Hampden Hopes Ended

Saturday 14th April 2018
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Quarter Final
Goldenhill AFC 3 - 1 Oban Saints AFC
Donald Dewar Leisure Centre
Garscadden Road
Drumchapel
Glasgow
G15 8SX
Kick off 1.15pm
Referee Mr James Gallacher
Assistant Mr Anthony McCann
Assistant Mr Stephen Payne

Used Substitutes:-
Jamie Graham
Keith Millar
Dene Cassells

Unused Substitutes:-
Alex Craik
Fraser MacFarlane

Substitutes:-

Reece Syed

Jonathon Dyer

Kevin Maxwell

Ian Stevenson

Marc Wilson

Oban Saints dreams of a third successive Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final appearance were crushed at the Donald Dewar Centre, Drumchapel last Saturday afternoon. Two fixtureless Saturday's in the lead up to the most important match of the season did little to help their cause and, despite an encouraging first half where they lead through a seventeenth minute strike from Captain Donald Campbell, Saints eventually ran out of steam and found themselves on the wrong end of a 3 - 1 quarter-final scoreline against Scottish Amateur Premier Division rivals and deserved winners Goldenhill.

Manager Alex Craik kept up his unwanted record of naming a different starting eleven for every game this season and shuffled his pack once again for line-up number twenty five. Graham Douglas lined up in goal behind a back four of Steven MacLeod, Willie Gemmell, Paul Carmichael and Scott Maitland. The midfield four comprised Kerr Newbigging, Matthew Kelly, Myles McAuley and Captain Donald Campbell. Up front were Shaun MacIver and leading goal scorer Craig MacEwan.

Recently returned from a spell with Lochgilphead Red Star, Fraser MacFarlane provided the youth on an experienced substitutes bench comprising Alex Craik, Jamie Graham and Keith Millar. Late call-offs from youngsters Ruaridh Horne and James Ford left a space which was filled at extremely short notice by Dene Cassells.

Saints kicked off attacking the Linkwood Crescent end and had an opportunity to test the home defence inside the first minute thanks to a free-kick midway inside the Gowdie half won by Craig MacEwan. Unfortunately Willie Gemmell's flighted delivery from the left was too long for Kerr Newbigging coming in at the back post and drifted harmlessly behind.

The hosts had in their armoury a tremendous weapon in the long throw of striker Daniel Gibson which they were keen to deploy at every opportunity. The Saints defence did well to repel the danger from Gibson's prodigious throws winning vital headers to withstand Goldenhill's early pressure.

Graham Douglas was the first goalkeeper to be tested when his extended left foot denied James Gallagher in the eleventh minute after the striker had been put through by Damon Gray. From the resulting Daniel Gibson corner kick Willie Gemmell put Goldenhill Skipper Scott McGuire under just enough pressure to deny him a clean header which flew well over the crossbar.

A good Paul Carmichael interception on Daniel Gibson on the edge of the Saints box set up a Craig MacEwan counter-attack on the left in the fifteenth minute which Jamie Grimes did well hold up. Saints were however able to keep the ball in the Goldenhill half and forced a throw-in on the right level with the eighteen yard line from where they would open the scoring. Kerr Newbigging and Shaun MacIver worked the ball along the eighteen yard line and out to Craig MacEwan on the left. MacEwan fed Donald Campbell on the corner of the eighteen yard box whose one-two with Matthew Kelly opened up the home defence. Campbell calmly lifted the ball high into the net over the advancing Scott Rennie and the last gasp attempted block of Matthew Moore. 

From the restart Daniel Gibson was halted, unfairly in the opinion of Referee James Gallacher, just outside the Saints box on the Goldenhill right. Gibson's set-piece delivery found Matthew Moore at the back post but the big defender was unable to direct a difficult chance on target and cushioned a left foot volley over the crossbar.

Saints countered again in the twenty fifth minute with Craig MacEwan and Myles McAuley linking up well on the left. MacEwan picked out the supporting run of Matthew Kelly racing into the box who unfortunately couldn't make a solid enough connection sending his right foot effort agonisingly wide of Scott Rennie's right hand post.

The hosts came within inches of levelling the scores in the forty first minute. James Gallagher got away from Paul Carmichael and sent in a low cross from the right. Daniel Gibson, whose good all round play must have caught the eye of watching Scottish Amateur Select Manager Bruce McNaught, got the deftest of touches three three yards out at the front post sending the ball across the face of goal and on to the inside of the post. The bounce favoured Graham Douglas who clutched the ball gratefully to his chest before launching another counter-attack up the left. 

Craig MacEwan's perseverance on the left won a corner kick which strike partner Shaun MacIver sprinted across to take. MacIver's delivery picked out Paul Carmichael unmarked on the six yard line. Unfortunately, despite a good leap, Carmichael was slightly underneath the flight of the ball and sent his header looping high over the crossbar.

Mr Gallacher brought a first half of few chances to an end after three added minutes. Despite being reasonably satisfied with the first half performance, Saints Manager Alex Craik will have been disappointed not to have converted at least one more chance ahead of the inevitable second half onslaught from the hosts.

