Saturday 5th May 2018
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC 0 - 3 Goldenhill AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Thomas D'Alessandro
Oban Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Keith Millar
Fraser MacFarlane
Unused substitute:-
Alex Craik
Goldenhill starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Alan Hardie
Christopher McGrath
Paul O'Donnell
Last Saturday at a soggy Glencruitten Scottish Amateur Cup finalists Goldenhill maintained their 100% league record to keep the pressure on Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division leaders St Joseph's FP with a convincing 3 - 0 victory over Oban Saints.
Saints Manager Alex Craik shuffled his pack once more to keep up his own 100% record of naming a different starting eleven for every one of Saints matches so far.
Starting line-up number twenty seven saw a return for Dene Cassells whose work commitments had previously kept him out of contention. Cassells lined up on the left of a back three with Steven MacLeod on the right and Willie Gemmell in the middle. Matthew Kelly and Kerr Newbigging were at the heart of the four man midfield with Ruaridh Horne and Jamie Graham taking the wide roles. Captain Donald Campbell spearheaded the attack with Paul Carmichael and Shaun MacIver just behind him. In goal was Graham Douglas with Keith Millar and Fraser MacFarlane joing the Gaffer on the bench.
Kicking off attacking the railway end Saints made a bright start to the first half and came within inches of opening the scoring in the first minute. Ruaridh Horne made good progress on the right and sent a low cross to the front post where Paul Carmichael nipped in ahead of Marc Morrison and Jack Bennett and shaved the outside of the post with a first time effort.
A diagonal ball from Shaun MacIver over the head of Steven Dock sent Donald Campbell through on goal however, after bringing MacIver's pass down well the Saints Skipper was denied by Goldenhill keeper Scott Rennie who slid out bravely to gather the ball at Campbell's feet.
Saints continued their early promise with Jamie Graham and Donald Campbell combining to force a throw-in on the left. Paul Carmichael held off the challenge of Steven Dock to flick on Graham's throw but Scott Rennie came out well to collect on his six yard line.
From Rennie's clearance Goldenhill launched a swift counter-attack and only an excellent sliding interception from Steven MacLeod on Jonathon Dyer denied the Gowdie striker a strike on goal.
The promising start from Saints was undone after just twelve minutes when hesitation at the back gifted possession to James Gallagher on the the left. The Goldenhill striker was given time and space to pick out Damon Gray's untracked near post run with the tall midfielder's diving header from four yards giving Graham Douglas no chance.
The visitors threatened to double their advantage straight from the restart regaining possession through Scottish Amateur international midfielder Scott McGuire who sent James Gallagher through on the left for a strike on goal which smacked the outside of the near post.
Steven MacLeod picked up the first caution of the afternoon in the twenty first minute for dissent towards Referee Thomas D'Alessandro.
Saints pieced together a promising move in the twenty sixth minute with Donald Campbell and Paul Carmichael linking up well in the middle of the park to send Jamie Graham off on a run up the left wing. Graham's cross from the corner of the eighteen yard box was fractionally too high for Shaun MacIver but Saints managed to keep the pressure on and only a brave block from Jack Bennett prevented Matthew Kelly from testing Scott Rennie with a twenty two yard pile driver.
A lapse in concentration at a twenty eighth minute James Gallagher corner kick on the right cost Saints dearly. Gallagher picked out the unmarked Ian Stevenson on the corner of the eighteen yard box whose dinked cross was headed home at the front post by Goldenhill Skipper Scott McGuire to double the visitor's lead.
The second goal rocked Saints with Graham Douglas coming to the rescue to parry a James Gallagher shot and Steven MacLeod making a vital interception to prevent Jonathon Dyer from knocking the loose ball into the unguarded net.
With the visitors now winning the crucial midfield battle Saints were unable to exert any pressure on the well organised Goldenhill defence leaving their own back three by far the busier.
A thirty fifth minute Scott McGuire foul on Matthew Kelly gave Saints some respite and dead ball expert Willie Gemmell a chance to move up the park from his central defensive role. Too far out for a shot on goal, Gemmell lofted a delightful ball from the right to the far post where, despite making a good run to get on the end of the delivery, Shaun MacIver failed to trouble Scott Rennie with his looping header.
Goldenhill's James Gallagher sent a free-kick from twenty four yards high over the junction of post and bar and saw a dangerous low cross from the left well cut out by Dene Cassells before Referee D'Alessandro blew for half-time.
