald Campbell who, under pressure from Lee Wales, couldn't re-direct the ball on target.

Matthew Kelly came close to adding to the scoring sending a low forty eighth minute right foot effort inches wide with keeper Phillips rooted to the spot.

Willie Gemmell handed Hillington set-piece expert Adam Nisanci a chance to exhibit his talents after he upended David Murdoch on the edge of the Saints box in the forty ninth minute. Nisanci fired a good effort from twenty two yards inches over the crossbar with Graham Douglas well beaten.   

Hillington regained possession from the Saints goal kick and danger man Aaron Boyle burst into the Saints box on the Hillington right but was stopped in his tracks by a perfectly timed Matthew Kelly interception.

The visitors kept plugging away and won a corner kick on the right in the fifty second minute where they worked a clever routine which caught Saints napping and allowed Stuart Ashton to carry the ball into the box and try his luck from a tight angle. Paul Carmichael blocked Ashton's effort behind for a second corner which was swung over in more conventional style by Adam Nisanci and headed clear at the front post by Scott Maitland.

The action moved to the other end where Donald Campbell won a corner on the Saints left. The Skipper's delivery to the back post was headed back across the face of goal by Shaun MacIver but with no takers in Navy. The visitors could only partially clear the danger and, from the corner of the eighteen yard box, Kerr Newbigging picked out Myles McAuley on the penalty spot who could only find the gloves of Gordon Phillips with his header.

Phillips was called into action again in the fifty seventh minute flinging himself to his right to save a Shaun MacIver shot from twenty yards.

On the hour mark Aaron Boyle sent a half chance for the visitors over the crossbar after Jamie Graham and Paul Carmichael got in a tangle on the edge of the Saints box.

Mr Litster very harshly penalised Shaun MacIver on the corner of the Saints eighteen yard box for what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate challenge on Stuart Ashton. However the visitors failed to capitalise on the the Referee's generosity and Adam Nisanci sent the free-kick into the grateful arms of Graham Douglas.

Referee Litster was quickly on the scene to defuse a potential flash point as Paul Carmichael and Steven Cunningham had a frank exchange of views in the centre circle in the sixty sixth minute. Carmichael was deemed to be the aggressor and picked up the first yellow card of the match for his trouble.

Thorn in the side Boyle won another free-kick for the visitors in a dangerous area in the sixty eighth minute but once again the Saints defence stood firm with Kerr Newbigging heading away the delivery from Nisanci.

Saints put the final outcome beyond any doubt in the sixty ninth minute with Shaun MacIver cutting in from the left and firing a low shot across Gordon Phillips and into the bottom corner for his second and Saints fourth goal of the afternoon.

Myles McAuley was denied a fifth for Saints two minutes later from a Scott Maitland throw-in on the left. Donald Campbell ran in behind the Hillington defence and sent a cutback to Craig MacEwan who tee'd up McAuley for a shot from eighteen yards which Ian McFadyen did well to block.

Shaun MacIver's afternoon came to a premature end when he picked up an ankle knock in the seventy sixth minute. MacIver was replaced by young James Ford making his home debut. Saints Gaffer Alex Craik made it a double change withdrawing Jamie Graham and giving another run-out to youngster Ruaridh Horne.

Ford's trickery was probably not what the tiring Hillington defence wanted to see at this late stage of the game and the Saints substitute gave them a few anxious moments in the final fifteen minutes or so.

After holding off the close attentions of Scott Gold, Adam Nisanci and Neil Walsh, Ford sent a dipping eightieth minute effort inches over the Hillington crossbar.

Fellow substitute Ruaridh Horne was also just the wrong side of the woodwork two minutes later when sent through by Craig MacEwan. With the Hillington defence pressing high up the pitch Horne had acres of space to run into on the right and was given a perfect cross-field ball by MacEwan. The youngster beat the advancing keeper but could only find the side netting with his clipped effort from eighteen yards.

