A Share Of The Points Is Good Enough For Saints

Saturday 28th May 2022

Eastfield 1 - 1 Oban Saints

Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division
Broadwood Stadium
1 Ardgoil Drive
Cumbernauld
G68 9NE
Kick-off 3pm

Referee Mr. Ryan Stevenson

Oban Saints travelled to Cumbernauld last Saturday to face fellow league strugglers Eastfield in a Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division match which could decide which of the two will have to face a relegation play-off against the third placed side in the Championship. Nothing less than a victory was required for the home side whereas a share of the points would be sufficient for Saints to confirm their Premier League status for another season.

The previous weekend's selection woes eased sufficiently for Gaffer Willie Gemmell to add a full substitutes bench to the bare eleven which had travelled to Kirkintilloch. Goalkeeper availability however remained a major problem with new signing Daniel Terry being thrown straight into the starting eleven in preference to veteran David Dunlop who joined the Gaffer and youngsters Cammy Clark, Zander Craik and Preston Macintyre on the bench. 

Saints kicked off attacking the stadium end at Broadwood and forced a corner kick on the left inside the first minute. Gavin Forgrieve tried to pick out the near post run of Thomas McCrindle with the tall youngster just beaten to the header by Gary McCulloch.

The visitors continued their promising start with a Kyle Cooper shot just wide of Eastfield keeper Michael Robertson's left hand post after a good move from left to right involving Scott Maitland, Daniel MacCuish and Gavin Forgrieve.

Eastfield Skipper Mark Hansen soon started to show the form which has caught the attention of National Team Manager Colin MacLeod and, after getting free on the left, send a cutback to the edge of the box for Stuart Doherty who drew a smart save from Daniel Terry low to his right.

After sending a curling effort of his own wide of target Hansen sent another cutback from the left this time for right fullback Cammy McGhee who blasted a very presentable chance high over the Saints crossbar.

Kyle Cooper's eighteenth minute shot from the right edge of the Eastfield box was well held by Michael Robertson at his near post before Hansen tee'd up Jack Sloss for another off target effort for the hosts.

Saints Skipper Scott Maitland was enjoying a lot of space on the Saints left and strode forward to fizz a twenty fourth minute left foot drive just wide of Robertson's left hand post.

After Kyle Cooper had been brought down on the turn twenty four yards out Gavin Forgrieve lofted the resulting free-kick into the grateful arms of Michael Robertson.

Off target efforts followed from Kyle Cooper and Daniel MacCuish before Cooper opened the scoring  after racing onto a thirty first minute Gavin Forgrieve through ball and thumping the ball past Robertson.

The hosts freshened up their attack early in the second half sending on Daniel McDonald to replace Robert Johnston who had bagged a brace in Eastfield's 7 - 3 victory at Glencruitten at the beginning of April.

The change bore fruit for Eastfield when McDonald poked home a Hansen cutback from the right in the sixty sixth minute setting up a rousing finale in the late May sunshine.

Saints Gaffer Willie Gemmell made a change in the sixty eighth minute sending on Cammy Clark to replace Thomas McCrindle in a straight swap in central midfield.

A share of the points was of no use to Eastfield who kept pressing forward in search of a second goal which would have come with fifteen minutes remaining but for a sensational goal-line clearance from Jack Wright.

Alex Craik and Steven MacLeod's vast experience was a massively steadying influence at the back as Saints stood firm to withstand everything which the home side could throw at them. Anything that did get past the Saints back four was comfortably dealt with by Daniel Terry who produced a solid performance on his debut.

Up front the pace of Kyle Cooper and Zander Craik gave the home defence plenty to think about and only a perfectly timed sliding interception by Gary McCulloch prevented Cooper from delivering a hammer blow with six of the regulation ninety minutes remaining.

Referee Ryan Stevenson played seven nerve jangling additional minutes which Saints successfully negotiated with Gavin Forgrieve and Daniel MacCuish, frustratingly for the opposition, running down the clock by the corner flag.

The share of the points assures Saints of Premier Division football next season however 2019 Scottish Amateur Cup losing finalists Eastfield must now play-off against the third placed team in the Championship for the last remaining 2022-23 Premier Division place. 

The home side may not have secured the required victory but they did however win the banter battle with the "f**k up ya teuchter balloon" volley aimed at Saints Gaffer Willie Gemmell who joined the remainder of the Saints contingent in wishing Eastfield all the best for the impending play-off match.

Saints commence their three remaining fixtures this coming Tuesday night with a trip to Paterson Playing Fields to face East of Scotland Amateur Cup winners and Scottish Amateur Cup losing finalists Fallin. Saturday sees the return to Glencruitten of title chasers St Patrick's F.P. with Bannockburn the visitors for the final match of the season on 11th June.   

Kyle Cooper and Mark Hansen with Referee Ryan Stevenson

Daniel Terry

Corner Flag

Kyle Cooper

Michael Robertson

Gavin Forgrieve

Scott Maitland

Thomas McCrindle

Willie Gemmell

Jack Wright

Daniel MacCuish

Steven MacLeod

Mark Hansen

Steven MacLeod heads clear

Gavin Forgrieve and Daniel MacCuish run down the clock

#monthesaints

Five Star Hares Too Strong For Young Saints

Saturday 21st May 2022

Harestanes 5 - 0 Oban Saints

Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division
Merkland Outdoor Recreation Centre
Merkland Place 
Kirkintilloch
G66 3SN
Kick-off 12 noon

Referee Mr. Dougie Gunning

A threadbare Oban Saints squad featuring five teenagers travelled to Kirkintilloch last Saturday for a Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division encounter with title chasing Harestanes. Despite returning home on the wrong side of a five nil score-line the make-shift Saints were far from disgraced and will reflect on a number of missed opportunities which would have given the final score a more presentable appearance.

The all to familiar story of injuries, suspensions, work and family commitments had already taken it's toll on the match day squad so when Seville travel related withdrawals reduced the travelling party to just eleven the odds were firmly stacked against the visitors. Manager Willie Gemmell and Coach Ross Maitland were among the absentees leaving Secretary David Buchanan in sole charge. 

Veteran central defender Alex Craik partnered teenager Thomas McCrindle in central defence and in a landmark moment for the former Saints Manager his son Zander joined Kyle Cooper in attack.

Saints number one Graham Douglas had already produced three saves when the hosts opened the scoring in the twelfth minute. Craig Young stretched the Saints defence on the left wing and delivered a perfect cross for Liam Johnson to slam the ball into the roof of the net at the back post.

The first threat from the visitors came when Douglas did well to intercept a Liam Johnson cross from the right and launched a counter-attack where Scott Maitland and Kyle Cooper linked up to send a through ball for Zander Craik which was fractionally too heavy for the young striker.

James Ford had a twenty two yard shot well held by Hares keeper Chris Calder before a controversial decision by Referee Dougie Gunning gave the hosts the chance to double their advantage from the penalty spot. Mr Gunning penalised Jack Wright for handball a decision which Wright and his team-mates hotly disputed. The Referee carefully explained his reasoning and later advised that his interpretation of the handball rules had been confirmed by a Referee on the senior list rumoured to be a Mr W. Collum. Paul McLaughlin made no mistake from the penalty spot tucking the ball into the bottom corner sending Graham Douglas the wrong way in the process.

Zander Craik had an excellent chance to half the deficit when played in by Gavin Forgrieve in the thirty first minute but the youngster couldn't steer his finish beyond the reach of Chris Calder who made an important save.

Harestanes capitalised fully on this let-off just two minutes later when wingers Liam Johnson and Craig Young combined again this time with Johnson providing a right wing cross for Young to head in at the back post.

Saints opened up the home defence again ten minutes before the interval with Kyle Cooper's finish leaving Chris Calder well beaten before slipping agonisingly wide of the keeper's right hand post.

