Definitely Maybe

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

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Anthony McCann


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 last Saturday 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 lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a familiar back four of Ruaridh Horne, Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Teenager Gavin Forgrieve partnered Willie Gemmell in the holding midfield roles behind the more advanced triumvirate of Cammy Hill, Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan. Leading the line was Donald Campbell while David Beaton, Matty Kelly, Myles McAuley, Aaron McKay and Matt Rippon occupied the bench.


Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-

David Beaton
Matty Kelly
Myles McAuley
Aaron McKay
Matt Rippon


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.

Donald Campbell had a fifteenth minute shot blocked behind for a corner kick from the right which swung agonisingly out of the reach of Cammy Hill before the visitors threatened for the first time at the other end. Thistle striker Lee Drummond was afforded space and time to carry the ball unchallenged into the left corner of the Saints box from where he sent a decent effort just over Graham Douglas' crossbar.

There was a loud appeal for offside from the Saints back four in the nineteenth minute however Referee Tony McCann, sporting a new Liam Gallagher style haircut, was unimpressed and allowed Oliver Ferguson to continue his run into the box and fire off a shot which Graham Douglas did extremely well to hold.

The indecisiveness at the back which so nearly saw Saints exit the Scottish Amateur cup in their last home outing returned for a very jittery ten minute spell which gave the visitors the belief they could take something from the game. Ruaridh Horne let a twenty first minute Craig Lamont pass roll under his feet straight into the path of Alister Macready who lifted a very presentable opportunity over the crossbar. This was followed up three minutes later by another let-off after Oliver Ferguson turned Dene Cassells on the halfway line and raced through on goal. Fortunately for Saints the Jags striker fired his shot straight at Graham Douglas who gratefully clutched the ball to his chest.

Willie Gemmell's frustration boiled over in the twenty eighth minute when he picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon for a late challenge on Oliver Ferguson. Lee Drummond got in between Lewis Cameron and Steven MacLeod to glance Craig Lamont's free-kick wide of Graham Douglas' right hand post as the Saints goal continued to lead a charmed life.

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.

Ruaridh Horne joined Willie Gemmell in Referee McCann's notebook for kicking the ball away at a free kick conceded by Steven MacLeod.

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.

The Saints protests continued until the interval where Donald Campbell made it a third Saints name in Mr McCann's notebook.

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.

The visitors came within a few inches of a second goal straight from the restart when Oliver Ferguson wriggled free on the edge of the Saints box and shaved a coat of paint off the outside of Graham Douglas's left hand post.

Ruaridh Horne was the victim of a meaty forty ninth minute challenge from Ben Shaw ten yards inside the visitors half. Willie Gemmell collected a short free-kick from Steven MacLeod and carried the ball all the way to the eighteen yard line from where he unleashed a left foot shot just wide of target.

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.

Graham Douglas saved a decent Lee Drummond effort in the fifty seventh minute before both sides made their first changes. Christopher Cameron replaced Paul Thomson for the visitors with Myles McAuley coming on for Willie Gemmell in the Saints midfield. 

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.

Further changes followed in the seventy second minute when Matty Kelly replaced Lewis Cameron for Saints and the visitors sending on Ryan Latter for Oliver Ferguson.

Ben Shaw picked up a seventy fifth minute caution for kicking out at Aaron McKay after the young Saints substitute had fouled the Jags fullback. Veteran striker Lee Drummond also saw yellow as tempers briefly threatened to boil over before Mr McCann restored order.

An eighty second minute nose bleed from Myles McAuley in the unfamiliar territory of the opposition eighteen yard box saw the shot-shy midfielder pass up a shooting opportunity in favour of a lay-off to Donald Campbell whose effort on the stretch slipped agonisingly wide of target.

Dene Cassells showed he wasn't afraid to try his luck striding out from the back and sending a twenty five yard effort just wide of the junction of post and bar.

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.

The visitors refused to let their heads go down and, from the restart, Lee Drummond came close to claiming a second goal with a curling right foot effort just wide of the postage stamp corner. 

With the watch ticking into stoppage time David Baton couldn't direct a Donald Campbell cutback on target and Matt Rippon sent a twenty eight yard free-kick over the crossbar before Mr McCann called time confirming Saints eighth win of a perfect start to the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B campaign.

Saints are back on the road this coming Saturday when they visit Garscube Sports Complex to face Westerlands of the Caledonian League in the Scottish Amateur Cup third round.

Mr McCann's new Liam Gallagher look

Team Captains Dene Cassells and Robert Faulds with Referee Tony McCann

Scott Maitland

Craig MacEwan and Josh McCormick

Dene Cassells

Callum McAuley

Lewis Cameron and Craig Lamont

Gavin Forgrieve congratulates Craig MacEwan on his opening goal

Gavin Forgrieve

William Coulter heads clear

Willie Gemmell

Callum McAuley saves from Craig MacEwan

Dene Cassells heads wide

Celebrations after Craig MacEwan makes it 3 - 1 to Saints

Lee Drummond

Donald Campbell tucks away goal number four

Graham Douglas

Steven MacLeod

Callum McAuley's punch clearance finds Craig MacEwan on the edge of the box

Callum McAuley is beaten by Craig MacEwan's hat-trick sealing strike

Aaron McKay

Ruaridh Horne

Donald Campbell puts Myles McAuley's cross wide of target

Matt Rippon's penalty kick finds the top corner

Myles McAuley congratulates Matt Rippon on his goal

#monthesaints

Good Crieff, Saints Earn Scottish Cup Progress The Hard Way

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
Market Park
Broich Road
Crieff
PH7 3HE
Kick off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Calum Race



