Saturday 8th September 2018
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
North Glasgow Colts 1 - 5 Oban Saints
John Paul Academy
Arrochar Street
Summerston
Glasgow
G23 5LY
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Don Flanigan
Oban Saints made it three league wins from three in an ultimately comfortable win against newly promoted North Glasgow Colts in Summerston last Saturday afternoon. The margin of victory may well have been less emphatic had the hosts taken the opportunities that fell their way however Saints were well worthy of the win which keeps them on top of the fledgling Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division table.
With regular number one Graham Douglas unavailable Saints handed a competitive debut to Ben Pollock in goal behind an unchanged back four of Jamie Graham, Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Willie Gemmell dropped to the bench to be replaced by Kerr Newbigging who partnered Daniel Croarkin in the holding midfield roles while Matt Rippon, Lewis Cameron and James Ford retained their places behind striker Donald Campbell who replaced the unavailable Craig MacEwan. Joining Willie Gemmell on the bench were Ruaridh Horne, Fraser MacFarlane and teenagers Kenneth Black and Aaron McKay.
Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Ruaridh Horne
Fraser MacFarlane
Kenneth Black
Aaron McKay
Unused substitute:-
Willie Gemmell
The hosts kicked off in torrential rain on the very narrow but well kept grass park at John Paul Academy, Summerston. There was only seven minutes on the clock when Saints took a deserved lead through Co-Manager Donald Campbell who was on hand to tuck away the loose ball after Colts keeper Ross Stewart had saved from Lewis Cameron.
James Ford continued his excellent start to the season doubling the Saints advantage in the thirteenth minute. From a Jamie Graham cross from the right along the eighteen yard line, Donald Campbell held the ball up well and fed Ford who made space for a perfectly placed finish into the bottom corner beyond the despairing left hand of Ross Stewart.
Paul Harrison was a threat for the hosts on the left and got in behind Jamie Graham after sixteen minutes. Graham however got back and put Harrison under just enough pressure to allow Ben Pollock to come out to the edge of his box and gather safely.
A bizarre twenty second minute decision from Referee Don Flanigan almost saw the hosts pull a goal back. James Ford chased after a long ball from Kerr Newbigging when Colts keeper Ross Stewart, in the process of comfortably collecting the ball at the edge of his box, inexplicably lashed out, fortunately without connecting, at Ford with his right boot. Mr Flanigan stopped play but, after having words with Stewart, allowed the keeper to re-start the game with a kick from hand which caught the Saints rearguard flat footed. Connor Park raced away on the Colts right and squared to Allan Gilchrist who, much to the relief of the stunned Saints contingent on the sidelines, sliced his effort from eight yards wide of target.
As the rain abated Saints continued to enjoy the upper hand and Jamie Graham fired a shot from the right just over the crossbar before Donald Campbell had a delicate chip over the keeper ruled out for offside.
A William McGowan foul on Lewis Cameron gave Donald Campbell an opportunity with the deadball from twenty eight yards which cannoned off the wall and behind for a corner kick. Lewis Cameron's delivery from the left landed perfectly on the head of Donald Campbell at the back post who will be disappointed not to have hit the target from three yards range.
Josh Kelly found his way into Referee Flanigan's notebook in the thirty first minute for a late challenge on James Ford on the Saints left.
For the second time in a ten minute spell Colts striker Allan Gilchrist sliced wide of target from a good position when set up by Connor Park. From Ben Pollock's goal-kick Saints then cheaply conceded possession along the back four and were relieved to see Jordan Simpson's snap shot hit the side netting.
As the hosts enjoyed their best spell of the first half Steven MacLeod beat Connor Park to turn a long ball up the Colts right out for a throw-in. The extremely narrow pitch made it easy for Josh Kelly to throw the ball deep into Saints box where Ben Pollock marked his competitive Saints debut with a fine reaction save to deny Scott Pestell from six yards.
Kerr Newbigging, making his first start of the season, had a long range effort comfortably saved in the forty first minute before sending Matt Rippon through the inside right channel with a well weighted pass sixty seconds later. Rippon raced into the box where he was felled by a sliding challenge from behind by Peter Keeney. Mr Flanigan had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot from where Lewis Cameron, despite Ross Stewart getting a hand to the ball, put Saints three goals up.
The hosts had another chance to pull one back just before the interval but Saints Skipper Dene Cassells put Allan Gilchrist under just enough pressure to ensure his back post header from a Jordan Simpson free-kick flew high and wide of target.