The Johnson and Young combination struck again for the hosts ten minutes after the restart. Johnson's shot was well saved by Graham Douglas low to his right however the Saints defence couldn't clear the danger and Craig Young pounced to send the ball into the net past the stranded Saints keeper.

To their credit the makeshift Saints refused to let their heads drop and kept probing for the opening which would give them a deserved consolation. Hares number one Chris Calder however was in no mood to give up his highly prized clean sheet and made an excellent one handed save low to his right to keep out a Kyle Cooper shot which looked bound for the bottom corner.

The fifth and final goal of the afternoon had an element of good fortune about it when Graham Douglas' punched clearance went straight to Craig Young who looped a header over Douglas and into the unguarded net to complete his hat-trick.

Dead ball opportunities from the edge of the Harestanes box followed for James Ford and Gavin Forgrieve but on each occasion Chris Calder was equal to the task. Calder also made a comfortable save from a Gavin Forgrieve shot after a deflection had taken the sting out of Forgieve's effort after a strong run forward from the half-way line.

The hosts made all five changes available to them for the closing stages however Saints, despite one or two more scares, dug in well to complete the ninety minutes plus stoppage time without conceding again. 

Referee Dougie Gunning, who had a good game, brought to an end his fiftieth match of the season with half of his match fee once again going to the Beatson Cancer Charity. This has been a magnificent fundraising effort by Mr Gunning for a very worthy cause. You can support Dougie in his efforts on his JustGiving page 'Dougie's Charity Refereeing'.

The win for Harestanes lifts the East Dunbartonshire men to the top of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division ahead of Drumchapel on goal difference. Also still very much in the title race are Lesmahagow and St Patrick's F.P. ensuring a fascinating four-way tussle for the Premier Division trophy.

A similarly exciting climax to the season is assured at the other end of the table where despite Greenock High School F.P's  and Drumchapel United PYM's relegation to the Championship being confirmed some time ago Saints remain embroiled in a battle with Eastfield and Uddingston Anvil to avoid a play-off place with the third placed Championship side. 

Saints fans were due a midweek treat this coming Wednesday when title hopefuls St Patrick's F.P. were scheduled for a return to replay last September's league fixture which was abandoned after a nasty collision between Scott Maitland and St. Pat's goalkeeper Dominic Donaldson. However with the League's Fixture Secretary still trying the shoehorn in St. Pat's eight remaining fixtures they have been spared a trip to Oban in favour of a match closer to home.

This coming Saturday Saints play their penultimate away fixture when they travel to Broadwood to face Eastfield in a match which will go a long way to deciding the final standings at the foot of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division. 

Team Captains Scott Maitland and James Mulvay with Referee Dougie Gunning

Graham Douglas

Alex Craik

Jack Wright and Craig Young

Referee Dougie Gunning

Gavin Forgrieve and Paul McLaughlin

Kyle Cooper

Chris Calder

Scott Maitland

#monthesaints

DJ Forbes Leaves Saints In A Spin

Saturday 14th May 2022

Central Scottish Amateur Football League

Premier Division

Oban Saints 0 - 1 Drumchapel Amateurs

Oban Community Sports Field

Soroba Road

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4JB

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Tony McCann

Oban Saints welcomed title contenders Drumchapel Amateurs to Oban High School last Saturday afternoon for a Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division clash with three more valuable league points up for grabs.

Despite competing well against the league leaders the home side ultimately succumbed to a second half headed goal from veteran midfielder and legendary disc jockey David Forbes which sent Drumchapel three points clear at the top of table and leaves Saints still perilously close to the relegation places.  