Saints Gaffer Alex Craik made his final change with five minutes remaining replacing Scott Maitland with another Saints youngster Craig MacMillan. The visitors also gave late run-outs to both of their replacements Gary Docherty and Scott Dailly.

As the clock ticked down another James Ford run on the right won a corner kick which the youngster swung over himself. Myles McAuley won a knock down into the path of Donald Campbell who was denied at the back post by yet another timely Lee Wales interception. Campbell however regained possession and fired a low ball into the six yard box which keeper Gordon Phillips did well to clear under pressure from Paul Carmichael.

Adam Nisanci joined Paul Carmichael in Referee Litster's notebook for hauling back Matthew Kelly in the ninetieth minute. Saints played the free-kick short with Matthew Kelly and Myles McAuley working an opening for Donald Campbell who will be disappointed not to have added to the scoring with a tame effort from fourteen yards which Gordon Phillips was able to parry behind. After Campbell's corner kick from the left was easily dealt with by the Hillington defence, Referee Litster decided he had seen enough and blew the full-time whistle.

The result lifts Saints to seventh place in the league table but ends any faint hopes the visitors may have entertained of maintaining their Premier Division status. Full credit must go to Hillington who battled hard during the ninety minutes just as they have done throughout what has been a very challenging season. 

Saints will be pleased to get back to winning ways after the previous week's slip-up against Inverclyde. Unfortunately, however, they must now endure an enforced free week while the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division takes the Easter Holiday and potential Scottish Amateur Cup quarter final opponents Sandys and Goldenhill replay their seventh round tie in Drumchapel.      

Team Captains Donald Campbell and Scott Gold with Referee Jimmy Litster

Craig MacEwan with Lee Wales in pursuit

Ian McFadyen stops Donald Campbell getting through

Gordon Phillips

Paul Carmichael and Willie Gemmell congratulate Shaun MacIver on his opening goal

Donald Campbell with Steven Cunningham closing in

Scott Maitland

Craig Phillips beats Craig MacEwan in the air

Lee Wales prevents Myles McAuley from getting a clean shot away

Craig MacEwan turns away from Craig Phillips

Craig MacEwan's lob finds the middle of the empty net

Donald Campbell congratulates Craig MacEwan on his goal

Willie Gemmell's free-kick finds the bottom corner

Willie Gemmell, Shaun MacIver and Myles McAuley

Frustration for Stuart Ashton as his effort flies across the face of goal

Scott Maitland takes on Lee Wales

Shaun MacIver

Lee Wales makes a vital interception to deny Donald Campbell

Adam Nisanci fires a free-kick just over 

Aaron Boyle

Jamie Graham

Shaun MacIver gets away from Neil Walsh

Kerr Newbigging, Adam Nisanci and Ian McFadyen collide

Willie Gemmell heads clear

James Ford turns away from Scott Gold

Ruaridh Horne

Gordon Phillips saves Donald Campbell's late effort

#monthesaints

Basement Battle

The Ramones - I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement

Saturday 24th March 2018

VSN Sport Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division

Oban Saints AFC v Hillington

Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH

Kick off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster


On what was supposed to be Scottish Amateur Cup Quarter Finals day, Saints will instead continue their faltering Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division campaign with a home match against Hillington. Saints potential Scottish Cup opponents Sandys and Goldenhill will try again this Saturday to complete their seventh round tie which has already been postponed twice and abandoned once. However, if the east coast is experiencing the volume of rain as the west coast is currently suffering, Sandys grass park may again be declared unplayable forcing the fixture to roll on to next week.

