D&K Cup 2018 Round-up

Results

Kick off 11am

Mossfield - Dundee United 2 - 0 Hamilton Academical
Glencruitten - St Johnstone 0 - 1 Oban Saints


Kick off 12 noon

Mossfield - Oban Saints 0 - 0 St Anthony's
Glencruitten - Hamilton Academical 0 - 0 St Johnstone


Kick off 1pm

Mossfield - St Anthony's 1 - 0 St Johnstone
Glencruitten - Dundee United 2 - 0 Oban Saints


Kick off 2pm

Mossfield - St Johnstone 0 - 1 Dundee United
Glencruitten - St Anthony's 0 - 1 Hamilton Academical


Kick off 3pm

Mossfield - Hamilton Academical 3 - 0 Oban Saints
Glencruitten - Dundee United 1 - 0 St Anthony's


Oban Saints got their preparations for the 2018 - 19 season underway last Saturday in traditional style with the 25th playing of their annual tournament kindly sponsored by D&K Lafferty Contractors Ltd. Once again the tournament attracted top quality participants in the form of regulars Dundee United, St Johnstone and trophy holders Hamilton Academical who, together with hosts Oban Saints and tournament debutants St Anthony's, entertained the large crowd of spectators to a feast of football in glorious weather conditions at Mossfield and Glencruitten.

Due mainly to their early involvement in the SPFL League Cup Dundee United and St Johnstone were represented by players from their former Under 20's Development League teams who will now compete for places in the new style reserve league. Holders Hamilton Academical brought their all conquering Scottish Football Association Elite Under 17 League squad who remained unbeaten throughout last season's league title win. The Accies youngster's success has been rewarded with a place in the prestigious 2018 - 19 UEFA Youth League where they will rub shoulders with contemporaries from the likes of Chelsea, Hertha BSC, Montpellier and Olympiakos in a bid to wrestle the trophy from current holders Barcelona. Director of Accies Youth Academy George Cairns was understandably delighted to qualify for the UEFA Youth League and, in an interview with the Hamilton Academical website said "It's a fantastic achievement and we're really proud to be involved in such an illustrious competition. You only have to look at some of the names we'll be in the hat alongside to realise the magnitude of the achievement."

Saints got in on the act by augmenting an experienced squad with the inclusion of youngsters Gavin Forgrieve, Keir MacLean and Cameron MacMillan who would all go on to acquit themselves well in considerably more experienced company.

The eleventh hour withdrawal of tournament regulars Alloa Athletic left event organiser David Buchanan with a major headache therefore Oban Saints extend their grateful thanks to Govan based St Anthony's of Scottish Junior Football Association West Region League Two who stepped in at extremely short notice to fill the void.

Oban Saints squad for the 2018 D&K Cup. Missing from the picture are Keith Millar and Kerr Newbigging

Dundee United 2 - 0 Hamilton Academical 

Cup holders Hamilton Academical and three time previous winners Dundee United got proceedings underway at Mossfield. United, under new management team Craig Easton and Scott Robertson, settled quickest and drew first blood through Jordan Critchley whose very impressive performances throughout the day would earn him the Player of the Tournament award. United added a second when winger Allasan Jones headed home a Louis Appere cross in the tenth minute which was enough to secure the points for the Arabs and set them on their way to a fourth tournament win.

Action shot of Dundee United v Hamilton Academical used by kind permission of Graeme Webster Photography

St Johnstone 0 - 1 Oban Saints

Continuing the new management theme Oban Saints started their campaign at Glencruitten with Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell at the helm for the first time against a young St Johnstone side. Prior to kick-off Donald Campbell presented the Perth Saints skipper with a momento commemorating the twenty fifth year of the tournament which each of the visiting teams would also be presented with.

The Saints line-up included former Skipper Keith Millar making his final appearance for the club after a glittering career spanning almost twenty five years. After the tournament there was a presentation in the Oban Lorne Rugby Club to thank Keith for his years of service to the Club.

Saints dominated proceedings against the young St Johnstone side but it took until the closing stages before they finally turned their superiority into a goal which would prove to be their only one of the day.

After Paul Carmichael had a good header well saved by Jack Wills in the St Johnstone goal, and Myles McAuley glanced a Craig MacEwan cross wide of target, Lewis Cameron eventually broke the deadlock in the thirty sixth minute. Turning away from his marker on the corner of the box Cameron forced his way into the danger area and slipped a tidy low finish past the keeper's right hand to give Saints the points.

