Half Term Report Part Three

With Oban Saints currently enjoying a four week festive break Winning In The Rain takes a look back at the season so far concluding the trilogy with the five league fixtures from September to December:-

Saturday 28th September 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Blantyre RGM 2 - 5 Oban Saints

Oban Saints bounced back from their West of Scotland Cup exit at the hands of old foes Inverclyde with a convincing Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B away win against closest challengers Blantyre RGM in Bellshill . At a sunny Sir Matt Busby Sports Complex a Lewis Cameron hat-trick and a goal each from James Ford and Donald Campbell gave Saints the points and the luxury of some valuable game time for babes Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay.

With Co-Manager Willie Gemmell unavailable the double headache of Cammy Hill withdrawing from the travelling party at the eleventh hour and Kerr Newbigging failing a pre-match fitness test rested on the shoulders of Donald Campbell ably assisted by Coach Peter MacCallum and Secretary David Buchanan. Campbell promoted himself from the bench to take the number nine shirt and gave Matt Rippon the nod to partner Myles McAuley in midfield.

Also making a rare start, and producing a typically assured performance, was Thomas MacCulloch deputising in goal for the unavailable Graham Douglas.

Playing into the sun Saints made a bright start and took the lead after just four minutes. Captain Dene Cassells carried the ball out from the back and threaded a pass through for the run of Lewis Cameron. As the home defence appealed in vain for an offside decision from Referee Gunning Cameron rounded the advancing keeper and, from an acute angle, slotted the ball into the unguarded net to open the scoring.

Saints doubled their advantage on the quarter hour mark with a sweeping move from back to front. Myles McAuley's ball up to Donald Campbell was laid off perfectly for Lewis Cameron who held his run well before lifting over Adam McKay for his second goal of the afternoon.

The home side tried for the long ball over the top again in the nineteenth minute which left Saints central defensive pairing of Dene Cassells and Steven MacLeod frustrated at the lack off an offside award from the Referee. Mr Gunning, who handled proceedings well throughout, allowed Aidan Darcy to continue his run unchecked however Thomas MacCulloch was quickly off his line and thumped the ball clear ahead of the Blantyre centre forward.

Donald Campbell passed up the chance to tee up Lewis Cameron for his hat-trick when the pair were clean through in the forty second minute. Campbell elected to go for goal himself but sent a tame effort looping into the grateful arms of the Blantyre keeper.

The second half was only thirty seconds old when Saints further stretched their advantage. Myles McAuley and Donald Campbell combined well to send James Ford through one-on-one with Adam McKay with the Saints man keeping his nerve to slot the ball past the hopelessly exposed keeper for Saints third goal.

Blantyre freshened things up with the introduction of Christopher Hill and Scott Black who would go on to make a significant contribution to the afternoon's events.

Lewis Cameron completed his hat-trick in the fifty seventh minute with Donald Campbell making it a hat-trick of assists. After a strong run on the left Scott Maitland picked out Donald Campbell on the edge of the box who in turn laid the ball off perfectly for Lewis Cameron to run in goal number four.

The hosts made a second double substitution sending on Sam Kelly and James Clark and reduced the deficit on the hour mark. Myles McAuley was penalised on the edge of the Saints box for a hotly disputed accidental handball. The Saints defensive wall stood up well to block the initial effort however the follow up effort found it's way through to Scott Black who side footed past Thomas MacCulloch.

Matt Rippon's good shift in the middle of the park came to an end when he was replaced by teenager Gavin Forgrieve in the sixty seventh minute.

With twenty minutes remaining on the clock Donald Campbell rounded off an excellent all round performance with a measured finish into the bottom corner from eighteen yards out after more good work on the left from Craig MacEwan and Lewis Cameron.

Before the restart Saints introduced another youngster when Aaron McKay replaced James Ford wide on the right.

Shortly afterwards Saints made their final change when Lewis Cameron took a well earned rest to give Daniel Croarkin his first run out after a five week lay off.

2018-19 John Smith's Trophy winners Blantyre kept plugging away and got their reward in the seventy sixth minute when Scott Black notched his second goal of the afternoon with a peach of a volleyed finish. Black showed excellent technique to connect with a spinning ball which he sent flying past Thomas MacCulloch after a long free-kick had come off a Saints head on the eighteen yard line.

Blantyre keeper Adam McKay ensured the scoring ended there when he got down well to his left to turn a net bound eightieth minute Donald Campbell shot round his left hand post.

Chances were at a premium as the defences took control for the closing stages with the major positives for Saints being the performance of youngsters Forgrieve and McKay in considerably more experienced company and a first full ninety minutes of the season for Donald Campbell.

Thomas MacCulloch

Lewis Cameron opens the scoring

Familiar goal celebration from Donald Campbell

Saturday 26th October 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Oban Saints 6 - 1 Garrowhill Thistle

Following the drama of the Scottish Amateur Cup tie against Vale of Earn which took two games and a penalty shoot-out to resolve, Oban Saints returned to league business at Glencruitten for the visit of Garrowhill Thistle. Second half substitute Matt Rippon successfully converted his third penalty kick of the season to round off a 6 - 1 win adding to a brace from Donald Campbell and a hat-trick from leading goalscorer Craig MacEwan.

Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell made two changes to the starting line-up from the previous week's trip to Crieff promoting Cammy Hill from the bench to replace David Beaton and rewarding Gavin Forgrieve for his recent impressive displays for the second team with a place in midfield affording Matty Kelly a rest following his exertions with the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Select.

Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end where Willie Gemmell twice came close to opening the scoring inside the first ten minutes. Firstly Gemmell squeezed a lay-off from Craig MacEwan after a Scott Maitland overlapping run and cross inches wide of target before Thistle keeper Callum McAuley threw up a strong left hand to stop a thumping twenty five yard strike from the Saints Co-Gaffer.

The home faithful didn't have too much longer to wait for the opening goal which came from the head of Craig MacEwan in the thirteenth minute. Ruaridh Horne sent a tempting cross from the right onto the six yard line where MacEwan held off the challenge of William Coulter to nod the ball into the bottom corner past a static Callum McAuley.

Saints doubled their advantage on the half hour mark from a patient passing move from the back. Gavin Forgieve picked up the ball in the centre circle from Dene Cassells and sent Scott Maitland scurrying forward on the left. Maitland found Craig MacEwan in the Jags box who carried the ball to the bye-line and, after a double step over, picked out Donald Campbell arriving at the near post to knock the ball home with the outside of his right foot.

Thistle keeper Callum McAuley produced two fines saves to prevent Saints from further stretching their advantage. After standing up well at his near post to beat away a Craig MacEwan left foot effort from the corner of the six yard box McAuley leapt acrobatically to his left to push a curling Donald Campbell shot bound for the top corner round the post.
Scott Maitland continued the form which has earned him a call-up to train with Scottish Amateur Football Association Select with a darting forty third minute run into the Jags box but was denied a strike on goal by a perfectly timed sliding interception by Josh McCormick.

Maitland thought his tackle on Craig Lamont sixty seconds later was equally well timed however Mr McCann thought otherwise and awarded the visitors a free-kick midway inside the Saints half. Gavin Forgrieve's sliced clearance of Lamont's delivery into the box landed at the feet of Paul Thomson seventeen yards out. Already harbouring a sense of injustice Saints were left incredulous when Mr McCann pointed to the penalty spot after Lewis Cameron was penalised for handball protecting his face from Thomson's point blank range shot. While Steven MacLeod debated the decision with Mr McCann Jags striker Lee Drummond placed the ball on the spot and on the Referee's whistle slammed the ball home to half the deficit.

With their composure restored Saints made the perfect start to the second half immediately regaining possession through Cammy Hill who made a driving run at the heart of the Jags defence. Hill threaded a well measured diagonal ball for Craig MacEwan cutting in from the left who wasted no time in clipping a shot across the advancing keeper and into the far corner of the net.

Saints put some daylight between themselves and their visitors in the fifty first minute when Dene Cassells returned a Callum McAuley clearance with a thumping header which Craig MacEwan helped onto Donald Campbell who rounded the advancing keeper and, from a tight angle, slotted the ball into the unguarded net.

Scott Maitland's perseverance on the left won a sixty first minute corner kick which Callum McAuley came through a pile of bodies to punch clear. Unfortunately for the Jags keeper his punch landed neatly at the feet of Craig MacEwan who steered the ball past the still off balance McAuley to seal his hat-trick.

The fifth goal was the cue for a triple Saints change with David Beaton, Aaron McKay and Matt Rippon coming on to replace Gavin Forgrieve, Cammy Hill and Craig MacEwan.