Work commitments kept Manager Willie Gemmell away from the touchline therefore Coaches Ross Maitland and Peter MacCallum and Secretary David Buchanan once again took charge of team affairs. The familiar story of injuries, suspensions, work and family commitments hampered the Management team's options and necessitated call-up's for Kenneth Black, Ollie Sharp and David Smith to bolster the squad numbers.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Jack Wright, Alex Craik, Thomas McCrindle and Scott Maitland. Holding the midfield were Gavin Forgrieve and Daniel MacCuish with James Ford, Matty Kelly and Captain Craig MacEwan behind central striker Kyle Cooper. On the substitutes bench were Kenneth Black, Cammy Clark, David Dunlop, Ollie Sharp and David Smith.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Cammy Clark

Ollie Sharp

Unused substitutes:-

Kenneth Black

David Dunlop

David Smith

Making his final appearance before retirement Saints Skipper Craig MacEwan got the action underway attacking the Glencruitten end and had a hand in setting up the first opportunity of the afternoon in the second minute. Linking up well on the left with Matty Kelly and Kyle Cooper, MacEwan picked out James Ford on the edge of the box for a low right foot shot which grazed the outside of Drumchapel keeper Stephen Mather's right hand post.

Mather made an excellent double save four minutes later to deny James Ford and Matty Kelly. Kelly cut in well from the left and found Ford for a shot from twelve yards which Mather did well to stop. The big keeper couldn't hold Ford's shot but recovered quickly to smother Kelly's effort on the rebound.

Teenage striker Kyle Cooper was inches away from connecting with Scott Maitland's eighth minute cross from the left as the bright start continued for the home side.

Visitors Drumchapel have shown remarkable resilience to recover from last month's devastating defeat to Tollcross Thistle in the much delayed 2020 Scottish Amateur Cup Final and they slowly began to gain the upper hand in the vital midfield battle.

Saints right fullback Jack Wright did well to head a twentieth minute Alan Kelly right wing cross behind for a corner kick and repeated the feat to head away Kelly's delivery from the corner flag.

Dead ball expert Kelly's deep twenty third minute corner kick from the right picked out Kerr Hunter at the back post however, under pressure from Daniel MacCuish, the big striker couldn't direct his header on target.

Stephen Mather positioned himself well to reach up and catch Gavin Forgrieve's attempted lob from the edge of the box before launching a counter attack which saw Jamie Ross curl a delightful left foot effort beyond the reach of Graham Douglas and onto the crossbar.

The visitors had the ball in the net in the thirty third minute however Referee Tony McCann, who handled proceedings well, correctly ruled that David Forbes had strayed offside to head home a Jamie Ross cross from the left.

Central defender Paul McConachie joined the attack in the thirty sixth minute and delivered a dangerous cross come shot from the right which Graham Douglas could only palm across the face of goal with Jack Wright fortunately on hand to mop up the danger.

Douglas' handling was assured in claiming a flicked on throw-in from the right before launching a counter-attack which saw Kyle Cooper send a cutback from the right fractionally behind the supporting run of Matty Kelly.

Not the tallest on the park by some distance veteran Drumchapel midfielder David Forbes still posed the greatest aerial threat with his fortieth minute header from an Alan Kelly corner kick from the right flying inches wide of target.

The Kelly and Forbes combination produced the only goal of the game in the fifty fourth minute when Forbes' header from Kelly's free-kick was parried by Graham Douglas but only back into the path of Forbes who poked home from close range.

Saints responded with a deep cross from Craig MacEwan which Scott Maitland did well to reach with a diving back post header which was well held by Stephen Mather followed by a Gavin Forgrieve shot from twenty five yards which flew just wide of the postage stamp corner.

Daniel MacCuish's sixty seventh minute trip on Alan Kelly gave Kelly another dead-ball opportunity which he gratefully accepted with a curling effort which had Graham Douglas at full stretch to push behind for a corner kick. Kelly went short from the corner flag accepting a return pass before jinking into the box and lofting a cross for David Forbes whose header was parried by Graham Douglas before being thumped clear by Gavin Forgrieve.

Injury cut short Thomas McCrindle's afternoon with Cammy Clark joining the action as his seventy seventh minute replacement. In Saints only other change Ollie Sharp's recent impressive performances for the club's second string were rewarded with a first team debut at the expense of James Ford.

