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.