Sunday, 26 September 2021

Three Goals And Three Points As Saints See Off Old Rivals GHSFP At The Battery

Saturday 25th September 2021

Central Scottish Amateur Football League

Premier Division
Greenock High School Former Pupils 0 -3 Oban Saints
Battery Park
Eldon Street
Greenock
PA16 7QG
Kick off 1.00pm
Referee Mr Kevin O'Neil

Oban Saints bagged their first Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division points of the season last Saturday at Battery Park, Greenock home of old friends and rivals Greenock High School Former Pupils.

Goals from Cammy Hill, Craig MacEwan and James Ford earned the injury ravaged Saints the points and the bragging rights in the first league meeting of the former Scottish Amateur Football League rivals since the 2010 - 11 season.

Saints lined up with Jamie Strachan in goal behind a back four of Steven MacLeod, Dene Cassells, Alex Craik and Cammy Hill. Donald Campbell and Cammy Clark anchored the midfield with Ross Maitland, Gavin Forgrieve and Captain Craig MacEwan behind central striker Kyle Cooper.

The every deepening Saints injury crisis saw Gaffer Willie Gemmell joined on the substitutes bench by Preston Macintyre and Aidan MacDonald from Saints 2006's and the short of match fitness James Ford whose second half strike eventually rounded off a comfortable victory for the visitors.

Saints starting line-up:-

Used Substitutes:-

James Ford

Preston Macintyre

Aidan MacDonald

Unused substitutes:-

Willie Gemmell

Saints kicked off attacking the pavilion end and quickly established the upper hand in the key midfield battle where Donald Campbell once again excelled in his new deeper role.

Campbell's sixth minute ball up the right wing for Ross Maitland to run onto turned the home defence and Skipper Craig MacEwan will feel he should at least have hit the target with his shot on the half volley which flew high and wide from Maitland's well measured cross.

Sixty seconds later Greenock central defender Neil Rankin made an excellent sliding interception to prevent young Saints striker Kyle Cooper from getting on the end of a Cammy Hill cross from the left.

Cooper stretched the home defence again in the twelfth minute and skipped away from Chris MacAllister on the end of a Ross Maitland pass. Cooper resisted the temptation to go for goal himself and attempted to pick out Craig MacEwan but sent his cross too close to Greenock keeper Kyle Maclean. Unfortunately for the home side MacAllister's stretch to reach Cooper brought the Greenock veteran's afternoon to a premature end his place in central defence being taken by Robert O'Kane.

Steven MacLeod, one of just three survivors from Saints last visit to Battery Park in December 2017 to face Greenock in a Scottish Amateur Cup tie, joined the attack in the thirteenth minute for a dipping shot which was unfortunately closer to dipping in the Clyde rather than under the crossbar.

Despite Saints having the majority of the play it was the home side who came closest to opening the scoring after eighteen minutes. Craig Malloy pounced on a misplaced pass deep in the Saints half and fired in a fierce shot from twenty five yards which Jamie Strachan acrobatically pushed onto his crossbar before gathering safely at the second attempt.

Saints capitalised fully on Strachan's good work taking the lead just two minutes later. Cammy Hill combined with Craig MacEwan on the left before cutting inside to wrong foot Kyle Maclean and roll the ball into the bottom corner.

The "they shalt not pass" attitude which saw Saints keep the Harestanes attack safely at bay at Glencruitten seven days previously was in evidence again with, firstly, Alex Craik getting back with a covering challenge to take the ball off the toes of Kenny Munro before a sensational point blank block from Donald Campbell sent a Luke Mullin header spinning over the Saints crossbar.

The resulting corner kick was cleared with Alex Craik leading the counter-attack and releasing Craig MacEwan whose ball through the inside right channel for Kyle Cooper saw the young Saints front man hauled down by Cian McAuley earning the Greenock midfielder the first yellow card of the match.

