Winning In The Rain: First Points On The Board

Saturday 10th August 2019
Craigneuk 0 - 1 Oban Saints
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Dalziel Park
Hagen Drive
Motherwell
ML1 5RZ
Kick-off 3pm
Referee Mr. Sean Murdoch

Several spurned opportunities and a red card left Oban Saints clinging on desperately to record an opening day victory as the club made it's eagerly awaited debut in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League at Dalziel Park, Motherwell last Saturday afternoon.

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 lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Ruaridh Horne, Paul Carmichael, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. In the holding midfield roles were Myles McAuley and Matty Kelly with David Beaton, Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan ahead of them. Returning after a long absence to lead the line was Dean Smith.

Cammy Hill's late withdrawal forced Gemmell to take a place on the substitutes bench alongside Martin Bonar, Daniel Croarkin, Aaron McKay and Kerr Newbigging.

Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-

Aaron McKay

Daniel Croarkin

Kerr Newbigging

Unused substitutes:-

Martin Bonar

Willie Gemmell

Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end of Dalziel Park and after an even opening spell created the first chance of the match in the seventh minute. David Beaton won a header from a Craigneuk throw-in on the left which Dean Smith was able to latch onto. Smith fed Lewis Cameron who darted into the box and cut the ball back for Craig MacEwan who unfortunately lifted his effort over the crossbar.

The hosts forced the first corner kick of the match in the eighth minute which was rolled out to Skipper Scott Thomson on the corner of the box. Thomson's cross to the back post looking for Jamie Grant was clawed behind for a second corner by Graham Douglas. Scott Thomson's delivery from the right was thumped away at the front post by Scott Maitland.

There continued to be little between the teams as Paul Carmichael headed a Lewis Cameron free-kick wide of target before Craigneuk reprised their earlier corner kick routine with Skipper Thomson this time sending a shot well wide of Graham Douglas' left hand post.

Craigneuk keeper Ralf Semrua was unable to deal with a twenty fourth minute Myles McAuley right wing cross however Lewis Cameron failed to take advantage of the chance sending the loose ball into the side net from a tight angle.

Paul Carmichael made a rampaging run forward from his central defensive position but his right foot shot from twenty five yards flew wide of Ralf Semrua's left hand post.

Semrua showed good handling to safely gather a twenty ninth minute Ruaridh Horne free-kick lofted into the Craigneuk box after Greig Williams had clattered into Matthew Kelly on the halfway line.

Two chances in as many minutes fell the way of Dean Smith who was firstly denied by a fine Ralf Semrua save on his six yard line after a good build up on the left before stabbing a thirty fourth minute Lewis Cameron pass inches wide of target.

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.

Saints went in search of a second goal sixty seconds after the restart from a good move on the left. Matty Kelly held off his man well to flick a Scott Maitland pass into the path of Dean Smith who was once again denied by Ralf Semrua. The Saints bench were convinced Smith had been fouled in the act of getting his shot away however Referee Sean Murdoch, who had a good game, saw no infringement.

The good ending to the first half continued for Saints when Dean Murdoch halted a driving Scott Maitland run with a late tackle from behind. Lewis Cameron's delivery once again caused problems for the Craigneuk defence who were relieved to see Craig MacEwan inadvertently deflect a cushioned effort from Dene Cassells wide of target.

The half-time interval seemed to disrupt the Saints momentum and it was the home side who made the better start to the second period.

Under pressure from Kevin Totten, Graham Douglas could only punch a fiftieth minute Scott Thomson corner kick into the path of Taylor Lawrence who volleyed high over the crossbar from twelve yards.

Sixty seconds later a quick break on the right saw Dean Murdoch flash a low shot across Graham Douglas which Ruaridh Horne was happy to usher behind for a goal kick with Craig Rutherford closing in.

Saints registered their first attempt of the second half in the fifty third minute with Ralf Semrua palming a Matty Kelly shot from twenty yards into the path of David Beaton who was unable to get high enough over the bouncing ball and lifted his effort over the crossbar.

Craigneuk Skipper Scott Thomson found his way into Mr Murdoch's notebook for a late fifty fifth minute challenge on Scott Maitland and was quickly followed by Dean Smith for not retreating quickly enough at a free-kick.

Saints received a big let-off when, after relinquishing set piece duties Scott Thomson ghosted in completely unmarked to head a long straight Paul Rooney free-kick inches wide of Graham Douglas' right hand post.

With twenty minutes remaining Manager Willie Gemmell made his first change of the afternoon when young Aaron McKay replaced David Beaton on the Saints right.

Taylor Lawrence became the third miscreant to have Mr Murdoch reaching for his cards when he tumbled theatrically in the Saints box in the seventy first minute.

Graham Douglas made his first save of the afternoon in the seventy second minute when he comfortably held a thumping twenty eight yard drive from right foot of Scott Thomson.

Last season's top scorer Lewis Cameron passed up a glorious opportunity to open his account for this season when he pulled a seventy third minute shot wide of Ralf Semrua's right hand post after a patient Saints build up on the right involving Ruaridh Horne, Craig MacEwan and Aaron McKay.

The hosts made their first change with thirteen minutes remaining sending on Ryan Devine to replace Jamie Grant.

Craig MacEwan's diving back post header from a Matty Kelly right wing cross hit the side netting before a well timed sliding interception from Greig Williams stopped Aaron McKay from latching onto another good Kelly ball.

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.

Daniel Croarkin replaced Dean Smith for the final eight minutes before an enforced personnel change saw Paul Carmichael earn the distinction of picking up Saints first Central Scottish Amateur Football League red card.

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.

The hosts introduced Graeme Richardson for the closing stages at the expense of Scott Thomson while Kerr Newbigging replaced Matty Kelly for Saints.

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.

This coming Saturday the Glencruitten faithful will have their first glimpse of Saints in competitive action since the 6th of April when Lesmahagow visit Oban for the first time.