Rippon almost made an instant impact making a good run through the inside right channel to collect a Lewis Cameron pass but seeing his low shot blocked by the feet of Thistle keeper McAuley.

David Beaton's pace through the middle was causing problems for the visitors and his eighty sixth minute run was brought to a premature end by Ryan Latter giving Mr McCann an easy decision to point to the spot.

Matt Rippon kept up his 100% record from the penalty spot sending his effort into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Callum McAuley to notch a sixth goal for Saints.

Donald Campbell tucks away the fourth goal

Matt Rippon rounds off the scoring from the penalty spot

Saturday 16th November 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Clydebank 0 - 2 Oban Saints

A goal keeping crisis forced Oban Saints to cast the net far and wide in search of a stand-in for regular number one Graham Douglas for the trip to Clydebank. With Ben Pollock, Murdo MacKenzie and all other back-up options also unavailable, former Celtic youth keeper Jamie Strachan answered the call and produced an assured performance to pave the way for Saints ninth consecutive Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B win. Second half goals from Dene Cassells and Lewis Cameron were enough to secure the points against a stuffy Clydebank side who battled hard throughout.

With Co-Manager Donald Campbell beginning a work related football sabbatical and Scottish amateur international left fullback Scott Maitland also missing, the remaining half of the Management duo, club stalwart Willie Gemmell, opted for a change of formation and took his place in the middle of a back three alongside Steven MacLeod and Captain Dene Cassells. In midfield were Matty Kelly, Lewis Cameron and Myles McAuley with Ruaridh Horne and Ross Maitland as wing backs. Up front were Cammy Hill and Craig MacEwan. Making up a strong bench were David Beaton, James Ford, Gavin Forgrieve, Aaron McKay and Matt Rippon.

The hosts kicked off attacking the North Elgin Street end of the heavy and extremely narrow grass pitch at John Brown's, Clydebank which placed free flowing football at a premium. Former St Mungo's and Westercommon Star keeper Jamie Strachan was given an early touch to calm the nerves when Willie Gemmell got back well to usher a Jamie Pollock ball looking for Ryan McGilveray through to his new signing.

Both sets of players were finding the surface difficult and a miscued fourth minute finish wide of Andrew Cameron's left hand post from Cammy Hill let Clydebank off the hook after his well timed run connected with a Ross Maitland cross from the left.

Jamie Strachan was the first of the two keepers to be forced into action getting down well to his right to hold a Jamie Pollock shot from eighteen yards after the Bankies wide man had come in from the right to reach a Ryan Banks through ball from the halfway line.

Saints Skipper Dene Cassells had the ball in the net from a Lewis Cameron fifteenth minute free-kick but only after Referee John Quinn had blown for some pushing and shoving between Cammy Hill and Bankies central defender Benjamin Pierre Junges. Harry McLachlan cleared Lewis Cameron's retaken effort with a spectacular overhead kick which came at a heavy price when he landed heavily on his left wrist.

Bankies Skipper Andrew Cameron safely gathered a twenty two yard effort from opposite number Dene Cassells after the big Saints central defender had connected with a Myles McAuley throw-in before enjoying a massive slice of good fortune sixty seconds later. From another McAuley throw, Craig MacEwan glanced a header onto the inside of Cameron's right hand post a straight back into the grateful keeper's arms.

The momentum was with the away side in the lead up to the interval and Andrew Cameron denied Ross Maitland what would have been a deserved opening goal when he stood up well to win a one-on-one with the Saints wide man on the stroke of half-time.

Saints continued where they left off and opened the second half with a Myles McAuley shot from the corner of the box which curled just wide of the postage stamp corner.

The deadlock was broken in the fifty second minute when the home defence couldn't clear a Lewis Cameron free-kick after the Saints Scottish amateur international had been felled on the corner of the box by Benjamin Pierre Junges. Cameron's free-kick was bundled behind for a corner kick on the left presenting the Saints talisman with another dead ball opportunity. Having opened his goal scoring account from the penalty spot in Saints last outing, Saints Skipper Dene Cassells doubled his tally for the season with a glancing near post header from three yards which gave Andrew Cameron no chance.

Saints added a second goal in the seventy second minute when Central Scottish Amateur Football League Select pair Matty Kelly and Lewis Cameron combined to good effect through the middle. Kelly won the ball inside the centre circle and fed Cameron who jinked his way through the Bankies defence and slotted the ball into the bottom corner past the left hand of Andrew Cameron.

The hosts responded well and were unlucky to see a Jamie Pollock effort slip just wide of target when the Bankies wide man was allowed to cut in from the right and fire off a low shot.

Sixty seconds later second half substitute Thomas Stewart was denied what would have been a deserved consolation goal for the hosts when he raced unchallenged into the box but couldn't find a way past Jamie Strachan who made an excellent save with his legs to keep his highly prized clean sheet in tact.

Having weathered Clydebank's spirited attempt at a comeback Saints came close to extending their lead through David Beaton and Lewis Cameron who both sent decent efforts narrowly wide of target.

Aaron McKay and James Ford were given late run outs as replacements for Ross Maitland and Lewis Cameron the latter being withdrawn as a precaution ahead of the following day's inter league match between the Central Scottish Amateur Football League and the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League at New Tinto Park, Govan.

Dene Cassells heads the opening goal

Lewis Cameron makes it 2 - 0

Craig MacEwan heads over

Saturday 23rd November 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Oban Saints 2 - 0 Craigneuk

Oban Saints warmed up for their impending Scottish Amateur Cup trip to Rothienorman with a less than convincing home win against Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B basement boys Craigneuk who battled hard throughout the ninety minutes at Glencruitten. Two early strikes from leading goalscorer Craig MacEwan were enough to clinch Saints tenth consecutive league victory making it ten out of ten with a far from ten out of ten performance in a dour encounter which did little to excite the home support.

Now in sole charge due to management colleague Donald Campbell's work commitments in deepest, darkest Warwickshire, Willie Gemmell made five changes to the starting line-up from the previous week's trip to Clydebank. Graham Douglas and Scott Maitland were once again available for selection while James Ford and teenagers Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay were all promoted from the bench. Also making welcome returns to the squad after long absences were Kerr Newbigging and Fraser MacFarlane.

Playing in a more advanced role due to the absence of Lewis Cameron, Matty Kelly was upended one yard in from the left touchline by Craigneuk Skipper Paul Rooney. Kelly sent the resulting free-kick into the box where Neuk keeper Graeme Divers beat Dene Cassells to make a solid connection with his punched clearance which fell invitingly for Scott Maitland on the eighteen yard line. Maitland's shot was charged down by Greig Williams and then sent invitingly back into the box by Gavin Forgrieve where Referee Allan Loch, who handled proceedings well throughout, ruled Kelly to have strayed offside.

Kelly was involved again in the thirteenth minute when he was felled by a late challenge from Gary Raybould which earned the Craigneuk midfielder the game's first yellow card. Myles McAuley's free-kick into the box found James Ford whose shot on the turn was blocked amidst Saints appeals for handball which failed to impress Mr Loch.

The visitors mounted their first serious assault on the Saints goal in the seventeenth minute forcing Saints fullback Ruaridh Horne to turn the ball out for a corner kick. Kieron Duffy's short corner kick to Craig Rutherford was helped on to Greig Williams who sent a shot across Graham Douglas but well wide of the Saints number one's left hand post.

From Graham Douglas' goal kick Scott Maitland worked the ball forward on the left to Craig MacEwan who had the feet taken away from him on the corner of the box by Brian Totten. With everybody waiting for a cross to the far post, and prompted by Scott Buchanan on the sidelines, Matty Kelly's quick thinking picked out the near post run of Craig MacEwan who stabbed the ball past Graeme Divers to open the scoring.

James Ford's trickery on the right after Myles McAuley had won the ball well in the centre circle took him almost to the byeline in the twenty first minute. Ford's low cross along the six yard line was fractionally too heavy for Aaron McKay who couldn't adjust his feet for what would have been a tap-in at the back post.

Sixty seconds later goalkeeper Graeme Divers, one of six changes to the Craigneuk line-up from when the sides met at Dalziel Park on the opening day of the season, had a moment to forget when a Craig MacEwan shot from twenty five yards bounced just in front of him and squirmed from his grasp and into the net for Saints second goal.

MacEwan should have made it three in the twenty fifth minute when he somehow managed to plant his header from another good James Ford right wing cross inches wide of Graeme Divers' left hand post from four yards range.

Saints maintained their dominance of possession in the second half giving Graham Douglas and his back four a relatively untroubled afternoon en-route to another clean sheet. However, despite maintaining the upper hand, the home side created little of note and the few chances which did come their way were squandered.