This Saturday's encounter with Hillington will give Saints another opportunity to improve their poor league form where a return of just nine points from eight games sees them languishing in eighth place and perilously close to the trap door into Premier Division One. Only visitors Hillington currently have a worse points tally than Saints with their entire haul for the season so far being won on the opening day with 2 - 0 victory over Saints at Glasgow Club Drumoyne. On a day which was to set the tone for their early season struggles Saints found themselves on the wrong end of strikes from Hillington Skipper Scott Gold in the sixtieth and ninety first minutes. Unfortunately for Hillington that early promise quickly fizzled out and twelve further attempts has seen them fail to add to those three points and survival in the Premier Division now looks a forlorn hope.

Ominously for stuttering Saints, Hillington apear to be staging a late rally running Motherwell Thistle and title favourites Goldenhill extremely close in their last two fixtures losing out by the odd goal in five on both occasions. Even more encouragingly for Hillington they recorded just their fourth victory of the season in all competitions on 3rd February when they knocked Premier Division One Neilston out of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy to progress to a third round away tie against either St Joseph's FP or Barrhead Arky.

Saturday's basement battle will be Hillington's first visit to Oban where they will hope to continue their recent resurgence and extend their current head-to-head advantage over Saints which currently stands at 2 - 1 to Hillington.

The first ever meeting between the clubs came in the 2013 Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final at Somervell Park, Cambuslang where Hillington held their nerve to prevail in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless ninety minutes. In a bruising encounter Saints lost Dene Cassells and Asen Gaydardzhiev to head injuries and goalkeeper Daniel Cassells with a ruptured rotator cuff leaving Alex Craik to pull on the gloves for the closing stages. Four successfully converted spot kicks each effectively took the shoot-out to sudden death where Donald Campbell had his effort saved by the outstretched foot of the Hillington keeper before stand-in keeper Craik was beaten for the fifth time confirming Hillington as the trophy winners.

In May 2017 Saints gained some small measure of revenge that agonising reverse reaching a fourth Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy final in five seasons with a 4 - 1 win at a rain soaked Penilee Community Centre. After a fairly even goalless first half Saints turned up the heat on Premier Division One opponents Hillington with Craig MacEwan netting a hat-trick to cement his position as Saints top goalscorer for the season. The other Saints goal was an unfortunate own-goal from Christopher Flannery when trying to keep out another net bound effort from MacEwan. The hosts registered a consolation goal in the final minute from the head of second half substitute Gordon Phillips denying Saints an elusive clean sheet.

In August's league meeting at Glasgow Club Drumoyne Phillips donned the gloves to keep a shot shy Saints attack at bay while, at the other end, a double from talismanic Skipper Scott Gold sealed the points for newly promoted Hillington. The home got their noses in front on the hour mark severely punishing a misplaced Saints pass on the half-way line. Stuart Ashton broke forward on the left and sent an inviting ball along the six yard line which Gold knocked home sliding in at the back post. An almost unrecognisable Saints huffed and puffed but couldn't find a way past the reasonably comfortable home defence. 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 Referee John 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 Skipper Gold ten yards inside the Saints half who cushioned a delightful volley into the unguarded net to seal the win for his team.

Hillington AFC Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners 2013

Hillington AFC fixtures so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

12th August 2017 Hillington 2 - 0 Oban Saints
2nd September 2017 St Joseph's FP 6 - 1 Hillington
9th September 2017 Motherwell Thistle 4 - 1 Hillington
21st October 2017 Hillington 2 - 5 Inverclyde
28th October 2017 Alba Thistle 6 - 4 Hillington
18th November 2017 Inverclyde 4 - 0 Hillington
2nd December 2017 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 6 - 0 Hillington
6th January 2018 Goldenhill 5 - 0 Hillington
17th February 2018 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 3 - 1 Hillington
24th February 2018 Hillington 2 - 3 Motherwell Thistle
17th March 2018 Hillington 2 - 3 Goldenhill
24th March 2018 Oban Saints v Hillington

Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup

1st Round Group Section North 4

16th August 2017 Inverclyde 3 - 0 Hillington
23rd August 2017 Hillington 5 - 2 Cardross