Left sided Goldenhill midfielder Marc Morrison lasted just three second half minutes before limping off to be replaced by the more attack minded Reece Syed. Daniel Gibson continued where he left off by launching another of his dangerous long throws into the box looking for the head of Matthew Moore. Paul Carmichael won the clearing header but the hosts regained possession to keep Saints pressed back. Daniel Gibson fed substitute Syed on the left whose low cross found the unmarked Matthew Moore. Classy central defender Moore, who had remained forward after Gibson's long throw, took full advantage of the space afforded him to side foot the ball past Graham Douglas and bring the hosts level.

Goldenhill made another early second half change bringing on winger Jonathon Dyer to replace Steven Dock on the right of midfield in the fifty second minute. Dyer's first contribution to the proceedings was to prevent Myles McAuley from taking a quick throw-in earning him a yellow card within sixty seconds of joining the action.

Dyer was quickly joined in Mr Gallacher's notebook by Daniel Gibson whose prolonged protests at a disputed throw-in exhausted the Referee's patience.

The hosts took the lead in controversial circumstances in the fifty eighth minute. James Gallagher appeared to impede Graham Douglas as the two challenged at the back post for a Daniel Gibson right wing cross. Crucially Referee Gallacher saw nothing wrong with the Goldenhill striker's challenge and allowed play to continue where Jonathon Dyer prodded home the loose ball from two yards out. Graham Douglas and Paul Carmichael were incensed at the lack of a free-kick award from Mr Gallacher who rubbed salt into the wound by booking both for their protests.

Understandably for a game of this magnitude there was a nervousness in the play of both teams with both failing to find the fluency which had taken them to the quarter finals stage of the national cup competition. However with their noses now in front it was Goldenhill who were in command and even a perceived sense of injustice failed to raise the Saints performance to anywhere approaching the level required to turn the tie around.

James Gallagher's pace on the break almost caught out the Saints back four in the seventieth minute but Assistant Referee Tony McCann flagged the Goldenhill striker offside from Scott McGuire's pass. Oblivious to the flag Gallagher continued his run and drew a fine save from Graham Douglas before Referee Gallacher halted the action with the award of a free-kick to Saints.

The Saints defence coped well with a flurry of Goldenhill corners before Manager Alex Craik rang the changes in the seventy fifth minute. Kerr Newbigging and Shaun MacIver were withdrawn to be replaced by Keith Millar and Jamie Graham. Millar slotted into midfield with Graham going into the central defensive role vacated by Paul Carmichael who was pushed up front.

The change briefly gave Saints an attacking impetus but still without seriously testing the Goldenhill back three superbly marshaled by Jack Bennett.

As Saints pushed forward in search of an equaliser Scott McGuire won a crucial interception and sent Damon Gray and Jonathon Dyer off on a seventy ninth minute counter-attack on the left. Willie Gemmell made good ground to head off the danger at the expense of a corner kick however there was to be no stopping the effort which was to follow from talismanic striker Daniel Gibson. The corner kick duties were left to James Gallagher who picked out Gibson unmarked on the edge of the box who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the postage stamp corner to double the home side's advantage.

Saints were now forced to gamble often leaving themselves short at the back where they were again grateful to the frame of the goal which came to their rescue on two occasions. James Gallagher lifted a Scott McGuire through ball onto the crossbar in the eighty fourth minute and Damon Gray cracked a thirty five yard drive off the upright five minutes later.

In between those two let offs Manager Alex Craik gave a first outing of the season to Dene Cassells who, in replacing Steven MacLeod at right full-back, became the twenty ninth player used in this season's eventful cup run.

Taking the ball to the corner flags at every opportunity, hosts Goldenhill successfully ran down the time added on for stoppages by Mr Gallacher to claim a deserved victory and set up a mouthwatering semi-final clash against Bridgewater of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League at New Douglas Park, Hamilton on Wednesday 25th April.

Saints will try to put the disappointment of their Scottish Amateur Cup exit behind them when they return to league action this Saturday with the visit to East Kilbride Rolls Royce in a Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division clash.

           

Steven MacLeod heads clear

Scottish Amateur international midfielder Scott McGuire with Steven MacLeod and Matthew Kelly in pursuit

Matthew Moore

Willie Gemmell

Donald Campbell gives Saints the lead

Matthew Moore sends Daniel Gibson's free-kick over the crossbar

Matthew Kelly sends a good chance wide

Graham Douglas punches clear

Matthew Kelly and Scott McGuire

Steven MacLeod and Marc Morrison

Shaun MacIver and Marc Morrison

Daniel Gibson hits the inside of the post

Paul Carmichael heads over

Scott Rennie

Kerr Newbigging

Match Officials James Gallacher, Stephen Payne and Tony McCann enjoy their half-time refreshments

Graham Douglas

Jonathon Dyer prods home Goldenhill's second goal

Paul Carmichael and James Gallagher

Graham Douglas gathers a cross with Damon Gray in attendance

Paul Carmichael, Scott Maitland and Jonathon Dyer

Graham Douglas saves well from an offside James Gallagher

Daniel Gibson

Scott Maitland

Daniel Gibson is congratulated by his team-mates on his sensational strike for Goldenhill's third goal

Jonathon Dyer and Willie Gemmell

Craig MacEwan and Damon Gray

Scott Maitland and Damon Gray

Damon Gray and Daniel Gibson successfully run down the clock despite the attentions of Matthew Kelly, Myles McAuley and Dene Cassells 

  

Saints legends Sean Ford and Paul Kerr came along to lend their support. Paul seen here on the phone at full time trying to tempt Allan Mackay out of retirement