Manager Willie Gemmell used all of his substitutes during the stop/start second period to give his full squad some valuable game time ahead of this coming Saturday's Scottish Amateur Cup fourth round tie against Rothie Rovers in the Aberdeenshire village of Rothienorman.

Head in hands moment for the unfortunate Graeme Divers

Heads in hands for Craig MacEwan and James Ford as MacEwan misses out on another hat-trick

Saturday 7th December 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Oban Saints 1 - 0 Blantyre RGM

Ten man Oban Saints produced a battling backs-to-the wall performance at a rain soaked Oban High School last Saturday afternoon to cement their place at the top of Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B. Leading goalscorer Craig MacEwan put Saints ahead with his fifteenth goal of the season but a red card for goalkeeper Graham Douglas gave the home faithful a nervous closing twenty four minutes to endure along with the horrendous weather conditions.

Saints Co-manager Willie Gemmell made one enforced change to the starting line-up from the previous week's trip to Rothienorman. James Ford failed to shake off the knee injury picked up in the Scottish Amateur Cup win over Rothie Rovers and was replaced by Craig MacEwan.

Saints kicked off attacking the Dalintart end and Craig MacEwan tested the handling of Adam McKay in the first minute with a crisply struck shot from eighteen yards which the Blantyre keeper did well to parry down and gather at the second attempt.

Two of Blantyre's four changes to the starting eleven from the reverse fixture in Bellshill ten weeks ago, Ryan Duffy and Alex Hill combined for the visitor's first strike on goal in the fifth minute when Duffy threaded the ball through to Hill for a shot from the corner of the eighteen yard box which flew well over the crossbar.

The value of having a man on the post at corner kicks was proven in the fifteenth minute when Scott Maitland blocked a Ross Burns header from a Barry McLaughlan corner kick on the Saints goal line before thumping clear. The visitors appealed strongly that the ball had crossed the line but Referee Pat O'Donnell was perfectly positioned to see the incident and rule in Saints favour.

The visitors were enjoying the better of the early exchanges however chances for both sides were at a premium. David Beaton sent over a tempting nineteenth minute cross from the right which Adam McKay did well to cut out ahead of Cammy Hill before Blantyre central midfielder Kris Beggs broke forward but shot well wide of target.

Dene Cassells climbed well to get on the end of a thirty third minute Lewis Cameron corner kick which was blocked three yards out. Blantyre couldn't fully clear the danger and Adam McKay produced the save of the afternoon to acrobatically push Cameron's attempted lob from the right edge of the penalty box over his crossbar.

Lewis Cameron's set piece deliveries continued to trouble the Blantyre defence and Dene Cassells once again won the aerial dual from the corner flag in the thirty eighth minute but sent his header just over the crossbar.

Adam McKay made another good save in the fortieth minute springing to this left to push away a curling Lewis Cameron effort after Craig MacEwan had flicked on a Scott Maitland long ball.

The Saints pressure eventually told and they broke the deadlock with three first half minutes remaining. Venturing a long way forward from his central defensive beat, Captain Dene Cassells swung over a perfect cross from the right edge of the Blantyre box into that corridor of uncertainty between goalkeeper and defenders where Craig MacEwan sneaked in to plant a header beyond Adam McKay for what would prove to be the only goal of the game.

Saints came close to doubling their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Cammy Hill shaved the outside of Adam McKay's right hand post with a low shot after a good interchange of passes on the left with Craig MacEwan and Lewis Cameron.

Saints remained on the front foot for the start of the second half with Cammy Hill forcing a corner kick on the left after just sixty seconds. Dene Cassells was again a handful for the Blantyre defence but still couldn't find the target with a poweful header.

Saints were guilty of over elaborating at the back and were relieved to see Alex Hill slip at the vital moment and send his shot wide of target after he had intercepted a stray sixty fifth minute pass from Graham Douglas.

After winning another corner kick on the right, Lewis Cameron tried to catch out Adam McKay under his crossbar with the keeper having to climb over the top of Barry McLaughlan at the front post to make his punch. The ball looped back across the face of goal where Dene Cassells was once just off target with a header from three yards.

The defence pushing too far forward left Graham Douglas hopelessly exposed in the seventy third minute and the Saints number one raced out of his goal to concede a free-kick just outside of his box. Despite the keeper's claims that the ball had hit him on the chest, Referee O'Donnell, who had his customary steady game, correctly signalled a hand-ball and issued Douglas with the inevitable red card.

Central defender Steven MacLeod took the gloves bringing to an end Cammy Hill's involvement as the big centre forward was sacrificed for the more defensive minded Kerr Newbigging.

Newbigging slotted in alongside Dene Cassells in central defence with Craig MacEwan and Myles McAuley also adding their aerial presence to ensure the Blantyre free-kick was successfully dealt with.

Saints closest league challengers looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage causing nerves to jangle on the sidelines but Saints defended manfully from the front and stand-in keeper MacLeod remained relatively untroubled.

Further personnel changes followed when Craig MacEwan was withdrawn to make room for utility man Matt Rippon before Kerr Newbigging's troublesome hip forced him off to be replaced by Aaron McKay in the ninetieth minute.

James Clark sent a free-kick high and wide of target before David Cairney was similarly wayward with a header as the time added by Mr O'Donnell dragged slowly by.

With the hardy band of soaked to the skin onlookers beginning to wonder if the Referee's watch had stopped Mr O'Donnell finally blew for full time after six added minutes extending Saints unbeaten run to eleven games and stretching their lead over second placed Blantyre RGM to sixteen points.

Adam McKay pushes away Lewis Cameron's corner kick

Dene Cassells heads over

Graham Douglas hands over the gloves to Steven MacLeod

Steven MacLeod

#monthesaints

Half Term Report Part Two

With Oban Saints currently enjoying a four week festive break Winning In The Rain takes a look back at the season so far continuing this week with Saints exploits in the cup competitions:-

Saturday 21st September 2019
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
First Round
Oban Saints 1 - 2 Inverclyde

A disastrous opening sixteen minutes in which Oban Saints fell two goals and a man down left last season's runners-up with a West of Scotland Amateur Cup mountain to climb at a sun baked Glencruitten last Saturday afternoon. Despite enjoying the majority of possession throughout the first round match Saints were unable to turn the tie around and suffered their only defeat of the season so far.

Saints Management duo of Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell made just one change to the starting lineup from the previous week's league win against Cambusnethan Talbot. In came Murdo MacKenzie in goal to make his senior team debut in place the unavailable Graham Douglas.

Prior to kick-off Referee Steven Nicholls led both sets of players and officials in a silence of remembrance for Margaret Beaton, mother of Inverclyde player Craig Beaton, and Tom McInally, Secretary of Uddingston Anvil, both of whom had sadly passed away during the week.

Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end and were immediately on the attack with Lewis Cameron picking out Craig MacEwan's run through the inside left channel. Chasing pair Cammy Hill and David Beaton were inches away from connecting with MacEwan's cross on the run as the ball flew dangerously across the Inverclyde goalmouth.

Already through to the semi-finals of the Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup Inverclyde took the first step towards extending their 100 percent record so far this season in the fourth minute. A vital challenge on the edge of the Saints box by Matty Kelly denied Craig Ellis a shooting opportunity at the expense of a corner kick but from Skipper Darren Docherty's delivery from the left Greg Wilson was left unmarked to send a header bouncing past the unsighted Murdo MacKenzie to give the visitors the lead.

Saints looked to hit back immediately but found Inverclyde keeper Sean O'Conner to be in inspired form. The big number one stood up well at his near post to beat away a Lewis Cameron shot before denying Cameron again with a finger tip save after a driving run up the right.

The visitors doubled their advantage in the fifteenth minute when an accidental handball in the box by Saints Skipper Dene Cassells was punished with a penalty kick. Greg Wilson made no mistake from twelve yards sending Murdo MacKenzie in the wrong direction in the process.

Things turned from bad to worse for Saints just sixty seconds later when Referee Nicholls ignored a clear foul on Lewis Cameron on the half way line and allowed the visitors to break forward on the right. Chasing back, Paul Carmichael clipped the heels of  Michael McKitrick and, already with a booking to his name for his protests at the Inverclyde penalty kick, the big centre half knew his involvement in the tie was about to come to a premature end. Mr Nicholls showed Carmichael a straight red card leaving Saints staring down the barrel of a first round cup exit after just sixteen first half minutes.

Murdo MacKenzie did well to push the resulting twenty five free-kick from Darren Docherty over his cross bar for a corner kick from which Michael McKitrick hooked a shot off target.

Young fullback Ruaridh Horne was sacrificed in a tactical reshuffle which saw the experienced Steven MacLeod come on to form a back three with Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland.