Having passed up all of their first half opportunities it took the hosts just sixty seconds to capitalise on their first second half opening. Paul Harrison beat Jamie Graham on the Colts left and found Allan Gilchrist in the middle who swiveled on the six yard line and tucked the ball into the bottom corner beyond Ben Pollock's left hand.
Kerr Newbigging was harshly penalised for an innocuous looking challenge on Colts Skipper David Cooper on the halfway line in the forty eighth minute. To add insult to injury Newbigging also had his name taken by Referee Flanigan for continuing his protestations of innocence too long.
The woodwork came to Saints rescue in the fiftieth minute from a swift counter attack on the left. Central defender Derek Ayres made a vital interception to block a Lewis Cameron shot on the Colts eighteen yard line from where William McGowan was able to send the ball long up the Colts left. Paul Harrison got in behind once again and, with Ben Pollock well out of his goal, smacked a shot off the inside of the far post which Dene Cassells was relieved to be able to thump clear.
After a shaky start to the second half Saints regained their composure and restored their three goal advantage with another well placed James Ford finish in the fifty fifth minute. After a good move on the left Donald Campbell worked the ball along the eighteen yard line to Matt Rippon who saw his net bound shot saved by the legs of Ross Stewart. The Colts defence could only clear as far as Lewis Cameron who picked out James Ford on the penalty spot for his second goal of the afternoon.
Scott Pestell became the third name in Mr Flanigan's notebook for a late studs up challenge on Scott Maitland on the halfway line in the fifty ninth minute.
The Colts made the first change of the afternoon on the hour mark replacing Connor Park with John McCairns. Saints followed suit five minutes later when Ruaridh Horne replaced Jamie Graham in a straight swap at right back.
Ross Stewart made a sensational save diving high to his left to tip a Donald Campbell shot from eighteen yards onto the top of his crossbar in the sixty eighth minute.
The hosts made a further personnel change with twenty minutes remaining when Dylan Connor replaced Scott Pestell in midfield.
Donald Campbell tried his luck again from the edge of the box shooting across the keeper again but this time high and wide of target from a good Kerr Newbigging flick-on.
Saints gave Fraser MacFarlane a run out on the left for the closing twelve minutes with Matt Rippon making way. The Colts also made what would be their final change replacing goal scorer Allan Gilchrist with Christopher McGrath.
MacFarlane was quickly involved in the action linking up well with Scott Maitland to set up Donald Campbell for another off target effort from eighteen yards.
Daniel Croarkin capped another solid midfield performance with an eighty third minute goal to round off the scoring at 5 - 1 to Saints. Bursting through from midfield Croarkin was felled by Jordan Simpson thirty yards from goal. From the free-kick Kerr Newbigging sent Lewis Cameron wide on the right who picked out Croarkin's near post run for a four yard tap-in ahead of a despairing late lunge from Derek Ayres.
With the points now well and truly safe Saints took the opportunity to blood a couple of colts of their own and gave competitive debuts to teenagers Kenneth Black and Aaron McKay. Both were members of the Argyll & Bute Cup winning squad five weeks ago however the hurly burly of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division is an entirely different proposition which the youngsters handled well in their short time on the park. Black replaced Scott Maitland at left back while McKay took over from James Ford on the right.
On the sound of Mr Flanigan's final whistle both sets of players set off on the short walk along Caldercuilt Road and back to the changing rooms at Glasgow Club John Paul.
This coming Saturday Saints welcome first time visitors Barrhead Arky to Glencruitten in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division.
Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron
The Saints players celebrate Donald Campbell's opening goal
Sheltering from the rain
Lewis Cameron
Ross Stewart can't reach James Ford's well placed finish for Saints second goal
Daniel Croarkin and Donald Campbell congratulate James Ford on the first of his two goals
Ben Pollock
Jamie Graham
Kerr Newbigging
Donald Campbell heads wide
Ben Pollock saves from Scott Pestell
Allan Gilchrist heads wide under pressure from Dene Cassells
William McGowan thumps clear
North Glasgow Colts goal scorer Allan Gilchrist
Ross Stewart saves from Matt Rippon
James Ford is congratulated on his second goal
Ross Stewart
Kerr Newbigging and William McGowan
Scott Maitland sends Donald Campbell through
Fraser MacFarlane
Daniel Croarkin rounds off the scoring
Daniel Croarkin and Fraser MacFarlane
Kenneth Black
Aaron McKay tests the Colts goalkeeper
Aaron McKay and Peter Keeney
#monthesaints
Saturday 8th September 2018
John Paul Academy
Arrochar Street
Summerston
Glasgow
G23 5LY
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Don Flanigan
Oban Saints made it three league wins from three in an ultimately comfortable win against newly promoted North Glasgow Colts in Summerston last Saturday afternoon. The margin of victory may well have been less emphatic had the hosts taken the opportunities that fell their way however Saints were well worthy of the win which keeps them on top of the fledgling Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division table.