To try and counter the visitor's midfield dominance Saints Gaffer Alex Craik swapped youth for experience pitching veteran Keith Millar into the action at the expense of youngster Ruaridh Horne.
Saints made an encouraging start to the second half with Shaun MacIver winning a free-kick midway inside the Goldenhill half and ten yards in from the left touchline. Willie Gemmell produced another dangerous delivery to the far post where Paul Carmichael had cleverly peeled off his marker. With his back to goal Carmichael produced a flash of inspiration to wheel and hook a powerful shot on target which Scott Rennie equaled with a sensational finger tip save to turn the ball onto his left hand post.
Despite competing better in the second half Saints still carried little by way of an attacking threat and, after that initial save Rennie in the Goldenhill goal enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon.
On the hour mark Jamie Graham joined Steven MacLeod in the Referee's notebook for a foul on Scott McGuire. Saints were slow to react to McGuire's short free-kick and were relieved to see Ian Stevenson's cross from the right land on the roof of the net with James Gallagher running in unmarked at the back post.
Stevenson made way for Christopher McGrath in the sixty third minute with the big striker set to make a telling contribution as competition for Scottish Amateur Cup squad places hots up in the Goldenhill ranks.
Making his first start of the season, Dene Cassells carried the ball out from the back in the sixty ninth minute but was dispossessed by Scott McGuire and picked up Saints third caution of the afternoon in attempting to regain possession from the Goldenhill Captain.
Undeterred, Cassells joined the attack again sixty seconds later this time progressing to the final third and feeding Donald Campbell. The Saints Skipper was quick to spot the run of Matthew Kelly on the right unfortunately his pass was just too heavy for Kelly and a promising opening came to nothing.
Marc Morrison's afternoon came to an end due to an injury picked up in the seventy second minute. The left sided defender however received little sympathy from Referee D'Alessandro who booked the Goldenhill man for taking too long to leave the field of play. Paul O'Donnell eventually joined the action where Scott McGuire won a free-kick for a late challenge by Shaun MacIver.
McGuire's free-kick from thirty yards out appeared to be won in the air by Damon Gray but when the knock-on drifted beyond James Gallagher Mr D'Alessandro pointed towards to corner flag. Once again Saints were caught on their heels from the set-piece when Gallagher rolled his delivery from the right into the path of Christopher McGrath whose right foot rocket from the eighteen yard line flew past Graham Douglas and into the net at the unguarded front post.
Fraser MacFarlane replaced the tiring Jamie Graham on the left of midfield for the closing fifteen minutes. MacFarlane's first involvement was to help set up Paul Carmichael for a shot from the left across the face of goal which flew wide of Scott Rennie's left hand post.
The visitors also made a change on the left of midfield sending on Alan Hardie to replace Reace Syed.
Saints created another opening on the left in the eighty second minute with Carmichael this electing to try and find Matthew Kelly with a low cross which was unfortunately hit fractionally too far in front of the midfielder's supporting run.
Graham Douglas produced an excellent double save in the dying minutes to deny firstly James Gallagher and then Christopher McGrath on the follow up before Mr D'Alessandro blew for full time and a deserved Goldenhill victory.
Gaffer Alex Craik will be disappointed with the goals conceded but overall can have few complaints with the final outcome as Goldenhill made it three wins out of three against Saints for the season.
The Gowdie continue their pursuit of a first ever Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division title with a crunch local derby against reigning Champions St Joseph's in Drumchapel this Wednesday night.
Saints have no fixture this Saturday as an Argyll Select take on the Scottish Amateur Football League Select for the Joe Paterson Memorial Trophy in Tarbert. However Saints head to Scotstoun the following day to face Premier Division leaders St Joseph's FP who must take maximum points from their final home match of the season if they are to hold off the challenge of Goldenhill and retain their league crown.
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Thomas D'Alessandro
Oban Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Keith Millar
Fraser MacFarlane
Unused substitute:-
Alex Craik
Goldenhill starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Alan Hardie
Christopher McGrath
Paul O'Donnell
Last Saturday at a soggy Glencruitten Scottish Amateur Cup finalists Goldenhill maintained their 100% league record to keep the pressure on Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division leaders St Joseph's FP with a convincing 3 - 0 victory over Oban Saints.
Saints Manager Alex Craik shuffled his pack once more to keep up his own 100% record of naming a different starting eleven for every one of Saints matches so far.
