Saturday 12th September 2020

Friendly

Oban Saints 4 - 2 South Lochaber Thistle

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 1.00pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-

Donald Campbell

Paul Carmichael

Cammy Hill

Scott Johnston

Unused substitutes:-

Willie Gemmell

Ben Pollock

189 Days after their last match Oban Saints finally returned to action last Saturday in a friendly encounter with near neighbours South Lochaber Thistle. The Glencruitten 2 playing surface was in it's usual excellent condition for the 1.00 pm kick-off however that was one of the few familiar sights as football adjusted to the new normal.

The Scottish Football Association's Match Day Protocols restrict the numbers permitted on the touchline to substitutes and a small number of coaching staff only. All but the players and match officials are prohibited from entering the playing surface. Only the first aider can enter the "red" playing zone and even then only if suitably attired with mask, apron and gloves. The small number in the "amber" coaching zone must exercise strict social distancing and all must have their own water and hand sanitiser.

Additionally with no changing facilities permitted all players must arrive and depart in their playing kit.

Perhaps the cruellest and most difficult to enforce at grassroots level of the Scottish Football Association's Match Day Protocols is the no spectators rule and the Players and Management of Oban Saints extend their grateful thanks to their loyal band of supporters who played their part by denying themselves their football fix and staying away.

With Referee Jimmy Litster satisfied that both sides were complying fully with the guidelines he got the action underway where it was the visitors who showed the least amount of ring rust in the opening exchanges.

Veteran Jags striker David Forbes forced Graham Douglas into action in the third minute with the Saints number one producing an excellent save low down to his left and getting quickly back to his feet to push a second effort from Forbes behind for a corner kick.

Confusion at the back between Douglas and his new look central defensive pairing of Steven MacLeod and Kerr Newbigging gifted David Forbes an eighteenth minute sight of goal which he passed up in favour of a cutback for strike partner Andrew McLean. Young Saints fullback Ruaridh Horne spared the blushes of his more experienced back four counterparts with a perfectly timed sliding challenge to take the ball off McLean's toe.

After thirty five lethargic minutes where the visitors were by far the more impressive, Saints finally came alive and tested Thistle's Obanite goalkeeper Owen Cooke. Skipper for the day Craig MacEwan won possession on the edge of the centre circle and drove forward with Matty Kelly making a supporting run from midfield. MacEwan's well weighted pass slipped in the Central Scottish Amateur Football Select man for a delicate chip which Cooke did very well to claw away. MacEwan was first to the loose ball and tee'd up young Gavin Forgrieve for a shot which again Cooke was the equal of leaping high to his left to push the ball behind for Saints first corner kick of the afternoon.

The deadlock was broken in the fortieth minute when young Aaron McKay made a driving run up the right wing and found David Beaton on the corner of the eighteen yard box for a low shot across the keeper and into the bottom corner.

Sixty seconds after the restart McKay lifted a very presentable close range chance over the crossbar after Owen Cooke had pushed out a Craig MacEwan header.

Mr Litster added on one minute for stoppages which afforded David Forbes a further attempt on goal which he sent inches wide of Graham Douglas' right hand post after racing in from the right touchline and skipping over the despairing challenge of Kerr Newbigging.

Jamie Graham and Aaron McKay made way for Paul Carmichael and Cammy Hill for the start of the second half with the big central defender playing a key part in Saints second goal seven minutes after the restart.

Steven MacLeod won the ball well on the edge of the Saints eighteen yard box and played the ball across to Carmichael on the left. Carmichael's raking left foot pass sent David Beaton racing up the left wing where his searing pace took him comfortably away from his marker and through on substitute keeper Andrew Brown whom he beat with ease low down to his right to double the home advantage.

Saints impressive start to the second half continued and a third goal was added in the fifty fifth minute when David Beaton bundled the ball over the line from close range to seal his hat-trick after good work from Craig MacEwan.

Three Saints corner kicks in quick succession kept the pressure on the visitor's goal but, after Paul Carmichael had headed Gavin Forgrieve's delivery from the left just wide of target, it was the Jags who were next to strike.

From Andrew Brown's goal kick Andrew McLean won a flick-on which Captain Martin Munro quickly latched onto. Munro's pace was too much for Kerr Newbigging and the wide man raced through on goal and slotted the ball under Graham Douglas to give the visitors hope of mounting a comeback. Newbigging's failed attempt to halt Munro's run earned him the only booking of good-natured encounter well handled by Referee Litster.

Home for a brief spell from his work commitments in England Saints Co-Manager Donald Campbell joined Willie Gemmell on the sidelines and gave his managerial colleague the added bonus of declaring himself fit enough for a thirty minute run out. Youngster Gavin Forgrieve made way for old war horse Campbell with Scott Johnston also making a sixtieth minute appearance in favour of Myles McAuley.

Campbell's vision sent Matty Kelly through the inside right channel in the seventy fourth minute but neither Cammy Hill nor David Beaton could latch onto Kelly's cutback. The Thistle defence however couldn't fully clear the danger and Campbell quickly regained possession. After taking the ball wide right all time Saints top goal scorer Campbell turned provider and delivered an inch perfect cross onto the forehead of Craig MacEwan who nodded the ball over the stranded Andrew Brown and into the net for Saints fourth goal.

Saints leading goal scorer for the 2019-20 season, MacEwan, was unable to add to his tally for the afternoon when he sent a difficult chance from a Ruaridh Horne right wing cross past the junction of post and bar and, from an even tighter angle, screwed a left foot effort across the face of goal and agonisingly wide of the far post.

In the second added minute Martin Munro was unable to wriggle through the Saints defence but was given a dead ball opportunity by Referee Litster who spotted an infringement. Unfortunately for Saints Graham Douglas didn't quite get his angles right and was beaten low to his right by Munro's sweetly struck twenty five yard free-kick which completed his brace and rounded off the scoring.

With the Saints coaching staff beginning to wonder if Mr Litster was going to add on all of the time lost due to lock down he eventually blew for full-time after seven added minutes bringing to an end a good workout for both sets of players.