Craig MacEwan sent a decent effort curling wide of the far post after cutting in from the left in the nineteenth minute as Saints set about trying to establish a foothold in a game which appeared already to be slipping away from them.

A fantastic double save from Matty Kelly and Cammy Hill by Sean O'Conner kept his side's two goal lead in tact before Referee Steven Nicholls brought the first half to a close.

Saints Co-Manager Donald Campbell joined the fray on the hour mark at the expense of teenage striker Cammy Hill. Campbell was quick to make an impression cutting in from the left and curling a shot just wide of the postage stamp corner.

The visitors lost their numerical advantage when Ryan Collins followed up a sixty fourth minute caution for simulation with a second yellow card sixty seconds later for petulantly kicking the ball away at a Saints free-kick.

Scott Maitland fired a shot over the crossbar after a jinking run on the left before Inverclyde defender Tom McKitrick received his marching orders after he dived to "save" a Donald Campbell shot on the goal line.

Definitely not on the goal line however was Sean O'Conner when he leapt forward and got down to his right to push Lewis Cameron's penalty kick round the post. Referee Nicholls however saw no need to order a retake and O'Conner continued his heroics by punching clear Lewis Cameron's corner kick from the left.

Kerr Newbigging and Matt Rippon both blazed very presentable chances over the crossbar as Saints collective lack of composure in front of goal continued to frustrate the home crowd.

Dene Cassells took advantage of Saints numerical advantage to join the attack for the closing stages and bucked the trend for failing to hit the target with an eighty second minute header straight down the throat of keeper O'Conner.

The mounting Saints pressure eventually told and they pulled a goal back with five minutes remaining when Craig MacEwan nodded home at the back post from a Lewis Cameron cross from the right.

Try as they might, even with a ten men against nine numerical advantage, Saints couldn't find the second goal necessary to take the tie to a penalty shoot-out. The visitors defended valiantly and even when Saints did get the better of the Inverclyde defence they found O'Conner in no mood to concede again.

One final O'Conner save from a poorly struck Kerr Newbigging strike was as close as Saints came with the final act of a disappointing afternoon being a rare Steven MacLeod shot which slipped inches wide of O'Conner's right hand post.

Debutant Murdo MacKenzie

Greg Wilson opens the scoring

Greg Wilson makes it 2 - 0 from the penalty spot

Sean O'Conner saves Lewis Cameron's penalty kick

Craig MacEwan pulls one back for Saints

Steven MacLeod is just off target with the last kick of the game

Saturday 12th October 2019
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Second Round
Oban Saints 4 - 4 Vale of Earn

Oban Saints and Vale of Earn shared eight goals in a highly entertaining Scottish Amateur Cup second round tie which ebbed and flowed through ninety incident packed minutes at Oban High School.

The heavy rain which had fallen steadily in the days leading up to the tie had rendered Saints normal grass pitch at Glencruitten unplayable forcing a switch to the 3G surface at Oban High School where, in spite of some very heavy rain and hail showers, the Glencruitten faithful gathered in good numbers to cheer on their favourites on National Non League Day.

Leading the line in just his second start of the season Saints Co-Manager Donald Campbell was enjoying a personal duel with Vale goalkeeper Garry Brock and, after several good saves from open play, Brock foiled Campbell again after seventeen minutes diving low to his left to hold Campbell's penalty kick after Scott Maitland's driving run into the Vale box had been halted unlawfully by David Sinclair.

Saints finally made the breakthrough in the thirty first minute when Scott Maitland was sent sprawling in the Vale box for a second time. Matty Rippon took responsibility for the second spot kick and made no mistake sending Garry Brock in the wrong direction in the process.

The visitors drew level five minutes before the interval in opportunistic style capitalising on a series of indecisive moments in the normally dependable Saints defence. With Graham Douglas a long way from his penalty area Saints conceded possession midway inside their own half wide on the left. Even with an open goal to aim at Aaron Dawson did well to find the net with a lob from thirty five yards which sailed over the head of the backpedalling Saints keeper.

There was a frank exchange of views during the half-time team talk which unfortunately failed to resolve Saints defensive uncertainties and after nine second half minutes Peter Reilly pounced on another mistake to clip the ball over Graham Douglas stranded on his eighteen yard line and roll the ball into the empty net to give Vale the lead.

The response to going behind from Co-Manager Willie Gemmell was to send on young striker Cammy Hill at the expense of Matt Rippon. The change produced instant results when Garry Brock parried away a net bound Hill shot which Scott Maitland returned from the left wing straight onto the head of Craig MacEwan who bulleted a header into the top corner from twelve yards.

Vale central defender Ross Nixon was fortunate only to see a yellow card for a very heavy late challenge on David Beaton on the half-way line in the sixty second minute. Fortunately there was no lasting damage on Beaton and he showed Darral Cramb a clean pair of heels on the right wing before firing over a perfect delivery on the run which Craig MacEwan cushioned past Garry Brock to regain the lead for Saints.

Craig MacEwan was denied a hat-trick by the narrowest of margins when his seventy seventh minute header from a David Beaton right wing cross beat Garry Brock but bounced back off the inside of the post and into the keeper's grateful arms.

The visitors took full advantage of this slice of luck to draw level in the eightieth minute. Once again Saints were complicit failing miserably to deal with a long throw-in from the left with Darral Cramb rifling the loose ball into the roof of the net from the corner of the six yard box.

The head of substitute Cammy Hill got Saints back in front with five minutes remaining. Lewis Cameron's endeavours won a throw-in on the right level with the eighteen yard line. Ross Maitland returned David Beaton's throw sending the diminutive wide man to the byeline from where he dug out an excellent cross to the back post. Teenage striker Hill leapt salmon like to beat Garry Brock at his near post with a thumping downward header.

The joy was short lived as the visitors produced yet another equaliser just three minutes later. The jitters in the Saints rearguard showed no sign of improvement and a failed attempt to clear the danger from a James Webster left wing corner fell kindly for Ross Nixon whose hooked effort from three yards was deflected wide of the post by Scott Maitland, illegally in the opinion of Referee Holms. There were few complaints from the Saints players and Ross Nixon wasted no time in placing the ball and dispatching it into the bottom corner way from the despairing dive of Graham Douglas.

It was anybody's game now and both sides pushed for the winner in the closing minutes. In the last of the three additional minutes allowed by Mr Holms Lewis Cameron was scythed down twenty six yards from goal by Euan Carter earning the industrious midfielder a place in the referee's notebook where he was joined by Aaron Dawson for his continued protestations.

Craig MacEwan's free-kick beat the Vale wall but lacked the power to get the better of Garry Brock who capped a fine performance deputising for regular net minder Barrie Chiverton by safely holding MacEwan's effort in the final act of an enthralling cup tie.

Garry Brock saves Donald Campbell's penalty kick

Craig MacEwan heads Saints second goal

Craig MacEwan's effort comes back off the inside of the post

Cammy Hill heads Saints fourth goal

Graham Douglas can't keep out Ross Nixon's penalty kick 

Garry Brock saves Craig MacEwan free kick

Saturday 19th October 2019
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Second Round Replay
Vale of Earn 3 - 3 Oban Saints
Oban Saints win 4 - 3 on penalty kicks

Following the previous week's high scoring draw at Oban High School, Oban Saints and Vale of Earn produced another thriller in the Scottish Amateur Cup second round replay at Market Park, Crieff.

Once again ninety minutes of ebb and flow couldn't separate the two evenly matched sides who finished on three goals each and a penalty shoot was required to decide who would progress to face Westerlands in round three.

Vale striker Peter Reilly, who had led the line well in both matches, was the unlucky man who missed the target and decided the tie in Saints favour by four successful penalty kicks to three.

Saints made two changes to the previous week's starting lineup giving Willie Gemmell his first start of the season in place of the unavailable Myles McAuley and preferring fit again Ruaridh Horne at right back to utility man Matt Rippon who dropped to the bench.

The hosts also made two changes with regular net minder Daniel Yurdakol relieving Club Secretary Garry Brock of his duties in goal and Kros Brown replacing Fraser Corbett in midfield.

Saints kicked off attacking the King Street end of a long grassed and very heavy Market Park which favoured the home side's more direct style and eventually forced the visitors to adapt their own style accordingly.

The home side got off to the best possible start with James Webster pulling out wide to meet a second minute ball over the top from Ross Nixon. The pacy striker raced away from Saints Skipper Dene Cassells on the right and, cutting inside, slipped the ball wide of the advancing Graham Douglas into the path of strike partner Peter Reilly who gleefully slammed the ball into the unguarded net.

