Winning In The Rain: Saints Bank Three More Points Down By The Clyde

Emergency signing Jamie Strachan

Saturday 16th November 2019
Clydebank 0 - 2 Oban Saints
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
John Brown Pitches
Barns Street
Clydebank
G81 1AA
Kick-off 2pm
Referee Mr. John Quinn

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 last Saturday's 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.

Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-

David Beaton
James Ford
Aaron McKay
Matt Rippon

Unused substitute:-

Gavin Forgrieve

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 keeper Andrew Cameron made a smart save low to his left to deny Lewis Cameron after Craig MacEwan had gathered in a nineteenth minute Ross Maitland throw-in on the left and found Cameron in the box.

Sixty seconds later Saints produced another good move on the left and only the slightest of touches from the outstretched right boot of Colin McLafferty prevented Cammy Hill from connecting with Lewis Cameron's low cross along the six yard line.

Referee John Quinn had some strong words for Jamie Pollock after a twenty fourth minute late challenge on Cammy Hill with Andrew Cameron punching clear the resulting Willie Gemmell free-kick.

A twenty sixth minute stoppage for treatment to recent signing Harry McLachlan's injured wrist failed to cure the problem and the home side were forced into an early change withdrawing McLachlan and replacing him with Ben Adie.

Saints squandered another good opportunity in the thirty fifth minute when Ruaridh Horne turned a Matty Kelly cross from the left well wide of target after Myles McAuley had taken down an Andrew Cameron goal kick in the centre circle and sent midfield partner Kelly off on a run.

Cammy Hill did well to hold up a Ruaridh Horne ball up the right wing after thirty eight minutes and pick out Ross Maitland on the D. Maitland helped the ball on to Lewis Cameron who cut in from the right and curled a decent effort just wide of the postage stamp corner.

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 made the first of their four changes in the fifty sixth minute sending on David Beaton as a direct replacement for Ruaridh Horne at right wing back.

Beaton was quickly involved in the action winning a free-kick in the centre circle which Willie Gemmell looped up to Lewis Cameron inside the eighteen yard box. Cameron took down Gemmell's delivery with a delicate touch and laid off to Beaton whose cross from the right was headed out to Matty Kelly for shot which flew inches over Andrew Cameron's crossbar.

As the second half wore on the home side were enjoying their best spell of the match and Saints introduced Matt Rippon as a sixty fourth minute replacement for Cammy Hill in an attempt to improve their fortunes up front.

Five minutes after coming on Rippon set up fellow substitute David Beaton who saw his effort from the corner of the six yard box stopped by a good solid block from Andrew Taylor who turned Beaton's shot behind for a corner kick.

With twenty minutes remaining Keiron McLeod picked up the first booking of good natured contest well handled by Referee John Quinn for a mistimed challenge on David Beaton on the halfway line.

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.

Referee John Quinn issued the second and final yellow card of an easy afternoon for him in the ninety second minute when Colin McLafferty pulled back Craig MacEwan who looked set to break in behind the Bankies back four.

From Willie Gemmell's free-kick MacEwan forced a corner kick on the right giving Saints one last chance to test the resolve of the Bankies defence. Matt Rippon's delivery was good and was met solidly at the front post by leading goalscorer MacEwan who unfortunately couldn't direct his header beneath Andrew Cameron's crossbar in the final act of the contest.

The win moves Saints onto twenty seven points from nine games and maintains their eleven points advantage at the top of Division 1B of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League over nearest challengers Blantyre RGM.

This coming Saturday Saints welcome first time visitors Craigneuk to Oban for a top versus bottom League Division 1B clash with Referee Allan Loch in charge for the 2pm kick-off at Glencruitten.