Winning In The Rain: League Decided

Wednesday 15th May 2019
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
St Joseph's FP 3 - 3 Oban Saints
Clydebank High School
Janetta Street
Clydebank
G81 3EJ
Kick off 7pm
Referee Mr Thomas D'Alessandro

A depleted Oban Saints side travelled to Clydebank last Wednesday night to face Champions elect St Joseph's FP in search of the three points necessary to maintain their hopes of pipping the Duntocher men to the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division title. The home side needed just a single point to secure a third league title in five seasons and claim the trophy back from local rivals Goldenhill while Saints required to take maximum points from their remaining fixtures.

After a highly entertaining ninety minutes including six goals, two red cards and major controversy the spoils were shared and St Joseph's took the trophy back across Great Western Road to Duntocher.

With eleven players unavailable due a variety of different reasons Saints were forced to draft veterans Alex Craik and Ross Maitland into the squad and hand a starting role to long term injury victim Myles McAuley in his first match of the season.

The enforced personnel changes prompted Saints Co-Manager Willie Gemmell to opt for a 3-5-2 formation with the Gaffer in the middle of the back three flanked by Steven MacLeod and Captain Dene Cassells. In the middle of the park were Lewis Cameron, Myles McAuley and Daniel Croarkin with Ruaridh Horne and Matty Kelly as the wing backs. James Ford and Matt Rippon formed the striking partnership with Graham Douglas completing the lineup between the posts. On the bench evergreens Alex Craik and Ross Maitland kept youngsters Fraser MacFarlane and Aaron McKay company.

Saints started brightly attacking the Dickens Avenue end and had a third minute James Ford cross from the left deflected behind for a corner kick which Lewis Cameron could only lift onto the top of the net.

Cameron's good work on the left forced a second corner kick two minutes later as Saints continued to take the game to their hosts. Scottish Amateur international goalkeeper Scott Urquhart in the St Joe's goal did well to claw Cameron's corner from the left behind for a third corner from which Cameron once again found the top of the net.

Saints good early work was undone from Urquhart's goal kick which Ryan Halpin flicked on to Martin McComish on the left wing. McComish's ball along the eighteen yard line found Kieran Green in acres of space and the industrious right back drilled a low shot beyond the despairing left hand of Graham Douglas to give the hosts the lead.

Saints tried to respond with a Willie Gemmell free-kick looking for the head of Dene Cassells which the Saints Skipper couldn't direct on target.

Steven MacLeod won an important header against Ryan Halpin to concede a thirteenth minute corner as St Joe's launched a period of sustained pressure which gave the Saints defence one or two anxious moments.

Referee Thomas D'Alessandro gave the benefit of a tight offside call to the home side when Ruaridh sent a twenty third minute ball through the inside right channel for Matt Rippon.

Rippon did manage to get a shot away in the twenty ninth minute but had his effort from twenty two yards blocked by Craig Cameron at the expense of a throw-in.

St Joe's wide man Cameron Harkins curled a free-kick from the corner of the Saints box left footed just wide of the junction of post and crossbar in the thirty third minute.

The home side once again looked for the head of Ryan Halpin with a free-kick from the halfway line with Willie Gemmell putting the big striker under just enough pressure to see his header go well wide of target.

Saints drew level in the thirty seventh when Lewis Cameron spotted Ruaridh Horne's overlapping run on the right and threaded a perfectly weighted ball through for the young wing-back. Horne raced through on goal and saw his initial effort blocked by Scott Urquhart however the rebound fell kindly for the Saints youngster who slotted the ball into the empty net to restore parity.

Horne was involved in the second goal five minutes later but this time it was Matty Kelly on the opposite flank who found the net. Horne laid the ball up to Lewis Cameron who held the ball up well and picked out Kelly who sent a low shot from the corner of the box across Scott Urquhart and into the bottom corner.

The woodwork came to Saints rescue on the stroke of half-time when St Joe's Skipper Daniel McKenna got on the end of a Ryan Halpin flick-on and struck the outside of Graham Douglas' left hand post with a powerful right foot shot.

There was drama at the half-time interval when Referee D'Alessandro spotted Ryan Halpin lifting his hand to team mate Cameron Harkins and promptly gave the big St Joe's striker his marching orders.

Despite being down to ten men the home side made a spirited start to the second half but without partner Halpin there was little joy for striker Daniel McKenna against the Saints back three.