Worse was to follow for Saints four minutes later when they failed to deal with a throw-in from the Vale right level with eighteen yard line and left Brian Finlay in acres of room to curl a delicious left foot finish into the top corner to double the home side's advantage.

Saints were reeling from Vale's blistering start and were inches away from conceding a third when Webster's pace on the counter attack once again left the Saints defence trailing. Fortunately for Saints Peter Reilly's stretching neck muscles couldn't quite connect his forehead with Webster's cross from the right as the ball flew agonisingly across the face of goal.

The shell shocked Saints eventually managed to pose a few problems of their own with Donald Campbell heading a Ruaridh Horne right wing cross wide of target from a tight angle at the back post and Vale keeper Daniel Yurdakol doing well to cut out a Lewis Cameron cross ahead of Craig MacEwan.

Saints were the beneficiaries of an uncontested drop ball after Referee Race inadvertently broke up a promising attack just inside the Vale box. Donald Campbell picked out Management partner Willie Gemmell who marked his first appearance of the season with a low drive from thirty five yards which arced away from the despairing dive of Daniel Yurdakol and into the bottom corner of the net to bring Saints right back into the match.

Saints pulled themselves level after thirty three minutes in a move started by returning right back Ruaridh Horne. Making his first appearance since sustaining concussion in the West of Scotland Cup defeat to Inverclyde, Horne carried the ball out from the back before finding Lewis Cameron midway inside the Vale half. Cameron kept the move flowing feeding the ball out to Craig MacEwan on the left. MacEwan did well to get away from Kros Brown and, from the bye-line, sent a low cut back to the near post where Donald Campbell got across his marker tuck the ball into the bottom corner for the equaliser.

Confidence was now high in the Saints ranks and Willie Gemmell was inches away from doubling his own personal tally with a thumping right foot shot from twenty eight yards which flew wide of Daniel Yurdakol's left hand post.

The hosts regained the lead on the hour mark when a deep James Webster corner kick from the left was returned invitingly across the six yard box by Peter Reilly and poked home at the back post by Kros Brown.

Daniel Yurdakol produced a vital double save in the seventy ninth minute diving full length to his right to push away a Matty Kelly shot from twenty two yards before getting quickly to his feet to block Craig MacEwan's follow up effort from a tight angle at his near post.

Graham Douglas kept his side in the tie with an excellent one handed save low to his right from a curling left foot James Webster shot on the break which, with just three minutes remaining, would have almost certainly guaranteed a home win.

An increasingly desperate Saints threw Dene Cassells into attack in an attempt to make some impression on the solid Vale back three who were winning every high ball. The presence of Cassells was enough to force just about the only error of the afternoon from opposite number Ross Brock whose miscued attempt to head clear a ninetieth minute Willie Gemmell long throw from the left could only help the ball across the face of goal. Donald Campbell was first to react and, after peeling off his marker on the corner of the six yard box, met the ball perfectly on the half volley and sent it beyond Daniel Yurdakol for a last gasp equaliser.

With four minutes of added time to be played Saints resisted the temptation to bring on penalty taker Matt Rippon believing that with the momentum firmly with them they could secure the win without the need for penalty kicks.

There was, however, to be no further scoring as the home defence remained firm sending the tie into the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

Displaying maturity beyond his tender years Cammy Hill stepped up to dispatch the first penalty past Daniel Yurdakol to establish an early advantage for Saints.

Further successful strikes followed from Dene Cassells and Vale's Ross Nixon and Euan Carter before the decision to leave Matt Rippon on the bench threatened to prove costly when Yurdakol dropped to his right to beat away Willie Gemmell's spot kick.

Vale Skipper Ross Brock confidently slammed his kick straight down the middle to edge his side in front heaping pressure on Lewis Cameron whose response was to calmly send the keeper the wrong way and restore parity.

Having kept his side in the proceedings just a few minutes earlier Graham Douglas made another vital intervention diving to his left to claw away David Sinclair's effort effectively sending the shoot-out into sudden death.

Daniel Yurdakol guessed correctly but Craig MacEwan successfully found the bottom corner to heap pressure on Peter Reilly for Vale penalty number five.

The big striker left Graham Douglas rooted to the spot but steered his effort fractionally wide of the keeper's left hand post to hand the tie to Saints by the narrowest of margins.

Willie Gemmell shot flies past Daniel Yurdakol to bring Saints back into the game

Donald Campbell levels the scores at 2 - 2 

Kros Brown puts Vale back in front

Donald Campbell's ninetieth minute equaliser

Commiserations from Graham Douglas for Vale striker Peter Reilly

Saturday 2nd November 2019
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Third Round
Westerlands 1 - 4 Oban Saints

Two typically crisp strikes from Donald Campbell helped Saints past a stuffy Westerlands side, who gave a good account of themselves throughout, and into the fourth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup at a damp Garscube Sports Complex last Saturday afternoon. Also on the score sheet for Saints against the Caledonian League First Division promotion chasers were Captain Dene Cassells, who showed the strikers how to dispatch a penalty kick, and the evergreen Ross Maitland who wrapped up a 4 - 1 victory with his first touch after coming on as a second half substitute.

Co-Managers Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell were deprived of the services of Graham Douglas, Cammy Hill and Matt Rippon who all dropped out of the squad from the previous week's home league fixture against Garrowhill Thistle. Coming in to join the travelling party were able deputies Murdo MacKenzie, James Ford and Ross Maitland.

Westerlands, with Obanites Elliot Dougall and Liam MacIntyre in their ranks, kicked off on the narrow grass park on the banks of the river Kelvin which was in remarkably good condition given the recent heavy rain.

Saints were enjoying the majority of the possession but were finding the Westerlands defence, with Liam MacIntyre at it's heart, a difficult nut to crack until a stroke of good fortune in the twenty seventh minute. Lewis Cameron's cross from the right edge of the penalty area hit the outstretched hand of Gavin Edwards which, although unfortunate for the big central defender, was correctly ruled as a penalty kick by Referee Ian Hamilton who handled proceedings well throughout. With Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron both having had mixed results from the penalty spot in recent weeks Captain Dene Cassells decided to show the strikers how it should be done and smashed an emphatic spot kick past Blair Haldane to open the scoring.

The lead lasted barley sixty seconds as Calum McCrossan pounced on a rare slip by Ruaridh Horne, who produced an otherwise steady performance at right back, and poked a good finish underneath the advancing Murdo MacKenzie to draw the hosts level.

Westerlands keeper Blair Haldane showed some of the form which has earned him a place in the Caledonian League Select squad with an excellent double save four minutes before the interval. After clawing away a Lewis Cameron cross come shot which looked set to sneak under his crossbar, the big Westies number one took up a good position at his near post to beat away Donald Campbell's follow up effort from the corner of the six yard box.

The interval did little to derail the Saints momentum and five minutes after the restart their endeavour was rewarded with a second goal. Scott Maitland made good ground on the left and rolled the ball up to Craig MacEwan on the the edge of the box who tee'd up Donald Campbell with a delightful lay-off which the Co-Gaffer thumped across Blair Haldane into the far corner of the net.

Saints doubled their advantage in the fifty seventh minute when Donald Campbell met David Beaton's cross perfectly on the half volley sending his right foot strike flying past Blair Haldane after Beaton and Ruaridh Horne had linked up well on the right.

Westerlands kept up their pursuit of an avenue back into the match and were denied a second goal by a fine save from Murdo MacKenzie after Grant MacFarlane prodded a loose ball goalwards as Saints struggled to clear a long free-kick from just inside their own half.

Substitute Ross Maitland's introduction produced instant results when the evergreen winger in his twenty third Saints season slammed the ball into the roof of the net from fourteen yards after Blair Haldane could only parry a Donald Campbell shot on the turn.

Gavin Edwards made an excellent sliding interception to prevent Craig MacEwan from adding to the scoring after latching onto a Lewis Cameron through ball in the eighty fourth minute. That proved to be Cameron's final contribution of another productive afternoon and he was replaced for the closing stages by James Ford.

As the clock ticked down Ford wriggled clear of Paul Kerins on the right of the Westies box and tee'd up Gavin Forgrieve for a strike on goal which drifted agonisingly wide of Blair Haldane's right hand post.

Captain Dene Cassells opens the scoring from the penalty spot

Donald Campbell fires home the first of his two goals

Donald Campbell's sweet strike makes it 3 - 1 

Saturday 30th November 2019
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Fourth Round
Rothie Rovers 0 - 3 Oban Saints

Oban Saints made a gruelling 410 mile round trip to the chilly North East for a Scottish Amateur Cup re-match with last season's conquerors Rothie Rovers. Thanks to the sterling efforts of the Rothie Rovers Committee, Rothie Park survived the deep freeze which wiped out half of the fourth round card passing an early morning pitch inspection to give the Saints travelling party the green light for an 8am departure from Oban.