With regular number one Graham Douglas unavailable Saints handed a competitive debut to Ben Pollock in goal behind an unchanged back four of Jamie Graham, Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Willie Gemmell dropped to the bench to be replaced by Kerr Newbigging who partnered Daniel Croarkin in the holding midfield roles while Matt Rippon, Lewis Cameron and James Ford retained their places behind striker Donald Campbell who replaced the unavailable Craig MacEwan. Joining Willie Gemmell on the bench were Ruaridh Horne, Fraser MacFarlane and teenagers Kenneth Black and Aaron McKay.
Saints starting line-up:-
Used substitutes:-
Ruaridh Horne
Fraser MacFarlane
Kenneth Black
Aaron McKay
Unused substitute:-
Willie Gemmell
The hosts kicked off in torrential rain on the very narrow but well kept grass park at John Paul Academy, Summerston. There was only seven minutes on the clock when Saints took a deserved lead through Co-Manager Donald Campbell who was on hand to tuck away the loose ball after Colts keeper Ross Stewart had saved from Lewis Cameron.
James Ford continued his excellent start to the season doubling the Saints advantage in the thirteenth minute. From a Jamie Graham cross from the right along the eighteen yard line, Donald Campbell held the ball up well and fed Ford who made space for a perfectly placed finish into the bottom corner beyond the despairing left hand of Ross Stewart.
Paul Harrison was a threat for the hosts on the left and got in behind Jamie Graham after sixteen minutes. Graham however got back and put Harrison under just enough pressure to allow Ben Pollock to come out to the edge of his box and gather safely.
A bizarre twenty second minute decision from Referee Don Flanigan almost saw the hosts pull a goal back. James Ford chased after a long ball from Kerr Newbigging when Colts keeper Ross Stewart, in the process of comfortably collecting the ball at the edge of his box, inexplicably lashed out, fortunately without connecting, at Ford with his right boot. Mr Flanigan stopped play but, after having words with Stewart, allowed the keeper to re-start the game with a kick from hand which caught the Saints rearguard flat footed. Connor Park raced away on the Colts right and squared to Allan Gilchrist who, much to the relief of the stunned Saints contingent on the sidelines, sliced his effort from eight yards wide of target.
As the rain abated Saints continued to enjoy the upper hand and Jamie Graham fired a shot from the right just over the crossbar before Donald Campbell had a delicate chip over the keeper ruled out for offside.
A William McGowan foul on Lewis Cameron gave Donald Campbell an opportunity with the deadball from twenty eight yards which cannoned off the wall and behind for a corner kick. Lewis Cameron's delivery from the left landed perfectly on the head of Donald Campbell at the back post who will be disappointed not to have hit the target from three yards range.
Josh Kelly found his way into Referee Flanigan's notebook in the thirty first minute for a late challenge on James Ford on the Saints left.
For the second time in a ten minute spell Colts striker Allan Gilchrist sliced wide of target from a good position when set up by Connor Park. From Ben Pollock's goal-kick Saints then cheaply conceded possession along the back four and were relieved to see Jordan Simpson's snap shot hit the side netting.
As the hosts enjoyed their best spell of the first half Steven MacLeod beat Connor Park to turn a long ball up the Colts right out for a throw-in. The extremely narrow pitch made it easy for Josh Kelly to throw the ball deep into Saints box where Ben Pollock marked his competitive Saints debut with a fine reaction save to deny Scott Pestell from six yards.
Kerr Newbigging, making his first start of the season, had a long range effort comfortably saved in the forty first minute before sending Matt Rippon through the inside right channel with a well weighted pass sixty seconds later. Rippon raced into the box where he was felled by a sliding challenge from behind by Peter Keeney. Mr Flanigan had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot from where Lewis Cameron, despite Ross Stewart getting a hand to the ball, put Saints three goals up.
The hosts had another chance to pull one back just before the interval but Saints Skipper Dene Cassells put Allan Gilchrist under just enough pressure to ensure his back post header from a Jordan Simpson free-kick flew high and wide of target.
Having passed up all of their first half opportunities it took the hosts just sixty seconds to capitalise on their first second half opening. Paul Harrison beat Jamie Graham on the Colts left and found Allan Gilchrist in the middle who swiveled on the six yard line and tucked the ball into the bottom corner beyond Ben Pollock's left hand.