Starting line-up number twenty seven saw a return for Dene Cassells whose work commitments had previously kept him out of contention. Cassells lined up on the left of a back three with Steven MacLeod on the right and Willie Gemmell in the middle. Matthew Kelly and Kerr Newbigging were at the heart of the four man midfield with Ruaridh Horne and Jamie Graham taking the wide roles. Captain Donald Campbell spearheaded the attack with Paul Carmichael and Shaun MacIver just behind him. In goal was Graham Douglas with Keith Millar and Fraser MacFarlane joing the Gaffer on the bench.
Kicking off attacking the railway end Saints made a bright start to the first half and came within inches of opening the scoring in the first minute. Ruaridh Horne made good progress on the right and sent a low cross to the front post where Paul Carmichael nipped in ahead of Marc Morrison and Jack Bennett and shaved the outside of the post with a first time effort.
A diagonal ball from Shaun MacIver over the head of Steven Dock sent Donald Campbell through on goal however, after bringing MacIver's pass down well the Saints Skipper was denied by Goldenhill keeper Scott Rennie who slid out bravely to gather the ball at Campbell's feet.
Saints continued their early promise with Jamie Graham and Donald Campbell combining to force a throw-in on the left. Paul Carmichael held off the challenge of Steven Dock to flick on Graham's throw but Scott Rennie came out well to collect on his six yard line.
From Rennie's clearance Goldenhill launched a swift counter-attack and only an excellent sliding interception from Steven MacLeod on Jonathon Dyer denied the Gowdie striker a strike on goal.
The promising start from Saints was undone after just twelve minutes when hesitation at the back gifted possession to James Gallagher on the the left. The Goldenhill striker was given time and space to pick out Damon Gray's untracked near post run with the tall midfielder's diving header from four yards giving Graham Douglas no chance.
The visitors threatened to double their advantage straight from the restart regaining possession through Scottish Amateur international midfielder Scott McGuire who sent James Gallagher through on the left for a strike on goal which smacked the outside of the near post.
Steven MacLeod picked up the first caution of the afternoon in the twenty first minute for dissent towards Referee Thomas D'Alessandro.
Saints pieced together a promising move in the twenty sixth minute with Donald Campbell and Paul Carmichael linking up well in the middle of the park to send Jamie Graham off on a run up the left wing. Graham's cross from the corner of the eighteen yard box was fractionally too high for Shaun MacIver but Saints managed to keep the pressure on and only a brave block from Jack Bennett prevented Matthew Kelly from testing Scott Rennie with a twenty two yard pile driver.
A lapse in concentration at a twenty eighth minute James Gallagher corner kick on the right cost Saints dearly. Gallagher picked out the unmarked Ian Stevenson on the corner of the eighteen yard box whose dinked cross was headed home at the front post by Goldenhill Skipper Scott McGuire to double the visitor's lead.
The second goal rocked Saints with Graham Douglas coming to the rescue to parry a James Gallagher shot and Steven MacLeod making a vital interception to prevent Jonathon Dyer from knocking the loose ball into the unguarded net.
With the visitors now winning the crucial midfield battle Saints were unable to exert any pressure on the well organised Goldenhill defence leaving their own back three by far the busier.
A thirty fifth minute Scott McGuire foul on Matthew Kelly gave Saints some respite and dead ball expert Willie Gemmell a chance to move up the park from his central defensive role. Too far out for a shot on goal, Gemmell lofted a delightful ball from the right to the far post where, despite making a good run to get on the end of the delivery, Shaun MacIver failed to trouble Scott Rennie with his looping header.
Goldenhill's James Gallagher sent a free-kick from twenty four yards high over the junction of post and bar and saw a dangerous low cross from the left well cut out by Dene Cassells before Referee D'Alessandro blew for half-time.
To try and counter the visitor's midfield dominance Saints Gaffer Alex Craik swapped youth for experience pitching veteran Keith Millar into the action at the expense of youngster Ruaridh Horne.
Saints made an encouraging start to the second half with Shaun MacIver winning a free-kick midway inside the Goldenhill half and ten yards in from the left touchline. Willie Gemmell produced another dangerous delivery to the far post where Paul Carmichael had cleverly peeled off his marker. With his back to goal Carmichael produced a flash of inspiration to wheel and hook a powerful shot on target which Scott Rennie equaled with a sensational finger tip save to turn the ball onto his left hand post.