Referee Kevin O'Neil evened up the card count in the thirty ninth minute harshly showing Cammy Clark the yellow card after what appeared to be little more than a coming together with Luke Mullin. The Saints defensive wall did it's job to block Mullin's free-kick however the ball broke kindly for Craig Molloy who tried again to beat Jamie Strachan with a dipping effort but found Strachan equal to the task with another excellent flying save.

Leading up to the half-time interval the hosts were enjoying their best spell of the match but Saints almost hit on the counter-attack in the fortieth minute when Cammy Clark shot into the side netting after linking well with Ross Maitland on the right.

Craig Molloy finally found a way past Jamie Strachan in the forty second minute and couldn't believe his luck when his crisply struck shot came back off the inside of Strachan's right hand post before being thumped to safety.

Saints doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time when Donald Campbell was tripped in the Greenock box and Captain Craig MacEwan dispatched the resulting penalty kick safely past Kyle Maclean.

Saints made a positive start to the second half with Gavin Forgrieve curling a forty eighth minute right foot shot wide of the postage stamp corner and Cammy Hill heading a Forgrieve corner kick over the Greenock crossbar ten minutes later before Saints Gaffer Willie Gemmell made his first change. Cammy Clark, who did well on his starting debut, was replaced by James Ford in a switch which saw Ross Maitland take up an unfamiliar central midfield role alongside Donald Campbell.

Ford's introduction proved to be decisive when he netted Saints third and final goal of the afternoon in the sixty eighth minute. Gavin Forgrieve and Craig MacEwan liked well on the Saints left with Forgrieve laying off to Ford who carried the ball along the eighteen yard before eventually finding the opening to slam the ball into the bottom corner beyond the despairing right hand of Kyle Maclean.

Saints three goal cushion gave Willie Gemmell the chance to blood Preston Macintyre and Aidan MacDonald with both fifteen year olds repaying the Gaffer's confidence with solid performances on their first appearances in such experienced company.

Particularly pleased to see Macintyre and MacDonald make their debuts was proud 2006's Gaffer Alex Craik who promises there are more of his young crop waiting to make the breakthrough to the first team.

The Saints back four of Steven MacLeod, Dene Cassells, Alex Craik and Cammy Hill coped comfortably with a late rally from the hosts before Kyle Maclean denied Saints a fourth goal saving a Ross Maitland effort with his feet.

Referee O'Neil flashed a yellow card in the direction of second half substitute Colin McEachnie for a late swipe at James Ford as the tricky Saints winger threatened to burst through on the right before bringing the generally good natured encounter to an end.

It's Tail O' The Bank opposition again for Saints this coming Saturday when they welcome Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Port Glasgow Amateurs to Glencruitten in the Scottish Amateur Cup second round.

Kyle Maclean

Celebrations after Cammy Hill's opening goal

Steven MacLeod

Robert O'Kane

Donald Campbell blocks Luke Mullin's header

Kyle Cooper and Robert O'Kane

Cammy Clark

Craig MacEwan's penalty kick sends Kyle Maclean the wrong way

Craig MacEwan

Jamie Strachan

Gavin Forgrieve

Celebrations after James Ford nets Saints third goal

Donald Campbell

Preston Macintyre and Peter Dunn

Aidan MacDonald

Alex Craik

#monthesaints

Sunday, 19 September 2021

Saints Edge Out Hares In All CSAFL West of Scotland Cup Clash

Saturday 18th September 2021

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

Second Round

Oban Saints 2 - 1 Harestanes

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 1.30pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

Just two weeks after their Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division clash at Glencruitten Oban Saints and Harestanes met again at the same venue last Saturday this time on West of Scotland Amateur Cup duty.

The Kirkintilloch men were looking to make it a double over the Premier Division new boys following their recent one-nil league win while Saints welcomed the distraction from a difficult start to life in the topflight and a chance to get a first win of the season under their belts.