Kyle Cooper's strong running on the right forced an eighty seventh minute corner kick on the right from where Craig MacEwan's downward header was taken off the toes of Ollie Sharp by Sean Keegan. 

That was as close as Saints would come to breaching the Drumchapel defence who remained relatively untroubled during the five additional minutes allowed by Mr McCann confirming a narrow but fully deserved victory for the visitors.

Saints face another massive test this coming Saturday when they travel to Kirkintilloch to face second placed Harestanes who are in a four way fight for the Premier Division title with Drumchapel, Lesmahagow and St Patrick's F.P.

James Ford and Adam Douglas

  

Craig MacEwan

Daniel MacCuish

Thomas McCrindle

Daniel MacCuish and Kerr Hunter aerial joust

Ross Maitland

Graham Douglas saves Alan Kelly's free-kick

Stephen Mather

Cammy Clark and Christopher Malone

Kyle Cooper

Kyle Cooper and David Forbes

Gavin Forgrieve

#monthesaints

Saints Generate The Power To See Off Dynamo

Saturday 30th April 2022

Central Scottish Amateur Football League

Premier Division

Oban Saints 2 - 1 Castlemilk Dynamo

Oban Community Sports Field

Soroba Road

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4JB

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Pat O'Donnell

A second half brace from teenage striker Kyle Cooper secured three valuable Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division points for Oban Saints at Oban High School last Saturday afternoon. The D&K Lafferty Contractors and MKM Builders Merchants sponsored home side had to come from behind to edge out 2020 Division One Champions Castlemilk Dynamo who had taken a sixteenth minute lead through a deflected Gregg Twaddle effort.

The disappointingly poor state of the grass surface at Glencruitten forced a switch of venue to the artificial surface at Oban High School which it's self had recently benefitted from some much needed maintenance work. 

Suspension kept Manager Willie Gemmell away from the touchline therefore Coaches Ross Maitland and Peter MacCallum and Secretary David Buchanan took charge of team affairs. The Management team's options were restricted by the absence of David Beaton and Fraser MacFarlane who remain on the injured list while Gavin Forgrieve served the final instalment of his three match suspension.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Jack Wright, Steven MacLeod, Thomas McCrindle and Scott Maitland. Holding the midfield were Myles McAuley and Daniel MacCuish with James Ford, Matty Kelly and Captain Craig MacEwan behind central striker Kyle Cooper. On the substitutes bench were James Conington and Alex Craik.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

James Conington

Alex Craik

When the two sides met six months previously in the reverse league fixture Dene Cassells was Saints two goal hero in a share of the spoils at Toryglen. The now retired Cassells was one of six changes to the starting line-up for round seventeen of Saints inaugural Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division campaign. The visitors too were much changed with just seven survivors from the previous encounter joining the severely depleted twelve man travelling party.

Saints started brightly and had an early appeal for a penalty kick dismissed by Referee Pat O'Donnell when a Kyle Cooper cross from the left was prevented from reaching intended target Craig MacEwan by a Dynamo arm.

Cooper's pace was causing problems for the visitor's defence but twice when in behind the Dynamo back line the teenage striker failed to test goalkeeper Christopher Hanley.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play when Gregg Twaddle intercepted a Thomas McCrindle pass out from the back. Despite the combined efforts of McCrindle and central defensive partner Steven MacLeod Twaddle managed to get his shot away from the edge of the Saints box where a heavy deflection sent the ball spinning over Graham Douglas and into the net.

Saints responded well to going behind but the Dynamo rear guard with Wullie Hewitt at it's heart defended doggedly with vital last gasp interceptions to deny Kyle Cooper and Craig MacEwan.

Teenage central defender Thomas McCrindle made a good connection with a thirty sixth minute corner kick from the left but his solid downward header was well held by Christopher Hanley in the Dynamo goal.

Hanley was called into action again just before the interval when Craig MacEwan jinked into the Dynamo box on the left but, under pressure from Dominic Larkin, the Skipper couldn't generate enough power in his finish to beat Hanley who made a comfortable save.