Despite competing better in the second half Saints still carried little by way of an attacking threat and, after that initial save Rennie in the Goldenhill goal enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon.
On the hour mark Jamie Graham joined Steven MacLeod in the Referee's notebook for a foul on Scott McGuire. Saints were slow to react to McGuire's short free-kick and were relieved to see Ian Stevenson's cross from the right land on the roof of the net with James Gallagher running in unmarked at the back post.
Stevenson made way for Christopher McGrath in the sixty third minute with the big striker set to make a telling contribution as competition for Scottish Amateur Cup squad places hots up in the Goldenhill ranks.
Making his first start of the season, Dene Cassells carried the ball out from the back in the sixty ninth minute but was dispossessed by Scott McGuire and picked up Saints third caution of the afternoon in attempting to regain possession from the Goldenhill Captain.
Undeterred, Cassells joined the attack again sixty seconds later this time progressing to the final third and feeding Donald Campbell. The Saints Skipper was quick to spot the run of Matthew Kelly on the right unfortunately his pass was just too heavy for Kelly and a promising opening came to nothing.
Marc Morrison's afternoon came to an end due to an injury picked up in the seventy second minute. The left sided defender however received little sympathy from Referee D'Alessandro who booked the Goldenhill man for taking too long to leave the field of play. Paul O'Donnell eventually joined the action where Scott McGuire won a free-kick for a late challenge by Shaun MacIver.
McGuire's free-kick from thirty yards out appeared to be won in the air by Damon Gray but when the knock-on drifted beyond James Gallagher Mr D'Alessandro pointed towards to corner flag. Once again Saints were caught on their heels from the set-piece when Gallagher rolled his delivery from the right into the path of Christopher McGrath whose right foot rocket from the eighteen yard line flew past Graham Douglas and into the net at the unguarded front post.
Fraser MacFarlane replaced the tiring Jamie Graham on the left of midfield for the closing fifteen minutes. MacFarlane's first involvement was to help set up Paul Carmichael for a shot from the left across the face of goal which flew wide of Scott Rennie's left hand post.
The visitors also made a change on the left of midfield sending on Alan Hardie to replace Reace Syed.
Saints created another opening on the left in the eighty second minute with Carmichael this electing to try and find Matthew Kelly with a low cross which was unfortunately hit fractionally too far in front of the midfielder's supporting run.
Graham Douglas produced an excellent double save in the dying minutes to deny firstly James Gallagher and then Christopher McGrath on the follow up before Mr D'Alessandro blew for full time and a deserved Goldenhill victory.
Gaffer Alex Craik will be disappointed with the goals conceded but overall can have few complaints with the final outcome as Goldenhill made it three wins out of three against Saints for the season.
The Gowdie continue their pursuit of a first ever Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division title with a crunch local derby against reigning Champions St Joseph's in Drumchapel this Wednesday night.
Saints have no fixture this Saturday as an Argyll Select take on the Scottish Amateur Football League Select for the Joe Paterson Memorial Trophy in Tarbert. However Saints head to Scotstoun the following day to face Premier Division leaders St Joseph's FP who must take maximum points from their final home match of the season if they are to hold off the challenge of Goldenhill and retain their league crown.
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| Graham Douglas |
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| Jonathon Dyer |
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| Martin Lawlor and Shaun MacIver |
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| Damon Gray gets up above Paul Carmichael |
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| Damon Gray's near post diving header gives Goldenhill the lead |
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| Jamie Graham sends over a cross |
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| Kerr Newbigging and Damon Gray |
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| Scott McGuire doubles the advantage for the visitors |
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| Shaun MacIver and Ian Stevenson |
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| Scott McGuire and Matthew Kelly |
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| Dene Cassells |
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| James Gallagher |
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| Steven MacLeod with vital interception on James Gallagher |
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| Steven MacLeod and Christopher McGrath |
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| Shaun MacIver and Marc Morrison |
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| Christopher McGrath's rocket flies into the net for Goldenhill's third goal |
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| Graham Douglas saves from James Gallagher |
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| Graham Douglas foils Christopher McGrath |
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| Team Captains Donald Campbell and Scott McGuire clash in midfield |
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| Steven MacLeod cuts out a ball over the top for James Gallagher |
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| Matthew Kelly and Damon Gray |
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| Scott Rennie |
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