Another tight offside call went the way of the home side in the forty ninth minute when James Ford played a ball over the top for Myles McAuley who looked to have timed his run from deep well.

St Joe's right back Kieran O'Brien made a terrific run on the right in the fiftieth minute and sent a tempting ball across the face of goal which Steven MacLeod did well to intercept ahead of Daniel McKenna.

Scott Urquhart in the St Joe's goal showed good handling to safely gather a fifty first minute Lewis Cameron corner kick under pressure from Dene Cassells.

Saints kept up the pressure with another Lewis Cameron corner kick to the back post which James Ford headed back across goal into the danger area only for Martin McComish to slice out for a throw-in.

Lewis Cameron made a driving run on the right in the fifty sixth minute and squared along the eighteen yard line for James Ford who rifled a shot just over the crossbar.

Saints kept coming forward and stretched their advantage sixty seconds later when Cameron, again through on the right, sent a low shot across Scott Urquhart and into the bottom corner.

A late challenge on Lewis Cameron by Scott Smith gave Willie Gemmell a chance to test Scott Urquhart but the Scottish Amateur International keeper positioned himself well to safely gather Gemmell's effort from twenty eight yards.

St Joe's were pushing hard to get back into the game but the Saints defence were coping well adding to the frustration for the home side which they vented with some heavy challenges and off the ball kicks which ought to have seen Saints numerical advantage increase.

With twelve minutes remaining St Joe's Skipper Daniel McKenna earned his side the slice of good fortune required to get back into the match with a good turn and curling right foot shot from the corner of the Saints box which took a significant deflection along the way before flying into the postage stamp corner.

Saints made their only change of the match in the eighty first minute withdrawing Matt Rippon and sending on veteran defender Alex Craik.

Lewis Cameron made an excellent turn in the St Joe's box in the eighty second minute but stabbed his shot just wide of Scott Urquhart's left hand post.

A spot of dissent from St Joe's central defender John Paul Seagrave saw him find his way into Mr D'Alessandro's notebook in the eighty third minute.

James Ford made a good run carrying the ball from just inside his own half to the edge of the St Joe's box where he was eventually closed down by the combined efforts of second half substitutes Kieran Green and Fraser Murray.

A tackle from behind on Daniel McKenna earned Lewis Cameron a yellow card and gave the St Joe's Skipper the chance to put the ball into the danger area. With all the big men up for a cross McKenna opted to go for goal but sent his effort straight down the throat of Saints keeper Graham Douglas.

At the other end an eighty ninth minute flowing move should have seen Saints home and dry but James Ford's low shot from a Ruaridh Horne cutback was straight at Scott Urquhart who made a comfortable save.

From Urquhart's long clearance Referee D'Alessandro penalised Steven MacLeod for a non existent challenge on Ally Graham gifting the home side another dead ball opportunity to try and exploit.

Amid claims for offside from the Saints players Substitute David Gallagher lofted a delightful ball to the six yard line where central defender Craig Cameron clambered over the top of Dene Cassells to head the equaliser.

The St Joe's players and sidelines were understandably jubilant however Saints were livid with the Referee's part in the awarding of the goal. To rub salt into the gaping wound Mr D'Alessandro showed Steven MacLeod a straight red card for his protestations.

When play restarted all of St Joe's nine outfield players joined Scott Urquhart in the penalty box but when Saints efforts to find a gap saw the ball strike a St Joe's arm Mr D'Allesandro remained unmoved instead blowing his whistle for full time somewhat earlier than might have been expected given the lengthy stoppage after the St Joe's equaliser and the six second half substitutions.

Saints were bitterly disappointed with the circumstances surrounding the equalising goal however St Joe's will feel that their brave second half endeavours when reduced to ten men deserved the rub of the green which ultimately proved decisive in the final outcome of the league title race on which success Saints offer their congratulations.

After the match St Joseph's FP Secretary Matt Armstrong put on his Scottish Amateur Football League President's hat and presented the Premier Division trophy to St Joe's Skipper Daniel McKenna and Club Captain Kieran Boyce.

Saints are on their travels again this coming Tuesday night for a Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final against last season's Scottish Amateur Cup runners-up Goldenhill. The tie at Glasgow Green which must be played to a finish on the night kicks off at 8pm with Referee Decio Espinha in charge assisted by Derek Milton and Jamie Andrews.