Sunday, 3 April 2022

Cooper Brace Secures The Points

Saturday 2nd April 2022
Uddingston Anvil 0 - 2 Oban Saints
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division
Dalziel Park
Hagen Drive
Motherwell
ML1 5RZ
Kick-off 2pm
Referee Mr. Sam Arthur

A much changed Oban Saints squad featuring five teenagers travelled to Dalziel Park, Motherwell last Saturday for a Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division encounter with Uddingston Anvil. The Lanarkshire men had won the reverse fixture at Glencruitten in November but it was Saints who would prevail on this occasion with a brace from teenage striker Kyle Cooper edging a hard fought encounter in the visitor's favour.

The familiar story of injuries, suspensions, work and family commitments forced Manager Willie Gemmell to call up three bright prospects from the club's under 16's to bolster the squad, all of whom made meaningful contributions on the day. 

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Fraser MacFarlane, Steven MacLeod, Willie Gemmell and Scott Maitland. Across the four man midfield were Preston Macintyre, Thomas McCrindle, Daniel MacCuish and James Ford with Kyle Cooper partnering Captain Craig MacEwan up front. The substitutes bench consisted of teenagers Michael Campbell and Aidan MacDonald and evergreen veteran Alex Craik.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-






Used substitutes:-
Michael Campbell
Aidan MacDonald

Unused substitute:-
Alex Craik


The lack of numbers dictated a stating role in central defence for Gaffer Gemmell alongside the ever reliable Steven MacLeod with the experienced pair playing a significant part in a highly prized clean sheet for number one Graham Douglas.

Handed a rare starting role in the unfamiliar position of right back Fraser MacFarlane had a hand in Saints first meaningful foray into opposition territory sending Craig MacEwan away on the right in the seventh minute. The Skipper got away from young Anvil left-back Reece McAuley and fired a low cross to strike partner Kyle Cooper who scuffed an attempt harmlessly wide of target.

Graham Douglas had his first taste of action sixty seconds later safely gathering a cushioned back post volley from John Goodwin after Saints had struggled to clear a Robert Dimmer corner kick from the left.

Anvil's young centre forward Kieron Markey was keeping the Saints back line on their toes and his twelfth minute knock down found Dimmer for a twenty five yard effort which sailed over the crossbar.

Daniel MacCuish's twenty second minute through ball sent Kyle Cooper racing into the Anvil box but Cooper's cut-back failed to find intended recipient Preston Macintyre. The young winger, who impressed on his first team starting debut, did well to retrieve the ball on the right and clip a cross for Cooper whose header looped into the gloves of Anvil keeper David McKegney.

The deadlock was broken in the twenty sixth minute following a stramash in the Uddingston box from a Willie Gemmell free-kick flighted in from the Saints left. Thomas McCrindle won the initial header and after several failed Anvil clearances the ball landed kindly for Kyle Cooper whose goal bound effort was deflected up and over McKegney before finding the top corner of the net.

Kyle Cooper's turn of pace was a constant threat to the Anvil defence and when Daniel MacCuish sent the speedy striker racing away from Ross Ferguson just after the half hour David McKegney had to make a smart save low to his left to deny Cooper a second goal.

At the other end Graham Douglas had to be sure with his handling in dealing with a bouncing effort from Robert Dimmer with Kieron Markey waiting to pounce on any miss-field.

Thomas McCrindle's height in the penalty area was a good target for Saints set-pieces and Willie Gemmell's fortieth minute free-kick duly found the youngster for a header which cleared the Anvil crossbar.

In the last action of the first half McCrindle again got his head to a Gemmell free-kick this time placing his header on target only to see David McKegney make a good save low to his right to keep the deficit at one going into the interval.

Thankfully the slow second half start which has blighted Saints season so far was not in evidence and the visitors doubled their advantage four minutes after the restart. From an Anvil corner kick Saints countered with Graham Douglas picking out Daniel MacCuish who in turn fed central midfield partner Thomas McCrindle. The tall youngster's perfectly weighted ball through the inside left channel opened up the home defence for Kyle Cooper who made no mistake in slotting the ball across McKegney and into the bottom corner.

The pair were involved again in the fifty third minute with McCrindle heading over a corner kick won by Cooper on the left.

Saints Gaffer Willie Gemmell was determined that teenagers Michael Campbell and Aidan MacDonald were not just there to make up the numbers and gave both good minutes as second half replacements.

There was a let-off for Saints in the sixty fifth minute when Kieron Markey was left unattended at the near post to head a Robert Dimmer free-kick from the left inches wide of target.

Anvil keeper McKegney made another good save to deny Kyle Cooper from close range in the sixty seventh minute after good work on the left by Craig MacEwan.

Two minutes later Graham Douglas kept his clean sheet in tact by finger tipping a thumping Paul Finnigan drive over his crossbar as the hosts kept up their pursuit of a route back into the game.

Anvil youngster Reece McAuley, who impressed on the left of the back four, made a vital interception to halt Kyle Cooper's progress in the seventy first minute before Cooper's electric pace left the Anvil defence trailing in his wake once again two minutes later. However, after being forced wide by keeper McKegney, Cooper could only find the side netting with his finish from an acute angle.

The hosts tested Graham Douglas for the final time with a John Goodwin volley from eighteen yards which the Saints number one held comfortably.

In the first of the four minutes added by Referee Sam Arthur Kyle Cooper was denied his hat-trick when he crashed a shot off the crossbar with keeper McKegney well beaten. 

This coming Saturday Saints host 2019 Scottish Amateur Cup runners up Eastfield in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division. Referee Chris Irving takes charge for the 2pm kick-off at Glencruitten. 


Team Captains Craig MacEwan and Alan Inch with Referee Sam Arthur


Steven MacLeod

 
Daniel MacCuish


 
Preston Macintyre


 
Craig MacEwan celebrates Kyle Cooper's opening goal


Craig MacEwan and Preston Macintyre congratulate Kyle Cooper on his opening goal


Kyle Cooper and Ross Ferguson


Willie Gemmell


Graham Douglas


Thomas McCrindle heads over


David McKegney


Aidan MacDonald



Michael Campbell


#monthesaints

No comments:

Post a Comment