Winning In The Rain: Tough Test At Toryglen

Saturday 20th October 2018
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
2nd Round
Uddingston 2 - 2 Oban Saints (2 - 4 After Extra Time)
Toryglen Regional Football Centre 4G
Prospecthill Road
Glasgow
G42 0BY
Kick Off 1pm
Referee Mr Stuart Broadfoot

Extra-time goals from Craig MacEwan and Donald Campbell sealed a hard fought West of Scotland Cup victory for Oban Saints against a very useful Uddingston side last Saturday. At Glasgow's Toryglen Regional Football Centre, a short hop from the National Stadium at Hampden Park, Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Championship A leaders Uddingston pushed Saints all the way in a thrilling battle for a place in the third round draw.

Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell had planned to stick closely to the starting eleven from the previous outing in the Scottish Amateur Cup win over St Johns, however an unwell James Ford had to call off just before the minibus departed Station Square handing an unexpected starting place to new signing David Beaton.

Ruaridh Horne retained his starting place at right-back and took his place in the back four alongside Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Willie Gemmell and Daniel Croarkin continued their partnership in the middle of the park while ahead of them Lewis Cameron was flanked by Fraser MacFarlane and David Beaton. Craig MacEwan lead the line while Graham Douglas retained the number one jersey. Making up a strong substitutes bench were Donald Campbell, Dougal Graham, Jamie Graham and Kerr Newbigging.

Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-

Donald Campbell
Kerr Newbigging
Jamie Graham

Dougal Graham

Saints kicked off on the all weather surface at Toryglen with a stiff breeze at their backs and quickly took control opening the scoring in the seventh minute. A well weighted pass from Daniel Croarkin saw Craig MacEwan hold his run perfectly to beat the Uddingston offside trap and send him through on Kieran Muldoon in goal. MacEwan deftly lobbed the advancing keeper sending the ball bouncing into the unguarded net.

Saints pressed for a second goal straight from the restart with Fraser MacFarlane making good ground on the right and sending over a dangerous cross which Brendan Smith did well to thump out for a throw-in with Craig MacEwan waiting to pounce. From the throw-in on the right Willie Gemmell tried his luck from distance only to see his twenty five yard effort deflected behind for a corner kick.

Gemmell did manage to find his way through in sixteenth minute with a powerful low drive which smacked Kieran Muldoon's right hand upright with the keeper rooted to the spot. The ball cannoned back into the danger area but with too much pace for Daniel Croakin who was quickly closed down by Brendan Smith allowing Sean Smith to thump clear.

The hosts had their first attempt on goal after twenty minutes from a free-kick conceded by Lewis Cameron ten yards inside the Saints half. Christopher Sinclair's delivery was helped on by Ronan Hughes but, from five yards, was headed well wide of target by Uddingston's man of the match Frankie Murray.

Fraser MacFarlane will feel he should have done better with an excellent twenty second minute chance when a poor first touch let a Lewis Cameron cross from the right get away from him with the goal at his mercy.

Sixty seconds later Uddingston central defender took one for the team when Craig MacEwan's near post flick from Scott Maitland's left wing cross caught him square in the face denying the Saints striker a second goal.

Uddingston's main threat continued to stem from set pieces delivered by dead ball expert Christopher Sinclair. A twenty fifth minute corner kick from the left was only partly cleared and, after Ronan Hughes had returned the ball from the opposite flank, Graham Douglas showed safe hands to hold a Jack Lyons hook shot from the penalty spot.

The hosts drew level on the half hour mark from the penalty spot after hesitation in the Saints back four allowed Brian McLeod to race into the box where his progress was halted by Ruaridh Horne. The young Saints fullback protested his innocence but Referee Stuart Broadfoot ruled in favour of the Uddingston striker. Ronan Hughes sent his spot kick to his right, just out of reach of the despairing dive of Graham Douglas, and into the net to level the scores.

Parity however lasted just five minutes as Lewis Cameron caught out Kieran Muldoon at his near post with a smart finish to restore the Saints lead.

A rampaging left wing run from Scott Maitland had the home defence back pedaling but, cutting inside onto his right foot, the Saints left-back sliced his shot wide of target.

Willie Gemmell took the ball down well inside the centre circle in the forty second minute and played the ball up to Craig MacEwan. The Saints centre-forward laid the ball off to Fraser MacFarlane cutting in from the right whose low shot across the keeper slipped wide of the far post.

On the stroke of half-time young Central Scottish Amateur Football League Referee Stuart Broadfoot, who handled proceedings well, showed the first yellow card of the match to Uddingston striker Brian McLeod for a late challenge from behind on David Beaton.

