Saturday 26th February 2022

Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League

Division 3A

Oban Saints 2 - 3 Viewfield Rovers

Oban Community Sports Field

Soroba Road

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4JB

Kick Off 2.30pm

Referee Mr Jim Feerick

Following the postponement of Oban Saints Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division match against Eastfield the club's second string, Oban Saints GG, took centre stage at Oban High School last Saturday afternoon.

The Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League Division 3A clash with Viewfield Rovers kept the large crowd richly entertained with the visitors coming out on top by the odd goal in five after a stirring comeback from a two goal deficit.

Saints GG Gaffer Donald Black's team selection woes continued with a string off call-offs forcing him to turn to the first team squad for assistance. First team Manager Willie Gemmell was only too happy to oblige and supplied youngsters Gavin Forgrieve and Kyle Cooper and the ever dependable Alex Craik. In perhaps the biggest shock of all Gemmell himself accepted a starting role in central defence alongside fellow veteran Craik.

Saints GG lined-up with Murdo Mackenzie in goal behind a back four of Ollie Sharp, Willie Gemmell, Alex Craik and Craig Livingstone. Across the three man midfield were Pearce Mcbeth, Captain Martin Bonar and Gavin Forgrieve. Up front were Kyle Cooper, Lewis Buchanan and Lennon Campbell. The substitutes bench consisted Andrew Barclay, Ruairidh Buchanan, Lewis Campbell, Fraser MacFarlane and Andrew Ritchie.

Oban Saints GG starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Fraser MacFarlane

Andrew Ritchie

Ruairidh Buchanan

Lewis Campbell

Unused substitute:-

Andrew Barclay

The match got off to the best possible start for the hosts when Craig Livingstone's long ball up the left was misjudged by Viewfield keeper Kyle Keegan with Lennon Campbell nipping in to head the loose ball into the unguarded net and give Saints a first minute lead.

Sixty seconds later Saints were just a post's width away from doubling their advantage when Kyle Cooper's cushioned volley from Gavin Forgrieve's corner kick came back off Kyle Keegan's left hand upright.

With the strong wind at their backs the visitors soon began to take control of the vital midfield area however the Saints back four of Sharp, Gemmell, Craik and Livingstone were doing just enough to keep the Viewfield attack at bay.

Josh Smith was a thorn in the flesh for the Saints defence without managing to test Murdo Mackenzie between the posts. When he was called into action Mackenzie twice denied Viewfield skipper Dean Patrick from dead ball opportunities and made a brave save at the feet of Robbie Manley.

Saints GG Gaffer Donald Black made his first change after thirty five minutes replacing the out of sorts Lennon Campbell with Fraser MacFarlane. The introduction of MacFarlane gave Saints renewed impetus and the new front three of Buchanan, Cooper and MacFarlane linked well on the stroke of half-time to carve out an opportunity for Cooper who saw his effort from eighteen yards well blocked by Daniel Kelly.

Saints began the second half in the same style as the first doubling their advantage just two minutes after the re-start. Craig Livingstone's ball out from the back was picked up by Lewis Buchanan who drove forward before sending a perfectly weighted pass into the stride of Fraser MacFarlane. The diminutive striker raced away from Daniel Kelly and Sam Reilly before clipping a composed finish past Kyle Keegan.

Andrew Ritchie replaced Pearce Mcbeth to join Skipper Martin Bonar and Gavin Forgrieve in central midfield where Saints struggled to assert any authority.

Murdo Mackenzie, who was in inspired form, made an excellent point blank save to deny Callum Scullion in the fifty second minute while at the other end opposite number Kyle Keegan was relieved to see a wind assisted Willie Gemmell effort from the half-way line clear his crossbar by a matter of inches.

Kyle Cooper's injury woes continued when he limped off after sixty one minutes to be replaced by Ruairidh Buchanan in a straight swap on the left of the front three.

With twenty three minutes remaining a sensational twenty eight yard left foot strike from Josh Smith flew high into the net well beyond the reach of Murdo Mackenzie to kick start a stunning comeback from the visitors.

The Viewfield Manager made an inspired substitution with the introduction of Connor Goldie who drew his side level after seventy six minutes after turning away from the clearly struggling Alex Craik to slam the ball high into the net past the left hand of Murdo Mackenzie.

The injuries continued to mount up for Saints with Lewis Buchanan the latest to limp off. Buchanan was replaced by Lewis Campbell another promising graduate from the club's youth set-up.

With five of the regulation ninety minutes remaining Saints had a rare opportunity to test Kyle Keegan after Fraser MacFarlane had been brought down thirty yards from goal. A scorer of many sensational free-kicks in his pomp, Willie Gemmell was unable to turn the clock back and could only find the grateful arms of the Viewfield keeper.

Murdo Mackenzie continued to defy the odds and made another fine save to deny central defender Daniel Kelly who had been pushed forward into attack for the closing stages.

Mackenzie saved a third free-kick from Viewfield Skipper Dean Patrick in the ninety second minute as the battling Saints looked to have secured a share of the points. From the resulting corner kick however Saints were left appealing in vain for a Connor Goldie foul on Lewis Campbell on the left edge of the eighteen yard box. Referee Jim Feerick saw nothing wrong and Goldie didn't wait about for an inquest spinning into the box and curling a left foot shot into the far corner for a last gasp winner for the Lochwinnoch men.

This Saturday coming Saints GG face another huge test when they travel to face league leaders Houston United who have yet to drop a single point in this season's Division 3A campaign.

First team Gaffer Willie Gemmell will take his charges to the famously immaculate grass surface at Eastgate for a Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division encounter with Gartcosh United.