Injuries to key players continue to restrict Manager Willie Gemmell's options forcing the Gaffer into a starting role in central defence alongside Dene Cassells with Steven MacLeod moving out to right-back and Cammy Hill deputising for Scott Maitland at left-back.. On a more positive note there was a welcome return for James Ford after a long spell out.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Steven MacLeod, Dene Cassells, Willie Gemmell and Cammy Hill. Donald Campbell and Matty Kelly anchored the midfield with James Ford, Gavin Forgrieve and Captain Craig MacEwan behind central striker Kyle Cooper. On the bench were Cammy Clark, Alex Craik, Myles McAuley and Fraser MacFarlane.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitute:-

Myles McAuley

Unused substitutes:-

Cammy Clark

Alex Craik

Fraser MacFarlane

The hosts made a bright start attacking the railway line end in warm sunshine with just a light smattering of drizzle thrown in for good measure. Kyle Cooper's driving run at the heart of the Harestanes defence in just the second minute was halted unceremoniously by Kevin Cawley with Gavin Forgrieve sending the resulting free-kick to the far post. Cammy Hill's header back into the danger area was thumped up to the halfway line where it was retrieved by Willie Gemmell. The Gaffer found Craig MacEwan who sent Matty Kelly into the Harestanes box on the left whose cutback was curled just wide of the postage stamp corner by Gavin Forgrieve.

Saints number one Graham Douglas made the first of a number of good saves in the seventh minute when he got down well to his right to hold a Jonathan Black shot after the Harestanes centre-forward latched onto a James Mulvay ball over the top.

The visitors opened the scoring after sixteen minutes of an entertaining and fiercely competitive encounter cruelling punishing a misplaced Saints pass just inside their own half. Aidan Quinn broke away on the Harestanes left and fired over a low cross which Jamie McPhee knocked home from close range.

Saints restored parity nine minutes before the interval after good work on the left from Kyle Cooper forced a corner kick. Gavin Forgrieve’s pin-point delivery from the corner flag picked out a well timed back post run from Cammy Hill who nodded the ball past Harestanes keeper Matthew Stewart.

A typically tricky James Ford run won a thirty ninth minute throw-in on the right which the Harfestanes defence knocked out to Gavin Forgrieve for a low shot which fizzed inches wide of Matthew Stewart's right hand post.

At the other end a fantastic sliding block from Donald Campbell stopped a Jordan Pirrie shot after Willie Gemmell had headed out a Fraser Sheridan corner kick.

A quickly taken throw-in on the Harestanes left gave Pirrie the chance to try his luck again on the stroke of half-time with a shot from twenty five yards which slipped just wide of target after Graham Douglas had come a long way out of his eighteen yard box to send another long ball from James Mulvay into touch.

Saints kicked off the second half attacking the carpark end but it was the visitors who created the early chances. After sending an attempted lob from the halfway line well wide of target Fraser Sheridan came closer but still wide of the mark in the fifty first minute. Sheridan did manage to test Graham Douglas in the sixty second minute with a low shot from an Aidan Quinn left wing cross but found the Saints number one equal to the task.

A head knock for teenage striker Kyle Cooper forced the home side into a change in the sixty fourth minute which paid dividends within two minutes. Myles McAuley came on to partner Matty Kelly in midfield with Donald Campbell going up top to replace Cooper. McAuley was quickly involved winning possession in the centre circle and feeding Gavin Forgrieve who strode forward for a one-two with Donald Campbell. Forgrieve took the return pass from Campbell and played in Craig MacEwan to tuck under young Harestanes keeper Stewart and give Saints the lead.

Saints were almost caught cold straight from the re-start when Aidan Quinn was allowed time and space to fire in a fierce shot which Graham Douglas did well to hold.