Co-Manager Willie Gemmell was dealt a selection blow on the eve of the match when illness ruled out midfielder Kerr Newbigging and leading goalscorer Craig MacEwan forcing Gemmell to include himself on the substitutes bench alongside Ross Maitland, Matt Rippon and youngster Aaron McKay.

MacEwan's goals however were not missed with a brace from Cammy Hill, adding to David Beaton's fifteenth minute opener, giving Saints revenge for the agonising penalty shoot-out defeat in last season's epic encounter and confirming their place in the fifth round draw.

Slightly against the run of play Saints opened the scoring in the fifteenth minute. Cammy Hill won a throw-in on the left level with the eighteen yard line. Hill laid Scott Maitland's throw back to the Scottish Amateur International left back who sent a tempting cross into the box. David Beaton was first to react coming in from the right to slam a left foot half-volley past the helpless Lewis Milne.

Scott Maitland also provided the assist for Saints second goal which came from a quick breakaway five minutes later. Dene Cassells and Steven MacLeod ensured there was no way through for Gavin Smart on the right of the Saints box with their combined efforts eventually blocking the ball behind for a corner kick. Robert King's deep delivery was knocked back into the middle by Jack Brown where Myles McAuley met his cross with a solid header out to the left. Maitland launched the ball long to Cammy Hill who galloped away from the Rothie defence, rounded the advancing Lewis Milne and slammed the ball left footed into the net.

The Saints left back almost made it a hat-trick of assists in the twenty first minute sending James Ford racing into the box where only a well timed sliding interception from Robert King denied Saints a third goal.

North of Scotland Amateur Cup holders Rothie pushed hard for a route back into the match but found the Saints defence a hard nut to crack. Keith Walker found a way through in the twenty ninth minute but curled his shot well wide of target. Gavin Smart did manage to work Graham Douglas ten minutes later and the Saints number one did well to parry Smart's crisply struck shot before diving to smother the loose ball.

Saints made the tie safe with twenty minutes still to play after Cammy Hill's perseverance won a corner kick on the left. Lewis Cameron's delivery looped over the heads of Dene Cassells and Ryan Walker and was met perfectly on the volley by Cammy Hill who side footed past Lewis Milne from five yards.

The home side, one of just four Aberdeenshire sides still involved in the competition, refused to give up and were almost rewarded for their efforts in the seventy seventh minute when Sean Bremner wriggled into the Saints box only to be foiled by a perfectly timed challenge by Dene Cassells.

Cammy Hill, who lead the line well, passed up a glorious opportunity to claim the match ball when he raced through onto an eighty second minute Matty Kelly pass but sent a poor finish wide of Lewis Milne's right hand post.

David Beaton's busy shift came to an end with five minutes to play when he was replaced by Aaron McKay in a straight swap on the right.

Saints ended the match on the front foot but it was definitely a case of the wrong man in the right place as Myles McAuley turned up in the Rothie box to head a good chance wide of target after good work on the right by Matty Kelly, Cammy Hill and Aaron McKay.

Referee Crawford signalled the end of the match after three added minutes sending Saints back down the long road to Oban in buoyant mood after a hard fought win over a very good Rothie Rovers side who will once again be challenging for the top Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association honours.

Gavin Smart hits the post

David Beaton opens the scoring

Cammy Hill trots back to the centre circle after netting Saints second goal

Cammy Hill makes it 3 - 0

Next week, in the final instalment of the trilogy, Winning In The Rain will take a look at Saints league fixtures from September to December..

#monthesaints

Half Term Report Part One

With Oban Saints currently enjoying a four week festive break Winning In The Rain takes a look back at the season so far beginning with the first six league fixtures:-

Saturday 10th August 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Craigneuk 0 - 1 Oban Saints

After a disastrous preseason where every friendly match had to be cancelled due to their scheduled opponents having to withdraw Oban Saints made their eagerly awaited Central Scottish Amateur Football League debut on 10th August. 

At a sun kissed Dalziel Park, Motherwell several spurned opportunities and a red card left Saints clinging on desperately to record a Division 1B opening day victory against Craigneuk.

Craig MacEwan bagged the honour of scoring Saints first goal in their new league set-up while Paul Carmichael has the slightly less prestigious distinction of picking up the first red card in a tight Division 1B encounter with Craigneuk.

Co-Manager Donald Campbell was on holiday leaving other half Willie Gemmell in sole charge for the club's first competitive outing of the season. Already without injured the James Ford suspended Steven MacLeod, Gemmell was dealt a further blow when work commitments forced Cammy Hill to withdraw from the travelling party on the eve of the match.

Saints got their noses in front five minutes before the interval from a free-kick on the edge of the Craigneuk box after a promising Matthew Kelly run had been brought to a premature end by Greig Williams. The home defence couldn't deal with Lewis Cameron's delivery and Craig MacEwan pounced on the loose ball to open Saints Central Scottish Amateur Football League account.

Craigneuk keeper Semrua produced an incredible eightieth minute triple save to keep his side in contention. After pushing out a Lewis Cameron shot from twenty yards Semrua was quickly back on his feet to deny firstly Matty Kelly and then Dean Smith on the rebound much to the disbelief of the Saints bench.

Saints continued to look the more likely to add to the scoring at this stage and Lewis Cameron's eighty first minute free-kick was helped on agonisingly wide of Semura's right hand post by the left boot of Craig MacEwan.

A straight ball over the top saw Taylor Lawrence winning the foot race with Carmichael and, with Graham Douglas well off his line, the big centre half elected to tug back the Craigneuk striker giving Mr Murdoch an easy decision to make.

As Craigneuk tried to capitalise on their numerical advantage Greig Williams was left unmarked at the back post and the Saints defence were relieved to see the big fullback's header from a right wing corner kick hit Dean Murdoch and deflect wide of target. 

The Saints defence, well marshalled throughout by Skipper Dene Cassells, survived what remained of the Craigneuk onslaught to get their Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B campaign off to a hard fought winning start.

Craig MacEwan nets the only goal of the game

Dean Smith congratulates goal scorer Craig MacEwan

Saturday 17th August 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Oban Saints 2 - 1 Lesmahagow

Goals early in each half gave Oban Saints the edge over visitors Lesmahagow when the D&K Lafferty Contractors sponsored side made their first competitive home appearance since a Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy second round win over Port Glasgow on 6th April.

In an evenly contested encounter strikes from David Beaton and Lewis Cameron had Saints two goals to the good before a fifty ninth minute reply from James McGill set up a nervy closing third of the match for the Glencruitten faithful who were relieved to see their favourites cling on to claim the points.

Saints made two changes to the squad which had defeated Craigneuk seven days earlier adding James Ford and Cammy Hill at the expense of Martin Bonar and Willie Gemmell.

Getting the first glimpse of their favourites in Central Scottish Amateur Football League action the Glencruitten faithful didn't have too long to wait to savour the first home goal of the season when David Beaton's second minute diagonal run from the left was expertly picked out by Craig MacEwan. Beaton held off the attentions of Dean McLean and, with the outside of his right boot, lifted the ball over the advancing keeper Christopher Shaw and into the net to give Saints an early lead.

Saints good start was almost undone from another long throw-in. Central defender Darren Smith demonstrated that Johnny Logan doesn't have the monopoly on the long throws and launched a looping delivery from the left deep into the Saints box. Shaun Malone's run wasn't tracked and his free header bounced back off the far post before being thumped clear by Scott Maitland.

Lesmahagow hit the woodwork for the second time just before the half time whistle when the unmarked James McCrorie headed a James McGill cross onto the inside of Graham Douglas' left hand post and back into the arms of the grateful keeper.

Saints started the second half in the same fashion as the first with a goal after two minutes. A quick release of the ball from Graham Douglas after he had safely gathered a Darren Smith long throw sent Cammy Hill away on the left only for the young striker to be upended midway inside opposition territory by Gow fullback Gordon Hamilton. Lewis Cameron's free-kick rolled up to the edge of the box was taken towards the byeline by Craig MacEwan. There was no way through for MacEwan but his lay-off to David Beaton was cut back to Lewis Cameron on the edge of the box whose low shot through a sea of legs deceived Christopher Shaw and nestled in the bottom corner.

Referee John Quinn allowed a suspiciously offside James McGinn to continue his fifty ninth minute run on the right with Dene Cassells eventually getting back to concede a corner kick. From Johnny Logan's delivery the Saints defence left McGinn and Robbie Kilpatrick completely unmarked at the back post and were punished accordingly when Kilpatrick took the ball down for McGinn to poke the ball home from five yards out.

Saints responded with a David Beaton shot from the corner of the box which warmed the palms of Christopher Shaw before the Gow keeper pulled off an excellent save from Lewis Cameron. After being felled twenty four yards out Cameron picked himself up and sent a dipping effort up and over the four man wall which Shaw, at full stretch, finger tipped over the crossbar.

The visitors stepped up their aerial bombardment for the closing stages but the Saints rearguard stood firm under pressure protecting keeper Graham Douglas well.

Saints had one final chance to take the pressure off the hard worked defence with an eighty eighth minute breakaway on the left. Craig MacEwan raced into the box and, after rounding Christopher Shaw, saw his effort from a tight angle cleared off the line by Robbie Kilpatrick.

David Beaton is congratulated on his opening goal

The Saints players celebrate Lewis Cameron's goal

James McGill pulls one back for the visitors

Saturday 24th August 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Oban Saints 9 - 0 ClydebankAFC

After labouring somewhat in their first two Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B fixtures Oban Saints finally clicked into gear against Clydebank AFC at Glencruitten.

Keeping up a high tempo from the first whistle Saints gave their goal difference a substantial boost rattling in nine goals without reply in a polished all round performance which kept the Glencruitten faithful richly entertained throughout the ninety minutes.

Already without the unavailable Myles McAuley, Saints Management duo of Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell were dealt a further blow when Dean Smith was forced to withdraw from the squad at the eleventh hour.

The late changes meant places on the substitutes bench for both Co-managers alongside Daniel Croarkin, James Ford and Ross Maitland.

The early Saints pressure eventually paid off when Lewis Cameron slipped Cammy Hill through on goal with the big striker side footing a low finish into the net past the advancing Andrew Cameron.

After hooking a twenty yard effort over the crossbar, David Beaton doubled Saints advantage in the fourteenth minute reacting quickly to tuck away the loose ball after a Craig MacEwan shot had been blocked by Darren Murray.

Cammy Hill outpaced the Bankies defence to reach a twenty second minute Kerr Newbigging flick-on and take Saints goal tally to three. Hill kept his composure to round the exposed Andrew Cameron before tapping home a composed left foot finish from close range.

A mistimed Ian Huggan sliding challenge on Cammy Hill inside the Bankies box gave Referee Tom Cavanagh an easy decision to make in awarding Saints a thirty eighth minute penalty kick. Andrew Cameron got down well to his left to push away Lewis Cameron's spot kick and was quickly up on his feet to save Cameron's second effort on the rebound and complete an excellent double save.

A forty second minute driving run through the inside left channel from Craig MacEwan had the Bankies defence on the back foot. MacEwan's pass inside found Cammy Hill who in turn picked out Lewis Cameron for a shot on goal. Cameron's effort was blocked and sent wide of target however Matty Kelly kept the move alive and cut the ball back from the left for Craig MacEwan to lift over Andrew Cameron for Saints fourth goal.

Kieran McLeod had a chance to utilise his long throw after David Beaton had stood up well to block McLeod's attempted cross from the left. Graham Douglas was able to safely gather the long throw into the six yard box before launching a swift Saints counter attack on the right. Ruaridh Horne's run had the Bankie's defence backpedalling and his cross to the back post picked out Craig MacEwan. MacEwan's Bergkampesque exquisite first touch to control Horne's cross took him away from the advancing Andrew Cameron and opened up the space for him to roll the ball into the empty net for a wonderful goal that will linger long in the memories of the Glencruitten faithful.

Despite Saints domination of proceedings Clydebank kept battling away gamely and came close to notching a consolation goal in the fifty seventh minute. Dene Cassells, who was once again in commanding form at the heart of the Saints defence, was robbed playing out from the back by Barry O'Donnell. O'Donnell was able to thread the ball through for the run of Jamie Pollock who was denied by an excellent save from Graham Douglas to keep his highly prized clean sheet intact.

Last season's top scorer Lewis Cameron made up for his earlier penalty miss notching Saints sixth goal on the half hour mark. Matty Kelly provided his second assist of the afternoon picking out Cameron for a crisply struck shot across his namesake in the Bankies goal which nestled neatly in the bottom corner of the net.

This was the cue for Ross Maitland, who has been in impressive form with Saints second team, to make his return to the first eleven. After ripping his boots in training during the week, and learning of his recall to the first team, a frantic search for new boots for Maitland's dainty feet had ensued. With Oban Sports Shop unable to help, and no branches of Mothercare locally, a pair of boots had to be borrowed from Under 13's striker Zander Craik.

Also making a return after a long absence was Co-manager Donald Campbell who has been out of action since being stretchered off during last season's West of Scotland Cup semi-final. Campbell took Cammy Hill's place up front for the final twenty five minutes.

James Ford curled a left foot effort wide of Andrew Cameron's right hand post before Donald Campbell added a seventh goal in the eightieth minute. Campbell read the bounce of the spinning ball perfectly after a Matty Kelly shot had been partially blocked and volleyed past the helpless Andrew Cameron from close range.

Young Zander Craik's boots certainly did the trick for Ross Maitland as the evergreen wide man latched onto an eighty second minute Donald Campbell through ball to slam home goal number eight.

Maitland, who has been turning on the style for Saints since before some of the current crop of players were born, thumped home another excellent twenty two yard finish taking Saints goal tally to nine in the eighty seventh minute.

Celebrations after Cammy Hill's opening goal

Craig MacEwan, Matty Kelly and David Beaton celebrate David's goal

Cammy Hill makes it 3 - 0

Andrew Cameron completes an excellent double save to deny Lewis Cameron 

Craig MacEwan lifts the ball over Andrew Cameron for the fourth goal

Craig MacEwan congratulates Lewis Cameron on his goal

Ross Maitland

Big smiles from Donald Campbell after his comeback goal

Ross Maitland adopts a more reserved approach with his goal celebrations

Saturday 31st August 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Stedfast K 1 - 4 Oban Saints

Saints continued their winning start to the Central Scottish Amateur Football League campaign with a 4 - 1 away victory against Stedfast K at Scotstoun Sports Campus.

A first minute own goal from Stedfast fullback Robert McIntyre gave Saints an advantage which they never looked back from before further strikes from Matty Kelly, Craig MacEwan and James Ford consolidated Saints position at the the top of the fledgling Division 1B table.

Work, injuries, suspension and paternity leave deprived Saints Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell of the services of six of the squad which had put nine goals past Clydebank on the previous Saturday.

David Beaton, Lewis Cameron, Paul Carmichael, Daniel Croarkin, Cammy Hill and new dad Kerr Newbigging all dropped out to be replaced by Myles McAuley, Steven MacLeod, Matt Rippon and youngsters Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay.

The match got off to the best possible start for Saints when Stedfast fullback Robert McIntyre headed past his own keeper inside the first minute. Referee Stephen Fox ignored a loud appeal from the home side for a push when Ross Maitland lifted a free-kick from the left into the Stedfast box and when the ball bounced on the six yard line McIntyre's attempted header back to his keeper evaded the grasp of George Riddick and found the back of the net.

The blustery conditions were making things difficult for both sides and a long ball over the top in the twelfth minute had the Saints defence frantically back tracking. On the score sheet four times already this season Grant Cathro looked set to add to his tally when he raced in behind the Saints defence and beat Graham Douglas to the bouncing ball on the corner of the Saints box. Fortunately for Saints Cathro's header drifted wide of target with Scott Maitland galloping back to guard the vacant goalmouth.

Saints doubled their advantage after twenty minutes from a patient build-up involving Craig MacEwan, Ross Maitland and Matt Rippon. Getting forward to support the attack, Matty Kelly picked up Rippon's lay off and took full advantage of the space created to clip the ball from the edge of the Stedfast box away from the despairing right hand of George Riddick and into the bottom corner of the net.

Matty Kelly, who put in an impressive performance in front of the watching League Select Manager Colin Hamilton, was upended by William Plommer wide on the Saints left in the twenty ninth minute giving Ross Maitland a chance to show his prowess with the dead ball. Maitland didn't disappoint and sent an excellent ball to the near post which was met perfectly on the run by Craig MacEwan who bulleted a header into the roof of the net to further stretch Saints advantage.

Stedfast Skipper James Harvey blazed a thirty two yard free-kick high over the crossbar before top scorer Grant Cathro pulled one back for the home side. A rare lapse in concentration at the back had the Saints defence struggling to clear a long ball into the box and, when Dene Cassells couldn't get the connection he was looking for with his attempted headed clearance, Cathro pounced with a hooked left footed effort which gave Graham Douglas no chance.

The home side's hopes of getting back into the match were dealt a blow when Skipper James Harvey received his marching orders from Referee Fox after picking up a second yellow card for dissent in the fifty fourth minute.

Continuing the trend for long range efforts to hit the perimeter fencing rather than the back of the net, Stedfast's former Lochgilphead Red Star youngster Ciaran McPhie blazed a thirty six yard free-kick high over the bar after Saints were caught over elaborating at the back in the fifty seventh minute.

From the restart Saints worked the ball up the left wing where a sensational jinking run into the box by James Ford was rewarded when his dinked finish evaded a last gasp attempted goal-line clearance to nestle in the back of the net and restore Saints three goal cushion.

Some excellent pressing from Saints prevented Stedfast playing out from their own penalty area in the sixty fifth minute with Ross Maitland dispossessing Robert McIntyre and setting up Matt Rippon for a shot on goal which was well stopped low to his right by George Riddick.

That proved to be Rippon's final contribution of a useful first outing of the season with his place being taken by sixteen year-old Gavin Forgrieve.

The young Saints substitute came close to marking his competitive Saints debut with a goal however his seventieth minute shot was charged down with James Ford's tap-in of the loose ball being ruled out for offside.

George Riddick continued to dent Saints hopes of a fifth goal with another good seventy second minute save to deny Matty Kelly.

Robert McIntyre's late challenge on Gavin Forgrieve earned the Stedfast fullback a second yellow card which saw him leave the action in the ninety fourth minute. From the resulting free-kick George Riddick saved his best until last to push Craig MacEwan's twenty eight yard dipping effort over the crossbar.

Myles McAuley congratulates Matty Kelly on his goal

Craig MacEwan heads home Saints third goal

Ciaran McPhie

Stedfast K goal scorer Grant Cathro

The Gaffer congratulates James Ford on his goal

Aaron McKay

Gavin Forgrieve

George Riddick saves from Craig MacEwan

Saturday 7th September 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Bridgewater 0 - 3 Oban Saints

Saints made it five wins out of five to extend their lead at the top of the league table to five points but it was far from a five star performance at the Palace of Art as the D&K Lafferty sponsored side struggled to overcome determined hosts Bridgewater.

After surviving a couple of early scares a successfully converted Matt Rippon penalty kick gave Saints a first half lead with second half strikes from Craig MacEwan and David Beaton securing the points with a slightly flattering scoreline.

Ross Maitland, Willie Gemmell, Aaron McKay and Gavin Forgrieve all dropped out of the squad from the previous Saturday to make room for the returning David Beaton, Lewis Cameron, Paul Carmichael and Cammy Hill.

David Beaton's inclusion on the right was the only change to the previous week's starting eleven as Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Ruaridh Horne, Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Matty Kelly and Myles McAuley occupied the holding midfield roles with David Beaton, Matt Rippon and James Ford ahead and Craig MacEwan leading the line.

On perhaps the strongest bench Saints have ever been able to name were Lewis Cameron, Donald Campbell, Paul Carmichael. Cammy Hill and Kerr Newbigging.

Saints kicked off in bright warm sunshine but were denied the chance to settle into their normal stride by their hard working hosts who would go on to dominate the early exchanges.

The deadlock was broken in the twenty ninth minute when Saints profited from a mix-up in the home defence. David Beaton pounced on a stray back pass and was sent sprawling in the box by Bridgewater keeper Graeme Macrae. Matt Rippon assumed responsibility for the spot kick and sent Macrae in the wrong direction to give Saints the lead.

Attacking the pavilion end Saints made a better start to the second half with Matty Kelly hooking a right wing James Ford cross over the crossbar.

Saints Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell made an early change replacing goalscorer Matt Rippon with Lewis Cameron in the fifty second minute.

Cameron's introduction paid instant dividends when he retrieved a David Beaton left wing cross which central defender Ross Gemmell had helped on it's way. Cameron picked out Craig MacEwan in the middle with a low cross which the Saints leading scorer gleefully tucked away from close range.

Saints made the points secure with twenty minutes remaining when Matty Kelly's driving run and cut back from just short of the bye-line was met by David Beaton sliding in at the near post to divert the ball past Graeme Macrae and into the far corner of the net.

Beaton thought he had added a fourth in the seventy eighth minute when he appeared to time his run onto a Lewis Cameron through ball perfectly only for Referee Patterson to rule his well placed finish across Graeme Macrae out for offside.

The home side continued to press forward in search of what would have been a deserved consolation goal but were kept at bay by a Saints defence determined to keep their highly prized clean sheet intact.

Lewis Cameron and Cammy Hill both spurned good late chances on the break to put a gloss on the scoreline however Saints Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell, despite seeing their charges fail to fully hit their stride, will be reasonably satisfied to come away from a difficult fixture with maximum points.

Graham Douglas saves from Darren Cowan

Matt Rippon after opening the scoring from the penalty spot

Craig MacEwan makes it 2 - 0

David Beaton rounds off the scoring

Saturday 14th September 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Oban Saints 4 - 0 Cambusnethan Talbot

A hat-trick from Lewis Cameron and a further strike from leading goal scorer Craig MacEwan helped maintain Oban Saints 100% record at the top of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B at a rain soaked Glencruitten last Saturday.

Resplendent in their new grey and black strips, kindly supplied by principal sponsors D&K Lafferty Contractors, Saints were made to work hard for the points against a battling Cambusnethan Talbot side still in search of their first league victory of the season.

Saints Management duo of Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell made four changes to the starting lineup from the previous week's win away at Bridgewater. In came Paul Carmichael, Kerr Newbigging, Lewis Cameron and Cammy Hill for Steven MacLeod, Myles McAuley and Matt Rippon, who all dropped to the bench, and James Ford who was unavailable for selection. Completing another strong bench were Donald Campbell and teenager Gavin Forgrieve.

Prior to kick-off Referee Kevin O'Neill led both sets of players and officials in a silence of remembrance for former Saints player and manager Henrik Madej who sadly passed away during the week.

Graham Douglas' new luminous green goalkeeper's outfit left the opposition in no doubt as to where the target was and an audacious first minute lob from Ryan Boyle was inches away from forcing the Saints number one into early action.

The deadlock was broken in the twentieth minute when Lewis Cameron regained the scoring touch from the penalty spot which had recently deserted him. Cammy Hill's galloping run up the right touchline found David Beaton inside the box where the diminutive wide man had the legs whipped away from him giving Referee Kevin O'Neil an easy decision to make.

After climbing well to win a header the subsequent fall on his head didn't quite provide the soft landing for Ruaridh Horne that many onlookers had speculated on and, despite a brief groggy return to the action, the young fullback would fail to reappear after the half-time interval.

Steven MacLeod replaced the out of sorts Ruaridh Horne for the start of the second half which saw Saints come flying out of traps. Cammy Hill and Lewis Cameron combined to set up David Beaton for a shot from eighteen yards which David Thomson did well to push behind for a corner kick.

It was Thomson to the rescue again from another sweeping Saints move on the left denying firstly Scott Maitland and then Craig MacEwan before Matty Kelly finally hooked the loose ball over the crossbar.

A sixty seventh minute substitution paid instant dividends for the home side. David Beaton was withdrawn in favour of Donald Campbell who linked up with Lewis Cameron to feed Craig MacEwan on the left. MacEwan's cross evaded keeper David Thomson who would have been impressed with the agility shown by Paul Costello to fingertip Cammy Hill's net bound cushioned volley over the crossbar. Less impressed with Costello's innovative intervention was Referee O'Neil who sent the big defender packing. Lewis Cameron made no mistake with his second penalty kick of the afternoon to double Saints lead.

More inventive work from Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron saw Cameron unselfishly pick out the supporting run of Craig MacEwan who calmly slotted the ball past the hopelessly exposed Cambusnethan keeper to put the game well beyond the reach of the ten men.

Lewis Cameron missed the chance to seal his hat-trick in the seventy fifth minute heading a cross from Central Scottish Amateur Football League Select colleague Matty Kelly wide of target however the Saints talisman did eventually complete his hat-trick and rounding off the scoring in the eighty fourth minute slotting home from the corner of the six yard box after being sent through by young Gavin Forgrieve.

Wayward finishes from Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan failed to find the target as Saints continued to find gaps in the visitor's stretched defence.

Referee Kevin O'Neil ruled out a Craig MacEwan strike for offside and David Thomson made another fine save to deny MacEwan a second goal of the afternoon before Mr O'Neil brought proceedings to a close.

Oban Saints resplendent in their new strip

Graham Douglas

Steven MacLeod

Lewis Cameron

Craig MacEwan makes it 3 - 0

Lewis Cameron completes his hat-trick

Next week Winning In The Rain will take a look at Saints cup exploits.

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