13th January 2018 Port Glasgow 0 - 1 Hillington

Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

3rd February 2018 Hillington 3 - 1 Neilston

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

16th September 2017 Beith 2 - 2 Hillington (4 - 2 After Extra Time)

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

30th September 2017 Hillington 0 - 5 Syngenta

Action from the opening day of the season meeting at Glasgow Club Drumoyne

Alex Craik and Stuart Ashton

Matthew Kelly 

Scott Caskie heads clear

Alex Craik heads clear

Matthew Kelly and Ross McQuilter

Nathan Allan

Dean Smith and Scott Caskie

Scott Maitland and Steven Cunningham

Gordon Phillips punches clear

Craig MacEwan shapes to shoot

Scott Caskie clears Willie Gemmell's corner at the front post

An offside Shaun MacIver puts the ball in the Hillington net

Another punched clearance from Gordon Phillips

Willie Gemmell beats the Hillington wall but not keeper Phillips

Fraser MacFarlane shoots into the side netting

#monthesaints

Low Battery

Saturday 17th March 2018

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

Inverclyde AFC 4 - 3 Oban Saints AFC
Battery Park 3G
Eldon Street
Greenock
PA16 7QG
Kick off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Robert Doolan


Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitute:-
James Ford

Unused substitutes:-
Peter MacCallum
Craig MacMillan


A mixture of charitable defending and profligate finishing consigned Oban Saints to a fifth defeat of dismal league campaign at Battery Park, Greenock last Saturday. Hardly ideal preparation for the impending biggest fixture of the season so far. Thankfully, due to the postponement of Saturday's seventh round tie between potential opponents Sandys and Goldenhill, Saints will have at least one more opportunity to get their act together before their Scottish Amateur Cup quarter final tie now scheduled for 31st March.

Injuries to Paul Carmichael, Keith Millar and Marc Maccallum forced Manager Alex Craik into yet another squad reshuffle including a first competitive start for seventeen year old Ruaridh Horne.

Graham Douglas lined-up in goal behind a back four of Ruaridh Horne, Steven MacLeod, Alex Craik and Scott Maitland. Willie Gemmell anchored a midfield diamond flanked by Matthew Kelly and Kerr Newbigging with Captain Donald Campbell at it's point. Up front were Shaun MacIver and leading goal scorer Craig MacEwan. On the bench were James Ford, Craig MacMillan and veteran Peter MacCallum.

Riding high on a three match winning run, hosts Inverclyde kicked off on a bitter cold afternoon with a biting easterly wind blowing across the park and bringing occasional flurries of snow.

A third minute corner kick on the left after Alex Craik had headed behind a Stewart Morrison cross gave the hosts an early chance. Shaun MacIver could only help on Darren McGregor's corner at the near post which fell for Michael McKitrick in the six yard box. Fortunately McKitrick's stooping header was straight at Graham Douglas who gratefully clutched the ball to his chest.

Seventeen year old Ruaridh Horne, making his starting debut at right fullback, threaded a defence splitting seventh minute pass through to Craig MacEwan. Unfortunately, after racing away from the 'Clyde back four, leading goalscorer MacEwan overran the ball allowing keeper Mark Monk to come out and collect.

Horne pressed forward again sixty seconds later to get on the end of a Willie Gemmell pass but the youngster's cross from the right looking for the head of Shaun MacIver was too close to keeper Monk.

Saints paid a heavy price for a stray pass out from the back when Darren McGregor pounced on the loose ball and played Stewart Morrison in for a ninth minute opener. The big centre forward raced in behind the static Saints defence to slam the ball past the hopelessly exposed Graham Douglas.

Shaun MacIver spurned a glorious opportunity to bring Saints level in the fourteenth minute. Matthew Kelly was felled by 'Clyde Skipper Greg Wilson in the centre circle with Willie Gemmell sending his free-kick up to Craig MacEwan on the eighteen yard line. MacEwan spun away from Craig Ellis and, from the bye-line, picked out the unmarked MacIver in the middle who placed his downward header agonisingly the wrong side of Mark Monk's left hand post.