It was Douglas to the rescue again in the seventieth minute getting down well to his right to push a left foot strike from Harestanes substitute Greg Burns around the post. Saints defended the corner kick well and looked to hit on the counter-attack with Cammy Hill, Myles McAuley and Craig MacEwan all involved before Donald Campbell saw his shot well saved by Matthew Stewart

The visitors threw everything at it in the closing stages in search of an equaliser, including pushing central defender James Mulvay into attack, but were unable to find a way past a resolute home defence who dug in for a hard fought first win of the season which was very well received by the large home support.

Saints return to league business this coming Saturday with a trip to Greenock to face old friends and rivals Greenock High School Former Pupils.

Team Captains Craig MacEwan and James Mulvay with Referee Jimmy Litster

Donald Campbell

Gavin Forgrieve slides into Jonathan Black

Craig MacEwan

Cammy Hill

Cammy Hill equalises for Saints

Kyle Cooper and Fraser Sheridan

Craig MacEwan nets the winning goal

Matthew Stewart

Graham Douglas

#monthesaints

Sunday, 12 September 2021

Another League Cup Setback for Saints GG

Saturday 11th September 2021

Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League

President's League Cup Section One

Oban Saints GG 1 - 5 Colquhoun United

Oban Community Sports Field (3G)

Soroba Road

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4JB

Kick Off 3pm

Oban Saints second string's slender hopes of progressing from the Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League President's League Cup group stages suffered another setback at Oban High School last Saturday.

Following a good start against runaway group section leaders Colquhoun United the hastily put together Saints GG side were good value for their early lead courtesy of a Paul Carmichael strike.

Manager Donald Black was forced to make a change when Nathan Allan was unable to continue after just twenty five minutes his place being taken by Jay Cooper.

Cooper was one of a number of players coming in at short notice with no game time in the tank and as the half progressed the visitors gained the upper hand going in at the interval ahead by the odd goal in three.

A disastrous start to the second half saw Saints GG gift wrap three goals inside the first ten minutes putting the Bearsden based visitors on easy street.

The home side kept battling away but couldn't find the goal needed to kick start a comeback. Thomas McCrindle narrowly failed to connect with an excellent free-kick delivery from the left foot of Daniel MacCuish and Paul Carmichael struck the woodwork with a left foot volley but that was as close as it got for Saints GG resplendent in their new change kit sponsored by Soroba House Bar and Restaurant.

Saints GG have no fixture this coming Saturday and Manager Donald Black will hope to use the free week to muster his troops ahead of the impending Division 3A campaign.

Oban Saints GG starting eleven:-

Murdo MacKenzie (GK)

Thomas McCrindle

Jamie Graham

David Smith

Nathan Allan

Craig Livingstone

Louie MacFarlane

Keith Millar

Daniel MacCuish

Lewis Buchanan

Paul Carmichael

Used substitutes:-

Jay Cooper

Iain MacInnes

#monthesaints

Lights Out at Glencruitten

Saturday 11th September 2021

Central Scottish Amateur Football League

Premier Division

Oban Saints v St Patrick's FP - Match Abandoned

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Stephen Payne

A sickening collision between Oban Saints Vice Captain Scott Maitland and St Patrick's FP goalkeeper Domonic Donaldson brought last Saturday's Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division clash at Glencruitten to a premature end.

With both players fully committed to winning a loose ball in the St Pat's penalty area it was the Saints Scottish Amateur internationalist who came off worst being knocked out cold and requiring attention from the Paramedics before a visit to the Lorn and the Islands District General Hospital.

After consultation with both badly shaken camps Referee Stephen Payne made the correct decision to abandon the match with thirty seven minutes remaining and Saints holding a slender one goal lead.

Injuries and non-availability of key players continue to restrict Manager Willie Gemmell's options and it was an unfamiliar and untested starting eleven which took the field against reigning Premier Division Champions St Patrick's FP.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Ross Maitland, Steven MacLeod, Cammy Hill and Scott Maitland. Donald Campbell and Andy King anchored the midfield with Kyle Cooper, Matty Kelly and Fraser MacFarlane behind central striker Craig MacEwan. On the bench were Cammy Clark and Jack Wright.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Unused substitutes:-

Cammy Clark

Jack Wright

Saints number one Graham Douglas was brought into the action in the third minute making a smart save at his near post after St Pat's Skipper Kevin McElroy had forced his way into the Saints box on the left. Referee Stephen Payne had allowed McElroy to continue despite an infringement by Steven MacLeod and flashed the first yellow card of the afternoon in MacLeod's direction.

