Saturday 5th March 2022

Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division
Gartcosh United 0 - 1 Oban Saints
Eastgate
Gartcosh
Glasgow
G69 8AT
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Ross Stirling

A flash of inspiration from Oban Saints Skipper Craig MacEwan earned his side three valuable Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division points at Eastgate last Saturday afternoon. Despite going down to ten men in the forty second minute hosts Gartcosh United remained a constant threat with Saints unable to find the vital killer second goal and ultimately happy to claim victory by the narrowest of margins.

Manager Willie Gemmell's team selection options where stretched once again and Daniel Cassells answered the SOS call to take the gloves for the second time this season producing a typically assured performance with the added bonus of a highly prized clean sheet. Gemmell sprang a surprise by handing Jack Wright a starting role at right back while James Conington was pushed forward into the front three with Kyle Cooper and Craig MacEwan. Making a welcome return after a lengthy absence was James Ford.

Saints lined up with Daniel Cassells in goal behind a back four of Jack Wright, Steven MacLeod, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Across the three man midfield were Myles McAuley, Gavin Forgrieve and Matty Kelly. Up front were James Conington, Kyle Cooper and Captain Craig MacEwan. On the bench were James Ford, Willie Gemmell, Ross Maitland and Thomas McCrindle.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-
James Ford

Ross Maitland

Unused substitutes:-
Willie Gemmell

Thomas McCrindle

Saints survived a couple of early scares from hosts Gartcosh who came into the match off the back of a confidence boosting 10 - 1 rout of Uddingston Anvil the previous weekend. Philip Dolan shot just over the crossbar from the edge of the box in the tenth minute before two minutes later Ross Fisher raced away from Dene Cassells on right to send a low shot across the face of goal and inches wide of the far post.

A major weapon in the Gartcosh arsenal is the prodigious throw-in of left fullback Jordan Murphy. Dene Cassells headed Murphy's fifteenth minute throw-in from the left out of play for another throw on the right which Matty Kelly headed away launching a counter-attack on the Saints left. Kyle Cooper looked set to skip past Bradley Renfrew but the right fullback halted the youngster's progress at the expense of a free-kick midway inside the Gartcosh half.

Gavin Forgrieve's delivery from the left was won in the air by Myles McAuley whose header was controlled on the edge of the box by Craig MacEwan who sent a sensational volley flying high into the net beyond Scottish amateur international goalkeeper Stuart Wilson.

Kyle Cooper came close to doubling Saints advantage in the twenty fifth minute with an effort very much inspired by the Skipper's opener. Scott Maitland made a good interception at the back and quickly looked to turn defence into attack with a ball into midfield for Myles McAuley to carry forward. McAuley in turn picked out Craig MacEwan who ran into traffic with Matty Kelly picking up the loose ball. Kelly's bouncing lay off sat up invitingly for Kyle Cooper whose dipping effort was well saved by Stuart Wilson.

Scott Maitland brought down Gartcosh right winger Ross Fisher in the twenty seventh minute with Daniel Cassells getting down well to his right to gather Scott Starrs' free-kick.

Cassells was called into action again five minutes later this time diving to his left to turn Philip Dolan's shot round the post for a corner kick. Scott Starrs' delivery from the right found the head of Stewart Diamond but the big central defender sent his header high over the crossbar.

The home side were reduced to ten men in the forty second minute when Referee Ross Stirling flashed a red card in the direction of Daniel Kinlan for his retaliation after a robust challenge from Jack Wright.

Two minutes into the second half Wright made a telling contribution in his own eighteen yard box with a vital interception to take the ball off the toes of Dylan Kerr after a good run on the right by Philip Dolan.

Having previously been deployed in defence and midfield James Conington was enjoying his new role in attack and latched onto Craig MacEwan's forty eighth minute flick-on to drive into the Gartcosh box. Conington held off the challenge of Jordan Murphy before firing off a shot which Stuart Wilson saved well to his right.

Referee Stirling gave the hosts the benefit of a close offside call in the fiftieth minute halting Kyle Cooper in his tracks. Five minutes later Mr Stirling harshly ruled against Cooper again chalking off what appeared to be a perfectly good goal for offside.

The ten men kept up their search for an equaliser giving Saints plenty opportunities to hit on the counter-attack. Jack Wright won possession midway inside the Saints half and sent Kyle Cooper off on another run. Cooper did well to hold off Stewart Diamond and play in Matty Kelly who was denied by Stuart Wilson who smothered the ball at Kelly's feet.

Saints Gaffer Willie Gemmell made his first change with twenty seven minutes remaining replacing James Conington with James Ford. Fit again after a lengthy spell on the side lines Ford was quickly involved in the action linking well with Kyle Cooper and Matty Kelly before firing in a shot from eighteen yards which was blocked en-route to goal. Referee Ross Stirling, who handled proceedings well, dismissed the loud Saints appeals for a penalty kick.

Not quite at it's early season best the bobbly grass surface at Eastgate gave Daniel Cassells a scare causing him to spill a sixty eighth minute from substitute Gary Pettigrew before making a good recovery to gather the ball at the feet of Dylan Kerr.

Myles McAuley gathered in a seventy third minute free-kick from Gavin Forgrieve and laid the ball off to James Ford for a low shot from eighteen yards which Stuart Wilson held low to his right with Matty Kelly ready to pounce on any handling error from the Gartcosh Skipper.

As the match moved into the closing stages the long throw-ins of Jordan Murphy looked to be the hosts best hope of producing an equaliser but the Saints defence stood firm to repel the aerial bombardment and preserve their clean sheet.

The evergreen Ross Maitland was given a late run out as a replacement for youngster Kyle Cooper as Saints successfully ran down the clock to secure three valuable league points.

This coming Saturday Saints welcome title challengers Bannockburn to Glencruitten.