The home side made the perfect start to the second half drawing level after just two minutes. Myles McAuley won possession on the halfway line and fed Jack Wright on the right. Wright cut inside and sent Craig MacEwan away on the left from where the Skipper lofted a left foot cross onto the head of Kyle Cooper who nodded home from six yards.

The visitors responded straight from the re-start with Skipper Connaire Dawson driving into the Saints box on the right forcing Graham Douglas into a smart save at his near post.

The woodwork came to Dynamo's rescue in the fiftieth minute when from a short Myles McAuley free-kick Craig MacEwan peeled out wide on the left to receive a Thomas McCrindle pass. MacEwan again sent over an inviting cross which Matty Kelly dived to head onto the crossbar with Christopher Hanley well beaten.

A fifty second minute flick-on from Craig MacEwan was anticipated well by Kyle Cooper however the teenage strikers low powered finish was comfortably fielded by the Dynamo keeper.

The visitors main threat came from set-pieces and Graham Douglas produced a fine save to deny Connaire Dawson in the fifty fifth minute throwing himself to his right to push behind the Dynamo Skipper's twenty two yard free-kick.

Another shot off target from Kyle Cooper lead to Saints doubling their advantage after fifty eight minutes. After Cooper had sent a promising opportunity wide of Christopher Hanley's right hand post the Dynamo keeper scuffed his goal-kick straight back to Cooper who this time made no mistake in slotting past Hanley to complete his brace.

Graham Douglas was adjudged to have fouled Gregg Twaddle well outside of his penalty box in the sixty second minute when attempting to intercept a ball over the top. Referee Pat O'Donnell was satisfied that a yellow card was sufficient punishment for the Saints number one who promptly redeemed his error with another flying save to deny Connaire Dawson.

Dynamo's aerial threat from set-pieces was in evidence in the seventy third minute when Dominic Larkin powered a header from a Dawson corner kick on target. The value of having a man on the post was also evident when Jack Wright climbed well to head Larkin's effort behind for another corner kick.

Injuries forced youngsters Kyle Cooper and Thomas McCrindle off with their places being taken by James Conington and Alex Craik. The visitors had even less options on the bench and used the only substitution available to them in the seventy fifth minute when Samuel Edun replaced Anthony Quinn.

Graham Douglas continued his good display with a brave save at the feet of Gregg Twaddle in the eighty fifth minute when another ball over the top had the Saints defence scampering back towards their own goal.   

The visitors battled hard for an equaliser showing all of the determination which had propelled them to a five trophy haul in two seasons but the Saints defence stood firm and it was the hosts who would come closest to adding to the scoring in the dying stages. A quick throw from Graham Douglas found Daniel MacCuish in the centre circle who turned away from Mark Blakey and raced through on goal. Christopher Hanley took the sting out of MacCuish's left foot shot from the eighteen yard line but couldn't prevent the ball from crossing the goal line from where Alexander Tran hooked the ball away. Crucially Referee O'Donnell was less convinced that the ball had crossed the line than the already celebrating Saints players and waved played on. Mr O'Donnell remained unmoved by the Saints appeals for the goal to stand eventually flashing a yellow card in the direction of Matty Kelly.

There were four added minutes for the anxious home crowd to endure before Referee O'Donnell, who had a good game, brought proceedings to a close confirming a much needed three points for Saints. 

This coming Saturday Saints travel to Wishaw Sports Centre to face Wishaw High School Former Pupils.  

Team Captains Craig MacEwan and Connaire Dawson with Referee Pat O'Donnell

Thomas McCrindle

Kyle Cooper and Alexander Tran

Scott Maitland

Matty Kelly

Craig MacEwan and Dominic Larkin

Daniel MacCuish

Graham Douglas

Steven MacLeod gets his head to a Dynamo corner kick

Daniel MacCuish raced through with Alexander Tran in pursuit

#monthesaints