The Saints minibus resumes it's travels in Barrhead
Saturday 25th August 2018
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Barrhead Arky 1 - 2 Oban Saints
Cowan Park 3G
Aurs Road
Glasgow
G78 2SJ
Kick off 3pm
Referee Mr Pat O'Donnell
Two successfully converted penalty kicks from Lewis Cameron edged Oban Saints past a stuffy Barrhead Arky side at Cowan Park, Barrhead last Saturday. Saints failure to capitalise on a host of scoring opportunities almost cost them dearly however Cameron's stoppage time winner was just reward for a dominant performance against last season's Premier Division One Champions.
Various other commitments saw Dougal Graham, Ruaridh Horne and Craig MacEwan drop out of the squad from the previous week's win over Dunoon with young Kenneth Black and the returning Donald Campbell coming in to bring the travelling complement up to fifteen..
Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Jamie Graham, Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. In the holding midfield roles were Willie Gemmell and Matthew Kelly with James Ford, Lewis Cameron and Fraser MacFarlane behind striker Matt Rippon. On the bench were Kenneth Black, Donald Campbell, Daniel Croarkin and Kerr Newbigging. Joining Secretary David Buchanan and Coach Peter MacCallum on the sidelines to add their support were veterans of the Saints 2009-10 Premier Division title winning side Sean Ford and Joe Lopez.
Used Substitutes:-
Donald Campbell
Kerr Newbigging
Daniel Croarkin
Kenneth Black
Barrhead Arky kicked off in bright sunshine on the all weather pitch at Cowan Park but it was Saints who were first to threaten with Jamie Graham bursting through from right back and firing a low shot inches wide of keeper Ross O'Hagan's left hand post.
Saints continued to make the early running and in the tenth minute Darren Livingston took the ball off the toes of Matt Rippon at the front post with the Saints striker poised to knock home a Fraser MacFarlane cutback from the left. From the resulting Lewis Cameron corner kick Saints finally tested Arky keeper Ross O'Hagan with Dene Cassells powering a header on target which the big keeper did well to reach low down at his right hand post.
O'Hagan made a more comfortable save from Willie Gemmell's eighteenth minute free-kick gathering easily to his left as Gemmell's search for form with the dead ball continues.
The Arky keeper saved again in the twenty fifth minute this time with his feet to deny Lewis Cameron. James Ford, Jamie Graham and Lewis Cameron linked up well on the right with Graham threading a pass into the box for Cameron whose low right foot shot from twelve yards was blocked by O'Hagan on his six yard line.
The home side lost the services of Paul Quinn with a badly twisted knee in the thirty sixth minute. After being helped from the field of play Quinn's place was taken by Brian McWilliams.
After dominating almost the entire first half Saints gifted their hosts the opening goal in the forty second minute. Arky made an extremely rare foray forward with Jamie Henderson cutting in from the left and sending a low shot wide of target. From the goal-kick Graham Douglas played the ball out to Scott Maitland whose loose ball back across the eighteen yard line was intercepted by new signing Craig Cameron who gratefully accepted the gift slotting low past the helpless Graham Douglas.
From the restart Fraser MacFarlane did well to hold the ball up on the eighteen yard line teeing up Matt Rippon for a shot which flew well wide of Ross O'Hagan's right hand post.
Having previously tested the patience of Referee Pat O'Donnell on a number of occasions, Arky midfielder Jack Doak picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon in the forty sixth minute for bringing down Scott Maitland on the left touchline just inside the Arky half. Willie Gemmell's free-kick bounced harmlessly through to the goalkeeper before Mr O'Donnell sounded his half-time whistle.
Saints kicked off the second half and almost found themselves two goals down inside the opening sixty seconds. Craig Cameron pounced on another stray pass in the otherwise solid looking Saints back four but this time could only find the side netting much to the relief of the Saints contingent on the park side touchline.
Saints raced to the other end where Ross O'Hagan produced a fingertip save to deny Matthew Kelly after a sweeping move through the midfield. From the resulting corner kick Arky's John Kennedy won the battle of the left backs rising above Scott Maitland to head clear at the front post.
O'Hagan was in action again five minutes later saving twice from Fraser MacFarlane as Saints resumed their earlier dominance.
After ten second half minutes the home side replaced goal scorer Craig Cameron with Stuart McArthur who had bagged a brace in Arky's midweek 6 - 1 Centenary Cup win away at Ferguslie Star. McArthur was joined two minutes later by namesake and fellow new signing Conor who replaced injury victim John Reynolds.
Saints also made a change giving Co-Manager Donald Campbell his first run-out of the season at the expense of Matt Rippon.
Campbell's first involvement was to peel off at the back post and head a Willie Gemmell cross from the right back across goal but just too high for the arriving James Ford.