Kerr Newbigging was harshly penalised for an innocuous looking challenge on Colts Skipper David Cooper on the halfway line in the forty eighth minute. To add insult to injury Newbigging also had his name taken by Referee Flanigan for continuing his protestations of innocence too long.
The woodwork came to Saints rescue in the fiftieth minute from a swift counter attack on the left. Central defender Derek Ayres made a vital interception to block a Lewis Cameron shot on the Colts eighteen yard line from where William McGowan was able to send the ball long up the Colts left. Paul Harrison got in behind once again and, with Ben Pollock well out of his goal, smacked a shot off the inside of the far post which Dene Cassells was relieved to be able to thump clear.
After a shaky start to the second half Saints regained their composure and restored their three goal advantage with another well placed James Ford finish in the fifty fifth minute. After a good move on the left Donald Campbell worked the ball along the eighteen yard line to Matt Rippon who saw his net bound shot saved by the legs of Ross Stewart. The Colts defence could only clear as far as Lewis Cameron who picked out James Ford on the penalty spot for his second goal of the afternoon.
Scott Pestell became the third name in Mr Flanigan's notebook for a late studs up challenge on Scott Maitland on the halfway line in the fifty ninth minute.
The Colts made the first change of the afternoon on the hour mark replacing Connor Park with John McCairns. Saints followed suit five minutes later when Ruaridh Horne replaced Jamie Graham in a straight swap at right back.
Ross Stewart made a sensational save diving high to his left to tip a Donald Campbell shot from eighteen yards onto the top of his crossbar in the sixty eighth minute.
The hosts made a further personnel change with twenty minutes remaining when Dylan Connor replaced Scott Pestell in midfield.
Donald Campbell tried his luck again from the edge of the box shooting across the keeper again but this time high and wide of target from a good Kerr Newbigging flick-on.
Saints gave Fraser MacFarlane a run out on the left for the closing twelve minutes with Matt Rippon making way. The Colts also made what would be their final change replacing goal scorer Allan Gilchrist with Christopher McGrath.
MacFarlane was quickly involved in the action linking up well with Scott Maitland to set up Donald Campbell for another off target effort from eighteen yards.
Daniel Croarkin capped another solid midfield performance with an eighty third minute goal to round off the scoring at 5 - 1 to Saints. Bursting through from midfield Croarkin was felled by Jordan Simpson thirty yards from goal. From the free-kick Kerr Newbigging sent Lewis Cameron wide on the right who picked out Croarkin's near post run for a four yard tap-in ahead of a despairing late lunge from Derek Ayres.
With the points now well and truly safe Saints took the opportunity to blood a couple of colts of their own and gave competitive debuts to teenagers Kenneth Black and Aaron McKay. Both were members of the Argyll & Bute Cup winning squad five weeks ago however the hurly burly of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division is an entirely different proposition which the youngsters handled well in their short time on the park. Black replaced Scott Maitland at left back while McKay took over from James Ford on the right.
On the sound of Mr Flanigan's final whistle both sets of players set off on the short walk along Caldercuilt Road and back to the changing rooms at Glasgow Club John Paul.
This coming Saturday Saints welcome first time visitors Barrhead Arky to Glencruitten in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division.
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| Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron |
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| The Saints players celebrate Donald Campbell's opening goal |
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| Sheltering from the rain |
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| Lewis Cameron |
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| Ross Stewart can't reach James Ford's well placed finish for Saints second goal |
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| Daniel Croarkin and Donald Campbell congratulate James Ford on the first of his two goals |
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| Ben Pollock |
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| Jamie Graham |
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| Kerr Newbigging |
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| Donald Campbell heads wide |
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| Ben Pollock saves from Scott Pestell |
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| Allan Gilchrist heads wide under pressure from Dene Cassells |
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| William McGowan thumps clear |
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| North Glasgow Colts goal scorer Allan Gilchrist |
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| Ross Stewart saves from Matt Rippon |
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| James Ford is congratulated on his second goal |
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| Ross Stewart |
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| Kerr Newbigging and William McGowan |
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| Scott Maitland sends Donald Campbell through |
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| Fraser MacFarlane |
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| Daniel Croarkin rounds off the scoring |
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| Daniel Croarkin and Fraser MacFarlane |
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| Kenneth Black |
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| Aaron McKay tests the Colts goalkeeper |
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| Aaron McKay and Peter Keeney |
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