Hand cut artwork by Shona Dunn Designs

Graham Douglas

Scott Maitland

Lewis Cameron holds off a challenge

Keith Millar put in a typically industrious performance in his farewell performance

James Ford

Matthew Kelly holds off a challenge

Lewis Cameron nets the only goal of the game

Lewis Cameron accepts the congratulations of his team mates

Keith Millar retires after almost twenty five years of service to Oban Saints

Oban Saints 0 - 0 St Anthony's

Saints then made the short walk to Mossfield to face tournament new boys St Anthony's who had not long arrived following breakfast at the Royal Hotel arranged by hotel General Manager John Horne. The Ants are also under new management and the tournament presented an ideal opportunity for new Gaffer John Kelly to run the rule over his new charges.

Only Paul Carmichael and Myles McAuley retained their places as Saints Managers Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell made nine changes for the second game. Among the changes were starting roles for youngsters Cameron MacMillan, Gavin Forgrieve and Keir MacLean.

Saints had the better of the early exchanges with Paul Carmichael heading a Fraser MacFarlane corner kick narrowly over in the second minute and Dougal Graham making an excellent run on the left to set up Shaun MacIver for a shot just wide of keeper Sean Patrick's right hand post.

Returning to the club after a four year absence Matty Rippon had a good opportunity to re-open his goal scoring account after ten minutes getting on the end of a Shaun MacIver cross but blazed over from fifteen yards under pressure from Ants central defender Anton Conway.

The second half was a more even affair with chances at a premium. Richie Bain, one of the Ants many new signings, headed narrowly wide of Cameron MacMillan's right hand post from a free-kick on the corner of the box on the Ants right. At the other end Shaun MacIver did well on the right to swing a dangerous cross onto the six yard line but with no takers in red it was an easy take for Sean Patrick in the Ants goal before Referee Jimmy Litster sounded his full-time whistle.

Paul Carmichael heads over

Paul Carmichael

Sean Patrick

Richie Bain heads wide

Cameron MacMillan

Gavin Forgrieve

Jamie Graham and Craig Wilson

Alex Craik slides in on John Ball

Hamilton Academical 0 - 0 St Johnstone

It was another stalemate at Glencruitten as Hamilton Academical and St Johnstone, despite some good football from both sides, failed to trouble the scorers.

Action shot from Hamilton Academical v St Johnstone used by kind permission of Graeme Webster Photography

St Anthony's 1 - 0 St Johnstone

St Anthony's remained at Mossfield for their second match and succeeded in finding the back of the net against the young Perth Saints. Pacy forward John Ball, who follows Manager John Kelly to the Ants from previous club Glenvale, gave the green and white hoops an eighteenth minute. Despite having the better of the second half St Johnstone couldn't breach the well organised Ants defence.

John Ball's header loops into the net. Photo kindly supplied by St Anthony's

John Ball receives the congratulations of his team-mates. Photograph kindly supplied by St Anthony's

Dundee United 2 - 0 Oban Saints

Saints returned to the hard and bumpy surface at Glencruitten to face newly installed tournament favourites Dundee United. The young Terrors put in another impressive display and probably didn't require the massive slice of good fortune in the build-up to the opening goal. United winger Loius Appere collided with Graham Douglas on the goal-line in the fifteenth minute taking the Saints keeper out of the game and allowing that veteran of many a preseason game, Trialist, to prod the ball home from three yards. Despite loud appeals from the Saints contingent veteran Referee John Mackie saw no infringement and allowed the goal to stand. The collision with Appere left Douglas unable to continue and he was replaced between the posts by Cameron MacMillan.

The second half was barely two minutes old when Player of the Tournament Jordan Critchley netted a sensational second goal for the Terrors. Saints conceded possession cheaply midway inside their own half and despite several attempts failed to fully clear their lines on the edge of the box. The ball fell to Critchley wide on the right and twenty two yards from goal. The youngster arrowed an unstoppable strike into far top corner giving Cameron MacMillan absolutely no chance.

Saints kept plugging away but were unable to put United keeper Fraser Currid under any real pressure and Craig Easton's young charges comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to seal their second consecutive two nil victory and further cement their position as tournament favourites.

