Saturday 19th February 2022

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

Sixth Round

Oban Saints 0 - 1 Shortlees

Oban Community Sports Field

Soroba Road

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4JB

Kick Off 1.00pm
Referee Mr Steven Fotheringham

Oban Saints hopes of a return visit to New Douglas Park, Hamilton for a West of Scotland Amateur Cup semi-final appearance were dashed at Oban High School last Saturday. Old foes Shortlees, who Saints had beaten on their last semi-final trip to Hamilton, edged a typically tight encounter with talisman Keir Knapp providing the flash of inspiration in first half stoppage time which ultimately separated the sides.

David Beaton, Lewis Cameron and Kyle Cooper were unavailable however Dene Cassells, Alex Craik, Graham Douglas, Cammy Hill and Jack Wright all returned for Saints most important match of the season so far.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Steven MacLeod, Myles McAuley, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Across the three man midfield were Matty Kelly, Gavin Forgrieve and Daniel MacCuish. Up front were Ross Maitland, Captain Craig MacEwan and Cammy Hill. On the substitutes bench were James Conington, Alex Craik, Ruaridh Horne, Thomas McCrindle and Jack Wright.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

James Conington

Ruaridh Horne

Unused substitutes:-

Alex Craik

Thomas McCrindle

Jack Wright

The recent spell of foul weather forced a switch of venue from Glencruitten to the 3G surface at Oban High School and 2018 Scottish Amateur Cup winners Shortlees kicked off attacking the school end. With the stakes high clear cut chances were understandably at a premium in the early stages with both defences offering good protection to the respective goalkeepers.

Saints forced a series of corner kicks and free-kicks giving Gavin Forgrieve opportunities with the dead ball however the young central midfielder was unable to find the delivery necessary to truly test Garry Murdoch in the Shortlees goal.

At the other end the Saints back four of Steven MacLeod, Myles McAuley, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland were keeping the Shortlees attack in check limiting Keir Knapp and Marc Walker to speculative off target efforts.

The visitors were reduced to ten men in the twenty ninth minute when Marc Walker felled Cammy Hill with an off the ball elbow. Walker protested his innocence however Referee Fotheringham was in no doubt and sent the Shortlees striker packing with a straight red card.

Saints looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage and Skipper Craig MacEwan got the better of opposite number Gordon Minor to tee up Daniel MacCuish with a thirty first minute cutback from the left. The big midfielder had made a good run to get up in support but his shot from the edge of the box was well off target.

Graham Douglas was forced into action in the thirty eighth minute getting down well to his right to push behind a Kristopher Chisolm free-kick after Matty Kelly had been harshly penalised just outside the Saints box.

Daniel MacCuish's troublesome hamstring caused him to pull up in some distress in the forty second minute. A quick rub from David Dunlop's magic sponge did nothing to improve the situation and MacCuish limped off to be replaced by James Conington.

Ninety seconds into first half stoppage time the visitors broke the deadlock with Keir Knapp once again providing the inspiration. The Shortlees talisman, arguably one of the top amateur players of his generation, cut in from the left and angled a right foot cross into the corridor of uncertainty between goalkeeper and defenders. Joseph Gold, another of Shortlees highly decorated stars, made a good run from his midfield berth and held off Dene Cassells to get the slightest of touches to help Knapp's ball beyond Graham Douglas and into the net.

Saints made a promising start to the second half with a Cammy Hill shot over the crossbar before Gavin Forgrieve drew a fine save from Shortlees keeper Garry Murdoch who got down well to his right to push Forgrieve's effort from twenty five yards behind for a corner kick. Forgrieve's delivery from the corner flag was headed out to the edge of the box by Gordon Minor but only as far as Matty Kelly whose snatched volley bounced harmlessly wide.

Joseph Gold talked his way into Referee Fotheringham's notebook in the fifty second minute shortly before wriggling into the Saints box and forcing Graham Douglas to come off his line to smother at the midfielder's feet.

The visitors continued to show little effect of their numerical disadvantage and tested Douglas again when Knapp looped an overhead kick into his arms after Callum Davidson had drawn a good save from the Saints number one.

Dene Cassells' protests at the award of a fifty eighth minute free-kick to the visitors earned him a yellow card with Graham Douglas pushing Keir Knapp's effort with the dead ball behind for a corner kick. Knapp failed to clear the front post from the corner flag and Saints broke swiftly to the other end. Clever feet in the Shortlees box from Craig MacEwan took the Saints Skipper to the corner of the six yard box where an excellent double save from Garry Murdoch to keep his clean sheet in tact brought howls of frustration from the large home support.

Saints made their second and final change replacing Ross Maitland with the fresh legs of Ruaridh Horne.

With twenty minutes remaining Shortlees Gaffer Colin Smith brought on veteran central defender Richie Mullen to ensure things were kept tight at the back with Johnny Sloss making way.

Mullen had only been on the field for two minutes when he received a yellow card from Mr Fotheringham for hauling down Cammy Hill on the corner of the Sortlees box. Gavin Forgrieve found Dene Cassells with his free-kick but, under pressure from Gordon Minor, Cassells couldn't keep his header down.

Another dead ball opportunity presented itself in the seventy fifth minute when Scott Maitland was brought down cutting inside from the left. Cammy Hill tried his luck from twenty two yards but sent his effort high over Garry Murdoch's crossbar.

Saints continued to press for the elusive equaliser but found the miserly Shortlees defence an impossible nut to crack while at the other end the Saints back line had to keep a careful eye on Keir Knapp who still presented a significant threat on the break.

Dene Cassells was pushed forward for the closing stages and his presence in the Shortlees box helped create a half chance for Matty Kelly whose hopeful eightieth minute overhead kick looped in the gloves of Garry Murdoch.

Two minutes into stoppage time Cassells was brought down on the edge of the box with Craig MacEwan this time trying his luck with the free-kick but only succeeding in finding the face of Gordon Minor in the Shortlees wall.

The ten men of Shortlees were successfully running down the clock and Gavin Forgrieve's frustrations boiled over in some unappreciated comments to Mr Fotheringham who showed the young Saints midfielder a straight red card.

As the clock ticked into the ninety sixth minute there was one final chance for Saints to take the tie to a penalty shoot-out when Scott Maitland forced a corner kick on the left. Ruaridh Horne attempted to find the killer ball which had thus far eluded the home side but only succeeded in finding the grateful gloves of Garry Murdoch.

The club extend their grateful thanks to the faithful home support who turned out in huge numbers to cheer to boys on. Unfortunately another crack at a major cup was not to be however with Saints still in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Cinema Cup and facing a massive battle for Premier Division survival there is still plenty of football to be played this season.

The league campaign resumes this coming Saturday with the visit of 2019 Scottish Amateur Cup runners up Eastfield.