Saturday 6th November 2021

Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition

Third Round

Oban Saints 1 - 2 Drumchapel Amateurs

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Joseph Todd

Oban Saints crashed out of the Scottish Amateur Cup at a wet and windy Glencruitten last Saturday afternoon. Daniel MacCuish gave Saints the lead in the thirty fourth minute however spurned opportunities to increase their advantage before the half-time interval proved very costly for the home side when a quick fire Connor Higgins brace for the visitors turned the tie on it's head inside six second half minutes.

Saints failed to rediscover their first half form and a controlled Drumchapel performance saw the 2019 - 20 semi-finalists safely into the fourth round.

Manager Willie Gemmell's team selection options were given a boost when Steven MacLeod returned from suspension and Craig MacEwan's injury woes eased sufficiently for him to join a squad containing nine changes from that which had defeated Port Glasgow in the second round five week earlier.

Prior to kick-off Referee Joseph Todd lead both camps in a silence of remembrance for St Roch's Juniors Manager Paul Kelly who sadly passed away during the week.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Steven MacLeod, Dene Cassells, Willie Gemmell and Captain Scott Maitland. Myles McAuley and Gavin Forgrieve anchored the midfield with David Beaton, Lewis Cameron and Cammy Hill behind central striker Daniel MacCuish. Providing experience on the substitutes bench alongside youngsters Kyle Cooper and Louie MacFarlane were Matty Kelly, Ross Maitland and returning injury victim Craig MacEwan.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Craig MacEwan

Matty Kelly

Kyle Cooper

Louie MacFarlane

Unused substitute:-

Ross Maitland

Saints started brightly with Scott Maitland forcing the first corner kick of the match in the fourth minute. Lewis Cameron's delivery from the left was tempting but cleanly caught by Drum keeper Stephen Mather.

Mather was in action again two minutes later making a good save to his left to push a Lewis Cameron effort behind for another corner kick which the Drum defence successfully repelled.

At the other end Saints number one Graham Douglas punched clear a corner kick from the left after Willie Gemmell had deflected a Marc McCran shot wide of target.

Following another deflected Drum effort the visitors worked their corner kick from the left short forcing Graham Douglas into an excellent save low to his left to deny Alan Kelly from the corner of the eighteen yard box.

Myles McAuley, whose midfield partnership with Gavin Forgrieve looked solid, turned the clock back several years with a rampaging run forward in the sixteenth minute. Not renowned for his shooting prowess McAuley unleashed a powerful shot from twenty five yards which Stephen Mather could only parry into the path of Daniel MacCuish whose attempt to lob the big keeper unfortunately cleared the crossbar.

Graham Douglas denied Alan Kelly for a second time pushing his twenty seventh minute free-kick wide before Jamie Ross slammed the loose ball into the side netting from an acute angle.

A Greig Morrison foul on Lewis Cameron gave Willie Gemmell a chance to showcase his dead ball skills however his thirty second minute effort from twenty four yards went straight into the grateful gloves of Stephen Mather.

Saints opened the scoring in the thirty fourth minute from a free kick inside their own half following a foul on Lewis Cameron after Dene Cassells had headed away a Drum corner kick from the left. Willie Gemmell rolled the ball short to Myles McAuley who once again strode forward purposefully this time picking out Daniel MacCuish for an accomplished finish into the top corner from the edge of the box.

David Beaton was inches away from doubling Saints lead diving in at the back post after Drum Skipper Paul McConachie had headed a thirty ninth minute Lewis Cameron free-kick back across the face of his own goal.

On the stroke of half-time a perfectly timed tackle from Adam Douglas foiled Cammy Hill who delayed pulling the trigger when through on Stephen Mather just long enough for the Drum fullback to get his challenge in.

The Second half was just three minutes old when Saints were made to pay for their missed first half opportunities. Paul McConachie and Jack Wilson were both allowed to race in unattended at the back post from an Alan Kelly free-kick from the right. McConachie squared the ball into the path of Connor Higgins who prodded past Graham Douglas from six yards. Saints appealed loudly for an offside decision but Referee Joe Todd saw no infringement and further upset the home side by cautioning Willie Gemmell for dissent.

Three minutes later the turnaround was complete with Higgins knocking home from just a few inches after Graham Douglas had clawed a dipping and swerving Jamie Ross effort from underneath his crossbar straight to the feet of the onrushing striker.

Still with a semi-final appearance from the covid disrupted 2019 - 20 season to look forward to, Drumchapel were in no mood to allow this season's Scottish Amateur Cup run to come to an end and in a controlled second half performance gave Saints little encouragement in their search for an equaliser.

Dene Cassells joined central defensive partner Gemmell in the Referee's notebook for a late challenge on Paul McConachie with Mr Todd, who handled the typically keenly contested cup tie well throughout, balancing up the card count with cautions for Connor Higgins and Marc McCran.

Saints freshened things up with introduction of Craig MacEwan, Matty Kelly and Kyle Cooper but the closest the home side would come was a close range David Beaton effort which Stephen Mather clawed behind at his near post.

As the clock ticked down Saints gave a debut to youth team product Louie MacFarlane who looks to have a bright future ahead of him before Mr Todd brought proceedings to a close ending Saints Scottish Amateur Cup dreams for another season.

This coming Saturday Saints return to league business with a trip to Dumbarton to face reigning Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions St Patrick's F.P.