Uddingston are top of the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Championship A with a 100% record and showed just why they are favourites for a second successive league championship with a much improved second half performance which kept Saints pinned back in their own half for the most part.

As a result of the hosts high pressing Saints forays up front were limited with Lewis Cameron sending a dipping free-kick just over the crossbar in the fifty second minute and Fraser MacFarlane's touch once again letting him down when sent through by Daniel Croarkin sixty second later.

Uddingston remained a constant threat from set pieces however the Saints defence, with Steven MacLeod once again impressive in the middle alongside Skipper Dene Cassells, remained firm and unshaken.

Brendan Smith found his way into Referee Broadfoot's notebook for a late tackle through the back of Fraser MacFarlane in the seventieth minute before Saints made their first changes. Kerr Newbigging replaced Willie Gemmell in midfield while David Beaton made way for Donald Campbell.

Both substitutes were quickly involved with Kerr Newbigging drawing a good save from Kieran Muldoon and Donald Campbell threading an excellent through ball for Lewis Cameron which the impressive Brendan Smith did well to cut out.

With twelve minutes remaining Jamie Graham replaced Ruaridh Horne at right-back while Willie Gemmell's persistent criticism from the sidelines earned him a yellow card from Mr Broadfoot.

Graham Douglas once again showed excellent handling to hold an in-swinging cross from the left from Christopher Sinclair at his near post in the eighty seventh minute.

With the clock ticking down it looked as though Saints would hold on to their slender advantage however the hosts eventually got the reward for their second half endeavours in the final minute of the ninety. Jamie Graham made a vital interception to turn a dangerous right wing cross behind for another Christopher Sinclair corner kick. Craig MacEwan's clearing header from the six yard line fell invitingly for second half substitute Paul Cassidy who slammed a thirty yard rocket through a ruck of bodies which Graham Douglas got both hands too but could only help into the net.

The reverse stung Saints into action and the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the second half during the time added on for stoppages. Brendan Smith made a vital block to deny Fraser MacFarlane at the expense of a corner kick in the ninety second minute which Dene Cassells headed over from ten yards.

Saints almost grabbed a last gasp winner but Fraser MacFarlane's cross from the right bounced agonisingly out of reach for Scott Maitland arriving late at the back post.

The final act before extra-time was for Referee Broadfoot to issue a yellow card to Uddingston's Christopher Waugh which would ultimately prove costly for the second half substitute.

Saints continued their newly rediscovered sense of urgency into the first period of extra time where Kieran Muldoon made good early saves to deny Fraser MacFarlane, Kerr Newbigging and Daniel Croarkin.

The hosts also had no intention of sitting in and holding on for a penalty shoot-out with Skipper Dominic Clarke curling a delicious effort onto the top of the Saints crossbar and Brian McLeod drawing a fine save from Graham Douglas.

Saints last visit to Toryglen, a 2015-16 Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy quarter-final against Kings Park Rangers, ended in a penalty shoot-out victory however thankfully on this occasion there was to be no requirement for a similarly nerve wracking decider.

Lewis Cameron won an eleventh minute free-kick thirty two yards from goal. With Saints having failed to pose much of a threat with their earlier set-pieces Donald Campbell finally produced a piece a magic lifting the ball over the Uddingston wall for the well timed run of Craig MacEwan who deftly glanced the ball past Kieran Muldoon's left hand to put Saints ahead for a third time.

Saints made their final change just before the half-time interval bringing on Dougal Graham to replace Daniel Croarkin. Graham took Scott Maitland's left-back berth with Maitland moving into midfield to partner Kerr Newbigging.

A sluggish start to the second extra-time period almost cost Saints dearly when Brian McLeod headed a good chance wide of target in the eighteenth minute.

Saints capitalised on this let-off three minutes later when Kerr Newbigging sent Craig MacEwan in behind the Uddingston defence wide on the left. MacEwan took the ball to the bye-line and sent a looping cross to the back post for Donald Campbell to cushion a close range finish into the net and at last put some daylight between the two sides.

Any lingering faint hopes of a comeback for the hosts disappeared when Christopher Waugh received a second yellow card and with it his marching orders for a late challenge on Lewis Cameron.

Saints ended the match comfortably in control and passed up the opportunity to put some icing on the cake when Donald Campbell blazed over from a Dougal Graham cross from the left after a good overlapping run to reach a Kerr Newbigging pass.

Mr Broadfoot's final whistle brought an entertaining tie to an end with Saints pleased to have come through a significant test with their cup hopes still in tact.

Saints return to league business this coming Saturday with the visit of another of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division's newly promoted sides Rutherglen Amateurs. Kick off at Glencruitten is at 2pm.