Pendant presented by Dundee United

United take the lead in controversial circumstances

Donald Campbell

Dene Cassells

Fraser Currid

St Johnstone 0 - 1 Dundee United

The Tayside derby, St Johnstone versus Dundee United, was next up at Mossfield and it kept the large crowd of locals and visitors richly entertained. The Perth Saints were desperately unlucky not to get at least one point from a match which they largely dominated however it was the goalkeepers who would prove to be the key figures. United keeper and Skipper Josh Donaldson produced three sensational saves to deny St Johnstone while at the other end an unfortunate fumble from opposite number Jack Wills allowed a looping header from United central defender Scott Reekie to sneak into the back of the net and steal the points. 

Photograph by kind permission of Graham Webster Photography

St Anthony's 0 - 1 Hamilton Academical

At Glencruitten St Anthony's looked to build on their good start and keep themselves in the hunt for a tournament debut trophy success, however it was cup holders Accies who prevailed in a tight contest. With the clock ticking down towards another stalemate a slick Accies passing move sent striker Sean Slaven in behind the Ants defence. Sean Patrick produced an excellent double save from Slaven but the young striker was not to be denied and lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net to end the Ants cup hopes.

Sean Patrick is beaten at the third attempt by Sean Slaven. Photograph kindly provided by St Anthony's

Sean Slaven is congratulated on his goal. Photograph kindly provided by St Anthony's

Hamilton Academical 3 - 0 Oban Saints

The final fixture at Mossfield saw the hosts take on the deposed champions for the runners-up spot with Accies running out comfortable winners against the tiring Saints. With their preseason preparations still in the very early stages 160 minutes of football in such hot conditions was a little too much for joint Managers Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell and their players.

Retiring Gaffer Alex Craik was handed the Captain's armband for what may be his last appearance in a Saints shirt however, despite his advancing years, Alex looked as fit as any of the players around him.

After some early promise when Keir MacLean blazed over a Dougal Graham cut-back Saints soon found themselves on the back foot. The Saints defence could only partially clear a thirteenth minute corner kick from the left and failed to deal with a ball lobbed into the box for Jack Breen. As Saints appealed in vain for an offside decision from Referee Pat O'Donnell Breen retained his composure to steer the ball past Graham Douglas and open the scoring.

Douglas made an excellent save with his legs on the stroke of half-time however he was powerless to prevent Accies doubling their lead midway through the second period. Saints were guilty of over elaborating at the back and lost possession inside their own box. The ball was quickly worked across to Charlie Reilly who had an easy task to slot home from eight yards.

There was no way back now for Saints and a penalty kick, awarded for a foul by Scott Maitland, sealed their fate in the thirty fourth minute. Niyah Joseph sent Graham Douglas the wrong way from the spot to confirm Accies as tournament runners-up.

Alex Craik skippered the Saints side in what may be his last game

Shaun MacIver

Kerr Newbigging keeps his eyes on the ball

Ruaridh Horne

Keir MacLean

Niyah Joseph sends Graham Douglas the wrong way from the penalty spot 

Dundee United 1 - 0 St Anthony's

Dundee United's unassailable tournament lead gave them breathing space to take the foot off the gas for the closing fixture at Glencruitten but they were still too good for the tiring St Anthony's. The semi-pro's from McKenna Park, Govan still managed to give another good account of themselves and looked to be on course for a share of the points until late in the second half. However a well placed Scott Banks strike ensured the Terrors ended the day with maximum points and the added bonus of four clean sheets.

Photograph kindly supplied by Graeme Webster Photography

Photograph kindly supplied by St Anthony's

Due to the Glasgow/Campbeltown language barrier Referee Archie Mitchell for forced to resort to sign language to explain his decisions. Photograph kindly supplied by St Anthony's 

Presentation

Tournament organiser David Buchanan thanked the visiting teams for their continued support of the tournament and congratulated winners Dundee United and player of the tournament Jordan Critchley on their success. David also thanked the spectators, many of whom had traveled considerable distances to be there; the Argyll and Bute Council grounds staff who had prepared the two pitches well in testing circumstances; and finally the match officials Donnie Brooks Jimmy Litster, John Mackie, Archie Mitchell and Pat O'Donnell without whom the event couldn't take place. David then called upon Councillor Jim Lynch to present the winning team with their individual trophies and the winning Captain Josh Donaldson with the D&K Lafferty Cup.

Craig Easton

Dundee United captain Josh Donaldson lifts the 2018 D&K Cup

Dundee United D&K Cup Winners 2018

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