Willie Gemmell's forlorn search for a set-piece goal continued on the hour mark with a disappointing twenty eight yard free-kick wide of Ross O'Hagan's left hand post.
Gemmell's long throw from the right five minutes later carried more threat and Donald Campbell's flick-on was met by Lewis Cameron whose cushioned finish was saved at point blank range by Ross O'Hagan. Saints kept the pressure on the Arky defence with Donald Campbell sending Scott Maitland racing into the box where he was felled by John McDade. Referee O'Donnell immediately pointed to the penalty spot from where Lewis Cameron found the bottom corner to bring Saints level.
James Ford had an excellent opportunity to complete the turnaround two minutes later but, after cutting in from the right, sent a low shot across the face of goal and wide of O'Hagan's right hand post.
The advantage almost swung in the hosts favour in the seventieth minute once again from a stray Saints pass. Jamie Henderson pounced on the loose ball and, spotting Graham Douglas off his line, tried to chip the Saints keeper from twenty eight yards. Douglas made an excellent save at full stretch throwing up a strong right hand to tip Henderson's dipping effort onto his crossbar and behind for a corner kick.
That proved to be Henderson's last involvement as he left the field to be replaced by another of Arky's new additions David Bannerman. Bannerman's pace on the left won a corner kick off Jamie Graham which Saints could only clear as far as the edge of the box from where Bannerman shot high and wide of target.
Saints Co-Manager Willie Gemmell made way for the fresh legs of Kerr Newbigging in the seventy second minute.
A blatant kick at Scott Maitland by Sean Love just inside the Arky half was leniently dealt with by Referee O'Donnell who was content to issue just a yellow card to the Arky winger.
Fortunately there was no lasting damage to Maitland who recovered to swing a seventy fifth minute cross into the box where the arriving Matthew Kelly headed a difficult chance wide of target.
Skipper Dene Cassells joined the attack in the seventy eighth minute and had a promising run halted illegally inside the D. With Willie Gemmell off the field Lewis Cameron assumed responsibility for the dead ball but with similarly frustrating results as Brian McWilliams stuck out a right boot to block Cameron's low effort on the six yard line.
Lewis Cameron and Donald Campbell both sent shots wide of target before Cameron tested keeper O'Hagan again in the eighty second minute. With four Arky defenders in close attendance Cameron got a shot away which the keeper was unable to hold and required John Kennedy to thump clear with Donald Campbell closing in.
A groin strain ended Fraser MacFarlane's involvement in the eighty third minute his place being taken by Daniel Croarkin.
As Saints continued to press for a winning goal Kennedy found his way into Referee O'Donnell's notebook for a late challenge on Lewis Cameron in the eighty fifth minute.
There was howls of exasperation on the sidelines as James Ford failed to connect with a terrific eighty ninth minute Scott Maitland cross from the left.
The sense of frustration continued as Kerr Newbigging had a shot from nineteen yards blocked on the penalty spot with the midfielder slicing the rebound wide of target.
The Saints perseverance eventually told in the first of the six minutes added by Mr O'Donnell when Lewis Cameron wriggled through a see of legs and into the box where he was felled by a tackle from behind. John McDade's continued complaints at the penalty award earned him a yellow card but there can be no doubt that the Referee gave the correct call. Lewis Cameron dusted himself down and dispatched the penalty kick with aplomb to give Saints the lead.
Sixty seconds later an excellent blocking challenge by John Kennedy prevented Matthew Kelly from doubling the advantage at the same time ending Kelly's involvement as he hobbled off to be replaced by Kenneth Black.
The home side gave everything they had left in the tank in the remaining four minutes but the Saints rearguard stood firm to secure a hard fought but ultimately deserved victory.
The recently repaired Saints minibus is back on the road again this coming Saturday as Saints travel to North Lanarkshire to face Gartcosh United in the first round of the Scottish Amateur Cup.
Team Captains Dene Cassells and Gary Kelly with Referee Pat O'Donnell
Jamie Graham
Gary Kelly blocks Matt Rippon's attempted cut-back
Ross O'Hagan saves a Willie Gemmell free-kick
John Kennedy
Ross O'Hagan
John Kennedy, Jack Doak and James Ford
Ross O'Hagan saves from Lewis Cameron
Willie Gemmell and Darren Livingston
Dene Cassells and Craig Cameron
Scott Maitland
Having hit the equaliser Lewis Cameron is keen to commence the push for a winner
Dene Cassells heads clear
Dene Cassells
Fraser MacFarlane and John McDade
Ross O'Hagan saves from Lewis Cameron
Lewis Cameron hits the winning goal from the penalty spot
Matthew Kelly, Donald Campbell and Daniel Croarkin congratulate Lewis Cameron
Dene Cassells thumps clear
#monthesaints
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| The Saints minibus resumes it's travels in Barrhead |
Saturday 25th August 2018
Cowan Park 3G
Aurs Road
Glasgow
G78 2SJ
Kick off 3pm
Referee Mr Pat O'Donnell
Two successfully converted penalty kicks from Lewis Cameron edged Oban Saints past a stuffy Barrhead Arky side at Cowan Park, Barrhead last Saturday. Saints failure to capitalise on a host of scoring opportunities almost cost them dearly however Cameron's stoppage time winner was just reward for a dominant performance against last season's Premier Division One Champions.