MacIver shaved the same post again two minutes later with a low shot from eighteen yards after Donald Campbell held up a Willie Gemmell pass to create the space for the young striker.

When Saints eventually managed to hit the target they found Inverclyde keeper Mark Monk equal to the task. On his favoured left foot Shaun MacIver tested Monk low to his left but the big keeper got down well to turn the ball behind. MacIver's in-swinging corner from the right found no takers in white however Kerr Newbigging was able to keep the pressure on and found MacIver who won a free-kick from James Buchanan's tackle from behind. Willie Gemmell's clever ball to Donald Campbell almost caught out the 'Clyde defence but Tom McKitrick reacted in time to usher the ball back to his goalkeeper.

Having enjoyed a good spell since falling behind Saints were caught out for a second time on the half hour mark. From a  quick counter attack on the right Michael McKitrick sent a low ball across the face of goal where Stewart Morrison's nose for goal had taken him to double his tally with a simple tap-in from close range. Steven MacLeod picked up the first yellow card of the match for his protests over the lack of a free-kick in Saints favour during the build-up.

A swashbuckling thirty fourth minute run took Scott Maitland in behind the 'Clyde defence however his cutback from the left was cut out by keeper Monk at the feet of Donald Campbell.

Sixty seconds later the Saints Skipper pressurised Monk into a  hurried clearance which fell invitingly for Craig MacEwan who, from twenty four yards, clipped a disappointing effort in the grateful arms of the 'Clyde keeper.

MacEwan made amends in the thirty eighth minute finding the net from close range after the home defence failed to clear a Saints corner kick from the left won by Donald Campbell. Willie Gemmell's quickly taken corner to Scott Maitland was played back to Gemmell who put the ball into the danger area. James Buchanan's attempted clearing header fell nicely into the path of Craig MacEwan who lifted the ball over Mark Monk's despairing dive to bring Saints back into the match.

Another good Scott Maitland run and cross from the left flashed across the face of the 'Clyde goal in the forty third minute with, frustratingly, no Saints player on the end of it.

Donald Campbell drew a good save from Mark Monk with a crisp shot from twenty two yards before Referee Robert Doolan blew the half-time whistle.

Saints began the second half in positive fashion with a good overlapping run from Scott Maitland found by Craig MacEwan. Maitland's run took him into the box where Mark Monk narrowed the angle well to make an excellent save at his near post.

Monk was tested again from a fifty first minute Willie Gemmell free-kick midway inside the 'Clyde half. Gemmell rolled the ball up to Craig MacEwan on the eighteen yard line who held the ball up before laying off to Scott Maitland. The left back's cross from the left picked out Shaun MacIver in the middle whose header from eight yards was well held by the 'Clyde keeper.

An excellent sliding interception by Steven MacLeod launched a Saints counter attack in the fifty second minute where Fraser Gunn got a vital touch to deny Donald Campbell at the expense of a corner kick. The Saints Skipper played the corner on the left short to Scott Maitland who curled a right foot shot wide of target.

From Mark Monk's goal kick Saints quickly returned the ball to the Inverclyde penalty area where Donald Campbell evaded the attentions of Tom McKitrick and Fraser Gunn but couldn't find the power to seriously test Monk who held the Saints Skipper's shot comfortably.

The big Inverclyde keeper made an excellent double save in the fifty seventh minute to deny Saints what would have been a deserved equaliser. Donald Campbell and Matthew Kelly combined to send Craig MacEwan in behind the 'Clyde defence. Monk stood up well at his near post to parry MacEwan's left foot shot and somehow managed to throw out a long left leg block MacEwan's follow up effort.

Monk added insult to injury finding Neil McCole with his goal kick who played the ball in behind a square Saints defence for Stewart Morrison. The big striker raced through the inside left channel and was once again clinical with his finish across Graham Douglas to seal his hat-trick.