Following the previous week's high scoring draw at Oban High School, Oban Saints and Vale of Earn produced another thriller in last Saturday's 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 lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a familiar back four of Ruaridh Horne, Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Willie Gemmell partnered Matty Kelly in the holding midfield roles behind the more advanced triumvirate of David Beaton, Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan. Leading the line was Donald Campbell while Daniel Croarkin, Cammy Hill, Aaron McKay, Ross Maitland and Matt Rippon populated the bench.


Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitute:-
Cammy Hill


Unused substitutes:-
Daniel Croarkin
Ross Maitland
Aaron McKay
Matt Rippon


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.

Danger men James Webster and Peter Reilly combined again in the seventeenth minute when Reilly beat Dene Cassells in the air to head a  hotly contested Webster corner kick just wide of Graham Douglas' left hand post. Steven MacLeod's protests at the highly questionable award earned him the first a flurry of yellow cards issued by Dundee based whistler Calum Race.

Vale's Darral Cramb got back to make a vital interception to deny David Beaton on the end of a sweeping twenty first minute move involving Lewis Cameron, Matty Kelly, Craig MacEwan and Donald Campbell.

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.

On the half hour mark Vale midfielder Aaron Dawson joined Steven MacLeod in the book after throwing himself into MacLeod in a Harry Kanesque attempt to win a penalty kick which failed to deceive Mr Race.

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.

There was a let-off for the home side when Referee Race ruled an Aaron Dawson shove on Craig MacEwan to be outside the box when the offence appeared to have taken place about a foot inside the Vale penalty area. Willie Gemmell sent the free-kick crashing into the Vale wall and closed the half shortly after with a wayward left foot strike from a Ruaridh Horne right wing cutback.

There was a scrappy start to the second half with neither side able to create any chances of note in the opening exchanges.

Saints had another penalty kick appeal dismissed by Mr Race when David Beaton was pushed to the ground when attempting to gather in a Willie Gemmell throw-in from the left.

Brian Finlay joined the growing list of miscreants in the Referee's notebook after offering some unwanted advice to the man in charge in the fiftieth eighth minute.

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.

Referee Race turned down yet another Saints penalty appeal when Dene Cassells was pushed in the back trying to connect with a Lewis Cameron free-kick with Craig MacEwan having his name taken for continuing his protests too long for the Referee's liking.

It was the host's turn to feel aggrieved in the sixty first minute when an extremely tight offside call on striker Peter Reilly went against them and, to rub salt into the wound, Mr Race cautioned Reilly for kicking the ball away.

Saints sent on teenage striker Cammy Hill for the closing twenty minutes at the expense of David Beaton but it was Vale who were next to threaten. The Saints defence struggled to clear a throw-in from the left and were relived to see Aaron Dawson's shot from the edge of the box shave a coat of paint off the outside of Graham Douglas' right hand post.

Donald Campbell joined the increasing number treading the disciplinary tight rope for his comments following a particularly bizarre free-kick award by Mr Race whose decisions continued to frustrate both sides in equal measure.

With fourteen minutes remaining Darral Cramb made way for Aaron Smith in the first of the hosts two changes.

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.

Matty Kelly picked up the final caution of the match for a late eighty fifth minute challenge on Aaron Dawson with whom he enjoyed a fascinating battle in the middle of the park throughout the ninety minutes.

Before the action could recommence Brain Finlay was replaced by the fresh legs of Jack Howie.

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.

Saints reward for digging out a very hard earned win is a third round away tie at Caledonian League First Division side Westerlands on Saturday 2nd November.

Next up for Saints is a home Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B clash with Garrowhill Thistle.

Team Captains Dene Cassells and Ross Brock with Referee Calum Race

Vale celebrate Brian Finlay's goal

Willie Gemmell, Darral Cramb and Euan Carter

Ruaridh Horne

Vale Club Secretary carries out some running repairs to the goal nets

David Beaton blocks Darral Cramb's attempted clearance

Willie Gemmell's shot finds the bottom corner

Dene Cassells and Peter Reilly

Donald Campbell makes it 2 - 2

Management duo Willie Gemmell and Donald Campbell celebrate Campbell's equaliser

Ross Brock heads clear

Brian Finlay turns away from Lewis Cameron

Kros Brown makes it 3 - 2 to Vale

Matty Kelly gets away from Aaron Dawson

Graham Douglas denies James Webster a match winning goal

90th minute equaliser from Donald Campbell

Cammy Hill gets the shoot-out underway

Daniel Yurdakol stops Willie Gemmell's effort

Graham Douglas saves from David Sinclair

Craig MacEwan makes it advantage Saints

Agony for Peter Reilly as he sends his penalty kick wide of target

Graham Douglas commiserates with Peter Reilly

#monthesaints