Various other commitments saw Dougal Graham, Ruaridh Horne and Craig MacEwan drop out of the squad from the previous week's win over Dunoon with young Kenneth Black and the returning Donald Campbell coming in to bring the travelling complement up to fifteen..
Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Jamie Graham, Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. In the holding midfield roles were Willie Gemmell and Matthew Kelly with James Ford, Lewis Cameron and Fraser MacFarlane behind striker Matt Rippon. On the bench were Kenneth Black, Donald Campbell, Daniel Croarkin and Kerr Newbigging. Joining Secretary David Buchanan and Coach Peter MacCallum on the sidelines to add their support were veterans of the Saints 2009-10 Premier Division title winning side Sean Ford and Joe Lopez.
Used Substitutes:-
Donald Campbell
Kerr Newbigging
Daniel Croarkin
Kenneth Black
Barrhead Arky kicked off in bright sunshine on the all weather pitch at Cowan Park but it was Saints who were first to threaten with Jamie Graham bursting through from right back and firing a low shot inches wide of keeper Ross O'Hagan's left hand post.
Saints continued to make the early running and in the tenth minute Darren Livingston took the ball off the toes of Matt Rippon at the front post with the Saints striker poised to knock home a Fraser MacFarlane cutback from the left. From the resulting Lewis Cameron corner kick Saints finally tested Arky keeper Ross O'Hagan with Dene Cassells powering a header on target which the big keeper did well to reach low down at his right hand post.
O'Hagan made a more comfortable save from Willie Gemmell's eighteenth minute free-kick gathering easily to his left as Gemmell's search for form with the dead ball continues.
The Arky keeper saved again in the twenty fifth minute this time with his feet to deny Lewis Cameron. James Ford, Jamie Graham and Lewis Cameron linked up well on the right with Graham threading a pass into the box for Cameron whose low right foot shot from twelve yards was blocked by O'Hagan on his six yard line.
The home side lost the services of Paul Quinn with a badly twisted knee in the thirty sixth minute. After being helped from the field of play Quinn's place was taken by Brian McWilliams.
After dominating almost the entire first half Saints gifted their hosts the opening goal in the forty second minute. Arky made an extremely rare foray forward with Jamie Henderson cutting in from the left and sending a low shot wide of target. From the goal-kick Graham Douglas played the ball out to Scott Maitland whose loose ball back across the eighteen yard line was intercepted by new signing Craig Cameron who gratefully accepted the gift slotting low past the helpless Graham Douglas.
From the restart Fraser MacFarlane did well to hold the ball up on the eighteen yard line teeing up Matt Rippon for a shot which flew well wide of Ross O'Hagan's right hand post.
Having previously tested the patience of Referee Pat O'Donnell on a number of occasions, Arky midfielder Jack Doak picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon in the forty sixth minute for bringing down Scott Maitland on the left touchline just inside the Arky half. Willie Gemmell's free-kick bounced harmlessly through to the goalkeeper before Mr O'Donnell sounded his half-time whistle.
Saints kicked off the second half and almost found themselves two goals down inside the opening sixty seconds. Craig Cameron pounced on another stray pass in the otherwise solid looking Saints back four but this time could only find the side netting much to the relief of the Saints contingent on the park side touchline.
Saints raced to the other end where Ross O'Hagan produced a fingertip save to deny Matthew Kelly after a sweeping move through the midfield. From the resulting corner kick Arky's John Kennedy won the battle of the left backs rising above Scott Maitland to head clear at the front post.
O'Hagan was in action again five minutes later saving twice from Fraser MacFarlane as Saints resumed their earlier dominance.
After ten second half minutes the home side replaced goal scorer Craig Cameron with Stuart McArthur who had bagged a brace in Arky's midweek 6 - 1 Centenary Cup win away at Ferguslie Star. McArthur was joined two minutes later by namesake and fellow new signing Conor who replaced injury victim John Reynolds.
Saints also made a change giving Co-Manager Donald Campbell his first run-out of the season at the expense of Matt Rippon.
Campbell's first involvement was to peel off at the back post and head a Willie Gemmell cross from the right back across goal but just too high for the arriving James Ford.
Willie Gemmell's forlorn search for a set-piece goal continued on the hour mark with a disappointing twenty eight yard free-kick wide of Ross O'Hagan's left hand post.
Gemmell's long throw from the right five minutes later carried more threat and Donald Campbell's flick-on was met by Lewis Cameron whose cushioned finish was saved at point blank range by Ross O'Hagan. Saints kept the pressure on the Arky defence with Donald Campbell sending Scott Maitland racing into the box where he was felled by John McDade. Referee O'Donnell immediately pointed to the penalty spot from where Lewis Cameron found the bottom corner to bring Saints level.
James Ford had an excellent opportunity to complete the turnaround two minutes later but, after cutting in from the right, sent a low shot across the face of goal and wide of O'Hagan's right hand post.
The advantage almost swung in the hosts favour in the seventieth minute once again from a stray Saints pass. Jamie Henderson pounced on the loose ball and, spotting Graham Douglas off his line, tried to chip the Saints keeper from twenty eight yards. Douglas made an excellent save at full stretch throwing up a strong right hand to tip Henderson's dipping effort onto his crossbar and behind for a corner kick.
That proved to be Henderson's last involvement as he left the field to be replaced by another of Arky's new additions David Bannerman. Bannerman's pace on the left won a corner kick off Jamie Graham which Saints could only clear as far as the edge of the box from where Bannerman shot high and wide of target.
Saints Co-Manager Willie Gemmell made way for the fresh legs of Kerr Newbigging in the seventy second minute.
A blatant kick at Scott Maitland by Sean Love just inside the Arky half was leniently dealt with by Referee O'Donnell who was content to issue just a yellow card to the Arky winger.
Fortunately there was no lasting damage to Maitland who recovered to swing a seventy fifth minute cross into the box where the arriving Matthew Kelly headed a difficult chance wide of target.
Skipper Dene Cassells joined the attack in the seventy eighth minute and had a promising run halted illegally inside the D. With Willie Gemmell off the field Lewis Cameron assumed responsibility for the dead ball but with similarly frustrating results as Brian McWilliams stuck out a right boot to block Cameron's low effort on the six yard line.
Lewis Cameron and Donald Campbell both sent shots wide of target before Cameron tested keeper O'Hagan again in the eighty second minute. With four Arky defenders in close attendance Cameron got a shot away which the keeper was unable to hold and required John Kennedy to thump clear with Donald Campbell closing in.
A groin strain ended Fraser MacFarlane's involvement in the eighty third minute his place being taken by Daniel Croarkin.
As Saints continued to press for a winning goal Kennedy found his way into Referee O'Donnell's notebook for a late challenge on Lewis Cameron in the eighty fifth minute.
There was howls of exasperation on the sidelines as James Ford failed to connect with a terrific eighty ninth minute Scott Maitland cross from the left.
The sense of frustration continued as Kerr Newbigging had a shot from nineteen yards blocked on the penalty spot with the midfielder slicing the rebound wide of target.
The Saints perseverance eventually told in the first of the six minutes added by Mr O'Donnell when Lewis Cameron wriggled through a see of legs and into the box where he was felled by a tackle from behind. John McDade's continued complaints at the penalty award earned him a yellow card but there can be no doubt that the Referee gave the correct call. Lewis Cameron dusted himself down and dispatched the penalty kick with aplomb to give Saints the lead.
Sixty seconds later an excellent blocking challenge by John Kennedy prevented Matthew Kelly from doubling the advantage at the same time ending Kelly's involvement as he hobbled off to be replaced by Kenneth Black.
The home side gave everything they had left in the tank in the remaining four minutes but the Saints rearguard stood firm to secure a hard fought but ultimately deserved victory.
The recently repaired Saints minibus is back on the road again this coming Saturday as Saints travel to North Lanarkshire to face Gartcosh United in the first round of the Scottish Amateur Cup.
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| Team Captains Dene Cassells and Gary Kelly with Referee Pat O'Donnell |
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| Jamie Graham |
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| Gary Kelly blocks Matt Rippon's attempted cut-back |
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| Ross O'Hagan saves a Willie Gemmell free-kick |
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| John Kennedy |
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| Ross O'Hagan |
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| John Kennedy, Jack Doak and James Ford |
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| Ross O'Hagan saves from Lewis Cameron |
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| Willie Gemmell and Darren Livingston |
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| Dene Cassells and Craig Cameron |
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| Scott Maitland |
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| Having hit the equaliser Lewis Cameron is keen to commence the push for a winner |
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| Dene Cassells heads clear |
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| Dene Cassells |
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| Fraser MacFarlane and John McDade |
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| Ross O'Hagan saves from Lewis Cameron |
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| Lewis Cameron hits the winning goal from the penalty spot |
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| Matthew Kelly, Donald Campbell and Daniel Croarkin congratulate Lewis Cameron |
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| Dene Cassells thumps clear |
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