Saints responded immediately to this latest set back with a delightful curling Donald Campbell finish into the postage stamp corner after good work by Shaun MacIver and Craig MacEwan.

Campbell had the chance to level things at the end of another cutting Saints attack in the fifty ninth minute. Racing through on goal the Skipper passed up the chance to shoot instead electing to try and play in Craig MacEwan who, unfortunately, had strayed into an offside position.

Saints Manager Alex Craik made his only change with half an hour left to play replacing Ruaridh Horne, who gave a good account of himself on his first start in the hurly-burly of amateur football, with another dubutant James Ford, younger brother of Saints legend Sean.

The change in personnel also brought a change to a 3-4-3 formation with Matthew Kelly dropping back to join Steven MacLeod and the Gaffer in defence.

Saints were still adjusting to their new shape when they were picked off for the fourth and final time. Another misplaced pass was seized upon in midfield by Greg Wilson who worked the ball out to the right for Michael McKitrick to swing over a deep cross. McKitrick's delivery caught out Matthew Kelly at the back post with Craig Ellis taking a leaf out of the Stewart Morrison clinical finishing book to ghost in behind and head the ball past Graham Douglas.

Referee Doolan denied Saints a chance to get straight back into the match once again when he ignored a blatant trip on Donald Campbell in the Inverclyde box in the sixty third minute.

Saints kept probing for openings but without the accuracy of passing necessary to open up the home defence which had regained some degree of composure after a shaky start to the second half.

An Iain Beattie foul on Craig MacEwan twenty nine yards from goal gave Willie Gemmell an opportunity with the dead ball. However, despite getting the ball up and over the 'Clyde wall, Gemmell failed to trouble Mark Monk who made a comfortable catch to his left.

Mr Doolan infuriated the Saints players in the eighty second minute when he dismissed loud appeals for a penalty kick for a handball decision against Inverclyde right fullback Iain Beattie.

Donald Campbell came within the width of the crossbar of replicating his earlier perfect finish into the postage stamp corner. The Saints Skipper gathered in a Willie Gemmell throw-in from the left and swivelled away from Fraser Gunn before curling a right foot shot off the crossbar with Mark Monk well beaten.

Having failed to find the net with the dead ball, Willie Gemmell had more success from open play in the eighty seventh minute. Pushing forward to join the attack, Gemmell collected a Donald Campbell lay off in the penalty box and steered a right foot shot from fifteen yards past Monk's left hand to give Saints some late hope.

In the eighty eighth minute Matthew Kelly joined Steven MacLeod in the Referee's notebook for a foul on 'Clyde Skipper Greg Wilson in the centre circle giving the home side some respite from the late Saints pressure.

Saints forced one final chance during the time added on for stoppages however Craig MacEwan's shot from the edge of the box through the massed home defence was deflected inches wide of Mark Monk's right hand post.

Craig Ellis headed away Willie Gemmell's corner kick from the left before Mr Doolan blew the final whistle leaving Saints in eighth place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division on nine points.

While they wait on the outcome of the Sandys v Goldenhill Scottish Amateur Cup encounter, second from bottom Saints will continue their league campaign on Saturday with a home match against bottom club Hillington. 

Graham Douglas saves from Michael McKitrick

Ruaridh Horne

Kerr Newbigging and Neil McCole

Willie Gemmell

Tom McKitrick keeps a hold of Donald Campbell

Fraser Gunn puts Graham Douglas under pressure

Mark Monk collects a Willie Gemmell corner kick

Craig MacEwan lifts the ball over Mark Monk for Saints first goal

Stewart Morrison

Donald Campbell surrounded by Inverclyde players

Scott Maitland

Mark Monk

Scott Maitland and Craig Ellis

Mark Monk saves from Craig MacEwan

Shaun MacIver gets away from Greg Wilson

James Ford

Craig MacEwan

#monthesaints