Saturday 12th March 2022

Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League

Bobby Thomson Challenge Cup

Round Two

Oban Saints 2 - 4 Duncanrig

Oban Community Sports Field

Soroba Road

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4JB

Kick Off 1.00pm

Referee Mr Martin Rae

Heavy overnight rain forced the postponement of Oban Saints scheduled Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division clash with Bannockburn leaving the club's second string, Oban Saints GG, to take centre stage at Oban High School last Saturday afternoon.

The Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League Bobby Thomson Challenge Cup second round tie with Duncanrig kept the large home crowd richly entertained with the tie in the balance until the dying seconds when the visitors finally sealed victory in stoppage time.

Saints GG Gaffer Donald Black's team selection woes continued with a string off call-offs forcing him once again to turn to the first team squad for assistance. First team Manager Willie Gemmell was only too happy to oblige and supplied James Ford and Thomas McCrindle who were both in need of game time. Also answering the call was veteran Paul Kerr who shut the Floorshop early to provide an experienced head in central midfield.

Saints GG lined-up with Murdo Mackenzie in goal behind a back three of Alex Carson, Kenneth Black and Thomas McCrindle. Across the five man midfield were Aaron McKay, Ruaridh Munro, Paul Kerr, Ryan Barclay and Captain Craig Livingstone. Up front were Ollie Sharp and Lennon Campbell. The substitutes bench consisted Andrew Barclay, Alan Buchanan, Lewis Campbell, James Ford and Fraser MacFarlane.

Oban Saints GG starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Fraser MacFarlane

James Ford

Alan Buchanan

Andrew Barclay

Lewis Campbell

Visitors Duncanrig, who currently sit in second place in Greater Glasgow Amateur Premier Amateur Football League Division 3A, started strongly with Saints seemingly struggling to come to terms with the latest enforced personnel changes.

A suspiciously offside looking Jack Belshaw was allowed to continue in the ninth minute by Referee Martin Rae with Murdo Mackenzie getting to the slightest of touches to divert Belshaw's shot onto his left hand upright. The rebound fell nicely for Kyle McCaskell who saw his net bound effort blocked by an excellent interception by Alex Carson.

The early pressure bore fruit for the visitors after eight minutes when Paul Slavin's vicious in-swinging corner kick from the right was punched into the roof of his own net by Murdo Mackenzie.

Duncanrig doubled their advantage two minutes later from another Slavin corner kick which the Saints defence failed to clear after several attempts with the ball eventually finding it's way to Jack Belshaw who had space and time to slot low past the wrong footed Mackenzie.

Saints responded with a dangerous cross from Aaron McKay on the right which Captain Craig Livingstone narrowly failed to connect with before a swift counter attack from the visitors saw Kyle McCaskell clatter the base of Mackenzie's right hand post.

Paul Kerr rolled back the years with an influential performance in the middle of the park and found Aaron McKay with a long ball in the twenty first minute. McKay took the ball down well and played in Lennon Campbell for a shot which was deflected just wide of target.

The resurgent Saints were denied twice in quick succession by Duncanrig keeper Ryan Hendry who acrobatically tipped over a dipping Thomas McCrindle shot before pushing Paul Kerr's header from Aaron McKay's delivery from the corner flag over for another corner kick.

McKay conjured up another good delivery and picked out Ryan Barclay's late run into the six yard box for a cushioned volley past Hendry to half the deficit.

The woodwork came to Saints rescue again on the stroke of half time when the home defence were caught in possession playing out from the back with Jack Belshaw nipping in to smack a shot off Murdo Mackenzie's right hand post.

Saints made a promising start to the second half with Paul Kerr and Aaron McKay both coming close with shots from the edge of the Duncanrig box.

Manager Donald Black made his first changes after fifty three minutes sending on Fraser MacFarlane and James Ford to replace Thomas McCrindle and Lennon Campbell.

Saints failure to deal with a corner kick cost them dearly again in the fifty fifth minute. Paul Slavin's delivery from the left was headed out to the edge of the box and the unmarked Kyle McCaskell who sent a stunning strike past a static Murdo Mackenzie to reinstate the visitors two goal advantage.

Duncanrig keeper Ryan Hendry needed two attempts to gather Ruaridh Munro's dipping sixty seventh minute effort from twenty eight yards as Saints resumed their efforts for a route back into the match.

The visitors remained a constant threat on the break and Alex Carson made a good covering challenge to deny Jack Belshaw in the sixty fourth minute after the Duncanrig striker had got away from Ryan Barclay.

Belshaw and Barclay were in direct opposition again in the seventieth minute when an excellent stretching recovery challenge from Barclay prevented Belshaw from bursting through. Barclay's challenge however came at a high cost as he was forced to limp off with a hamstring strain. Younger brother Andrew got the call to join the action from the substitutes bench.

Central defender Alex Carson brought Saints back into contention with eleven minutes remaining. Carson's attempted cross on the run from the right deceived Ryan Hendry who was left clawing at thin air as the ball flew into the top corner.

Alan Buchanan and Lewis Campbell replaced Ruaridh Munro and Ollie Sharp for the closing stages where Saints battled hard for an equaliser which would take the tie to a penalty shoot-out.

Aaron McKay showed good anticipation to step in and win possession in the centre circle before racing forward for an eighty fourth minute left foot strike from twenty five yards which flew just wide of Ryan Hendry's right hand post.

The Duncanrig defence were doing a good job of protecting their goalkeeper but when Hendry was finally called into action he made an excellent save low to his left to push away a net bound James Ford shot from twenty two yards.

With Saints pushing everything they had into their pursuit of an equaliser they were picked off on the counter-attack in the second of the four additional minutes allowed by Referee Martin Rae. Andrew Barclay was left one on one with Jack Belshaw who raced away from the youngster to slot past Murdo Mackenzie and seal his side's progress to the third round.

This coming Saturday Oban Saints host high flying Lesmahagow in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division. Saints GG have a free week.