Saints responded with a Kyle Copper effort from the right which flashed across the face of goal out of reach for the supporting Fraser MacFarlane and just wide of keeper Domonic Donaldson's right hand post.

St Pat's left back Ryan McColl was the next entry in Mr Payne's notebook for a late challenge on Cooper and he was joined there in the twenty fourth minute by Skipper Kevin McElroy for dissent.

The visitors had their own selection problems and were forced to promote second team keeper Domonic Donaldson to first team duties. Donaldson acquitted himself well and made a good save at his near post when young Kyle Cooper threatened again in the twenty seventh minute.

As you would expect in such a competitive league both sides were fully committed to the cause and Mr Payne's notebook and pencil were out again after twenty eight minutes when Scottish Amateur international striker Ciaran McElroy slid in late on Matty Kelly.

Graham Douglas showed a safe pair of hands to hold a Matthew Devine shot after a rare lapse in concentration from Cammy Hill who slotted in well at centre half alongside the experienced Steven MacLeod.

The ever dependable MacLeod was in inspirational form and denied Luke Gray with an excellent thirty sixth minute sliding block.

The visitors had the ball in the net in the thirty eighth minute when Kevin McElroy tucked away Ryan McColl's left wing cross however Referee Payne spotted that McElroy had strayed offside at the far post.

A patient Saints build up involving Donald Campbell, Matty Kelly, Craig MacEwan and Kyle Cooper sent Scott Maitland scurrying into the St Pat's box where Jon Gray was quickly across with a timely interception at the expense of a corner kick. Ross Maitland's delivery from the left was knocked back out to the evergreen Player/Coach who swung over a delightful ball to the back post for the run of Andy King. Sliding in at full stretch King did well to connect with Maitland's cross but could only direct the ball wide of target.

With Manager Willie Gemmell unavailable it fell to Coach Maitland to deliver the half-time appeal for more of the same from the makeshift Saints eleven who were holding their own against the reigning League Champions.

After just sixty second half seconds Kevin McElroy fizzed a shot from the corner of the Saints box across Graham Douglas and narrowly wide of the far post. From the goal kick Saints worked their way into opposition territory where Craig MacEwan did well to hold up a Donald Campbell pass before laying the ball off to Kyle Cooper on the edge of the box who curled a delightful finish past Domonic Donaldson to opening the scoring.

Saints almost doubled their advantage two minutes later with MacEwan again providing the lay-off this time for Donald Campbell whose low shot was turned around the post by the outstretched right foot of Domonic Donaldson.

The home side had their tails up and were enjoying their best spell of the match when disaster struck. Scott Maitland raced into the St Pat's box trying to reach a loose ball which keeper Donaldson also had his sights set on. The two collided at full speed with Maitland suffering a blow to the head from Donaldson's knee which knocked the Saints man out cold.

The entirely blameless Donaldson immediately screamed for help for his stricken opponent which was provided by veteran Saints goalkeeper David Dunlop who did an excellent job in keeping Maitland stable until the Paramedics arrived.

With concerns for Maitland's safety foremost in everybody's minds there was little appetite amongst the players to re-start the action and Mr Payne abandoned the fixture.

After a thorough examination and CT scan the sore and groggy Maitland was released from the Lorn and the Islands District General Hospital on Saturday night and is expected to make a full recovery.

This coming Saturday Saints are on West of Scotland Amateur Cup duty when they welcome Harestanes to Glencruitten in a second round tie which must be decided on the day with penalty kicks to decide the winner if the sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes.