Winning In The Rain: Alba Win Battle of the Semi-finalists

Saturday 23rd March 2019
Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division
Alba Thistle 1 - 0 Oban Saints
Ralston Community Sports Centre 4G
Penilee Road
Paisley
PA1 3AX
Kick Off 1.15pm
Referee Mr Pat O'Donnell

A wind assisted free-kick from Alba Thistle dead-ball expert Craig McCready was all that could separate Scottish Amateur Cup semi-finalists Alba Thistle and West of Scotland Amateur Cup semi-finalists Oban Saints at Ralston Sports Centre last Saturday afternoon. Unluckily for Saints the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division encounter was decided in the thirteenth minute when McCready's whipped free-kick from wide on the left looped over Graham Douglas into the postage stamp corner for the only goal of an evenly contested encounter.

Oban Saints Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell were dealt a blow on the morning of the match when Lewis Cameron failed to shrug off the injury sustained in the previous weekend's victory over Cambria and was forced to withdraw from the squad leaving the traveling party a man light.

Matthew Kelly was deployed further forward to deputise for the absent Lewis Cameron handing a starting role to Jamie Graham at right back alongside Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Daniel Croarkin and Donald Campbell occupied the holding midfield roles behind James Ford, Matthew Kelly and Cammy Hill. Craig MacEwan was given the task of leading the line while Graham Douglas took his accustomed place between the posts. On the bench were David Beaton, Willie Gemmell, Dougal Graham and Ruaridh Horne.

Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-
David Beaton
Willie Gemmell
Ruaridh Horne

Unused substitute:-
Dougal Graham

Hosts Alba Thistle kicked off attacking the Buchlyvie Road end with the stiff breeze at their backs and had their first attempt on goal in the second minute when Basile Deshougues knocked down a long Craig McCready free-kick for Martin Sinclair to fire a shot from twenty yards wide of target.

Saints first foray up the field came after ten minutes when James Ford got on the end of a Donald Campbell through ball which he managed to hold up for supporting fullback Jamie Graham. Graham's cross from the right corner of the eighteen yard box picked out Matthew Kelly on the penalty spot for an attempted overhead kick which unfortunately hit his own hand before landing safely in the arms of Alba keeper Lee Mitchell.

A rash thirteenth minute challenge on Basile Deshougues from Steven MacLeod wide on the Alba left gave dead ball expert Craig McCready the chance to put the ball in the danger area. Assisted by the strong wind McCready's delivery caught Graham Douglas off his line waiting for a cross and left the Saints keeper clawing at thin air as the ball sailed over him and into the postage stamp corner to give the hosts the lead.

Saints had a chance to respond in the eighteenth minute when Michael Lau felled Scott Maitland on the Saints left. Donald Campbell's free-kick was flicked-on by Dene Cassell's but just too far in front of Cammy Hill allowing Lee Mitchell to gather comfortably.

A promising Saints move on the right was snuffed out when impressive Alba Skipper Gordon Meredith kept his composure to take the ball off the toes of Craig MacEwan as the Saints striker jinked into the box on the end of a Matthew Kelly pass.

Alba Thistle had kept six clean sheets in all competitions coming into this fixture and goalkeeper Lee Mitchell was in no mood to let that impressive run come to an end. From a twenty fifth minute Matthew Kelly free-kick on the Saints right Cammy Hill powered a header on target from ten yards which Mitchell showed lightning quick reactions to dive to his right and push over his crossbar for a corner kick.

Hill's aerial ability caused problems for the home defence again five minutes later when he beat Martin Sinclair and Rikki McArthur to a James Ford corner kick from the right but sent his header from eight yards wide of Lee Mitchell's left hand post.

Mitchell's reactions were put to the test once again in the thirty sixth minute when he thrust up a strong right hand to turn another Cammy Hill effort from a tight angle around his near post for a corner kick.

Saints failed to trouble the Alba defence from the resulting corner and with far too many Saints passes going astray the home side, which had Neil Clark deputising for the injured Anthony Gordon in central defence alongside Captain Gordon Meredith, comfortably kept their first half clean sheet intact.

Saints kicked off the second half defending the striking Art Deco style pavilion end and made a positive start keeping the home side pinned back for the opening five minutes.

That bright start was almost undone from another Craig McCready free-kick after Steven McLeod had been penalised for a foul on Paul Kerr. McCready's delivery was met by a spectacular overhead kick by Martin Sinclair which came back off the post and was turned behind by Scott Maitland with Rikki McArthur waiting to pounce.

Saints made a double substitution in the sixty fourth minute replacing Daniel Croarkin and James Ford with Willie Gemmell and David Beaton.

Gemmell's first contribution was to place a free-kick from the Saints left onto the head of Craig MacEwan eight yards out who made a solid contact but unfortunately couldn't direct his effort on target.

The Co-Manager was involved again in the sixty eighth minute crashing a shot from twenty eight yards just over the Alba crossbar.

The home side made a change with twenty minutes remaining replacing striker Paul Kerr, who had enjoyed a good battle with Dene Cassells, with Jack Heron.

There was a loud appeal for a penalty kick in the seventy fourth minute when Cammy Hill skipped past Gordon Meredith on the bye-line and the Alba Captain appeared to use an arm to turn the ball behind. Referee Pat O'Donnell was satisfied no infringement had taken place and was content to award a corner kick. Mr O'Donnell, who continues to enhance his reputation as one of the best Referees in the amateur game, was however not satisfied with the continued protests from Matthew Kelly and issued the young Saints midfielder with the first caution of the match.

David Beaton's delivery from the corner flag was good however Martin Sinclair put Jamie Graham under just enough pressure at the back post to prevent the Saints fullback from getting his header from a tight angle on target.

Saints were almost caught on the counter attack in the seventy fifth minute with a quick break on the left which Steven MacLeod cut out with a diving header to send a cross from Basile Deshougues safely into the arms of Graham Douglas.

The Saints keeper released the ball quickly and the action raced to the other end where Cammy Hill set up Willie Gemmell for a shot with the outside of his right foot which drifted wide of Lee Mitchell's left hand post.

David Beaton sent over another dangerous ball from the corner flag in the eightieth minute which Lee Mitchell somehow managed to claw off his goal line under severe pressure from Dene Cassells.

The hosts made a double substitution with nine minutes remaining replacing Martin Sinclair and Basile Deshougues with Brian Wright and James Gray. Gray was quickly involved in the action tempting Jamie Graham into a rash challenge on the left touchline which saw him join Matthew Kelly in Mr O'Donnell's note book.

With the clock ticking down Saints were leaving more gaps at the back and a missed challenge by Steven MacLeod left James Gray with a huge space to run into behind the Saints defence. The Alba substitute raced through and fired off a low shot which Graham Douglas, at full stretch, managed to finger tip onto his right hand upright before safely gathering the rebound.

Saints must surely have realised that this just wasn't going to be their day when Lee Mitchell's punch from another good David Beaton corner kick was volleyed on target by Willie Gemmell only to be stopped twelve inches short of the goal line by Steven MacLeod who couldn't get himself out of the way in time.

There was a late run out for young fullback Ruaridh Horne who was pressed into action after Jamie Graham landed awkwardly on his right ankle and was unable to continue.

Saints huffed and puffed their way through the time remaining plus the five additional minutes allowed by Referee O'Donnell but failed to threaten the miserly Alba defence who were delighted to extend their clean sheet tally to seven in a row and leapfrog Saints into second place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division table.

Saints have no fixture this coming Saturday but will resume on Saturday 6th April with a home Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy second round tie against Premier Division One leaders Port Glasgow. Kick off at Glencruitten is 2pm where the tie must be decided on the day with penalty kicks coming into play to decided the winner if the two sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes.