Monday, 6 June 2022

Ten Man Saints Lose Out To Champions Elect

Saturday 4th June 2022

Central Scottish Amateur Football League

Premier Division

Oban Saints 0 - 3 St Patrick's FP

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr John McNab

Following the previous Saturday's basement battle with Eastfield where Premier Division status was secured for another season Oban Saints had the chance to influence proceedings at the other end of the table when title chasing St Patrick's FP visited Glencruitten last Saturday.

Work commitments kept Manager Willie Gemmell away from the touchline once again leaving Manager Elect Ross Maitland in charge. The usual mixture of injuries, suspensions, work and family commitments restricted Maitland's options however his woes were eased slightly with the inclusion of Dene Cassells who interrupted his retirement to slot in at the back alongside Steven MacLeod. Daniel MacCuish demonstrated his versatility by taking the central striker's role flanked by Zander Craik and Kyle Cooper.

Groundsman Iain Hay had the Glencruitten turf in good condition for Saints penultimate home fixture of a long and arduous season with just the visit of Bannockburn left to complete the league fixtures.

The D&K Lafferty and MKM Building Supplies sponsored Saints got proceedings underway attacking the railway line end in glorious June sunshine and crafted a decent opening after just five minutes. Skipper Scott Maitland sent Zander Craik scurrying up the left wing from where he found Daniel MacCuish in support in the middle. MacCuish picked out Kyle Cooper bursting into the box on the right and the young strikers low strike was turned behind for a corner kick by St Pat's keeper Brian Gallacher. Daniel MacCuish was on the end of Gavin Forgrieve's delivery to the back post but couldn't keep his cushioned volley beneath Gallacher's crossbar.

Young Zander Craik was giving St Pat's right back Neil Allan plenty to think about and another good run from a Dene Cassells pass brought Saints forward again after fifteen minutes. Daniel MacCuish took over driving into the box and sending a cutback from the byeline to Cammy Clark whose side foot finish slipped agonisingly wide of the far post.

Neil Allan's late challenge on Zander Craik gave Gavin Forgrieve the chance to put the ball into the danger area and he duly picked out Daniel MacCuish whose downward header was followed in by Zander Craik with the youngster unfortunate to see his hooked effort on the turn clear Brian Gallacher's crossbar by a matter of inches.

Scott Maitland who has now taken the Skipper's arm band following the retirement of Craig MacEwan joined the attack with a strong thirty second minute run which won a corner kick on the left. Gavin Forgrieve's delivery into the six yard box was well dealt with by St Pat's keeper Brian Gallacher getting good distance on his punch under pressure from Dene Cassells.

Gallacher was tested again from the corner flag sixty seconds later this time making a clean catch in his crowded six yard box.

Having been on the receiving end for the majority of the first half the visitors struck to give themselves a slender advantage going into the interval. Saints couldn't clear a long throw-in from the left and the bouncing ball fell kindly for Scottish Amateur international striker Ciaran Mcelroy who poked to ball home from close range.

The second half began in disastrous fashion for Saints when an unfortunate slip by Dene Cassells, the one blip in an excellent performance from the big central defender, allowed Kevin Mcelroy to race into the box. Graham Douglas came off his line to meet him but only succeeded in bringing down the veteran striker. Douglas was cautioned by Referee John McNab but much worse was to follow when Steven MacLeod received an extremely soft red card for a push on Ciaran Mcelroy. Graham Douglas was beaten from the spot by Kevin Mcelroy leaving Saints to chase a two goal deficit with just ten men.

Young striker Kyle Cooper was sacrificed in favour of Alex Craik with the veteran defender playing a significant role alongside Matty Kelly, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland in keeping the visitors at bay until the dying minutes.

Ten man Saints kept plugging away with both Scott Maitland and James Ford coming close however it was the visitors who had the luxury not just of an extra man but also a strong bench which they would use to good advantage.

Ciaran Mcelroy dropped deep and tee'd up Martin Currie for an eighty fifth minute shot which beat Graham Douglas on his left but came back off the inside of the post. This would be Currie's last involvement and his replacement young Dylan O'Shea would make an instant impact on proceedings. The speedy striker was sent clear by Ciaran Mcelroy and kept his composure to lift the ball over the advancing Graham Douglas to round off the scoring.

The 3 - 0 final score line, although harsh on Saints who contributed greatly to an entertaining spectacle, sets St Pat's up nicely for Monday night's visit from Fallin where a win will secure the Premier Division title for the Dumbarton men.

Steven MacLeod and Matty Kelly keep a close eye on Ciaran Mcelroy

Kevin Mcelroy

Brian Gallacher

Zander Craik with Neil Allan in pursuit

Dene Cassells

Scott Maitland and Michael Symington

Daniel MacCuish

Graham Douglas

Martin Currie

Dylan O'Shea

#monthesaints

Sunday, 5 June 2022

Saints Toil In Tuesday Night Away Trip

Tuesday 31st May 2022

Fallin 6 - 2 Oban Saints

Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division
Paterson Park
Fallin
FK7 7ZH
Kick-off 7pm

Referee Mr. Michael Kerr

Oban Saints made a Tuesday evening trip to Fallin to complete their final away fixture of the season and did so with an understandably thin squad. Full credit must go to the small travelling party who ensured the continuation of the club's proud reputation for never shirking the challenge of a midweek away fixture.

Torrential rain preceded the match however as kick-off approached the rain abated and evening sunshine broke through to shine on the excellent grass surface at Paterson Park.

Scott Maitland's free-kick from the half-way line gave Saints their first chance when Zander Craik headed Maitland's delivery into the path of Cammy Clark who sent his shot into the arms of keeper Michael Watson.

After a good start Saints fell behind to a fifteenth minute Stuart Henderson strike when the Fallin wide man took full advantage after Saints had passed up several opportunities to clear their lines from a throw-in on the Fallin right.

Parity was restored five minutes later from a good move on the Saints left. Skipper Scott Maitland won the ball well on the half-way line allowing Preston Macintyre to venture into Fallin territory. Macintyre played the ball up to Kyle Cooper who held off the challenge of Adam Green before picking out Zander Craik whose shot from eighteen yards smacked the inside of Michael Watson's left hand post before nestling in the net.

The back to back East of Scotland Cup winning hosts regained the lead in controversial circumstances just before the half hour. Stuart Henderson appeared to be well offside when his back heel sent Andrew Mochan away on the left wing however Referee Michael Kerr waved play on. Mochan didn't wait about to debate the decision and raced forward before picking out Michael Weir at the front post for a side foot finish across Graham Douglas.

Fallin's pace and trickery on the wings opened up the Saints defence again in the thirty eighth minute after central defender Adam Green was allowed to carry the ball a long way out from the back before finding Stuart Henderson on the right wing. Henderson got in behind the Saints defence and sent over a well measured cross for Kyle Henderson to head home unchallenged.

Saints came within a whisker of halving the deficit eight minutes into the second half. Cammy Clark threaded a pass through the inside right channel for Zander Craik. The young striker outpaced Fallin fullback Colin Brannan and sent a shot across goalkeeper Watson but inches wide of the far post.

The good start to the second period was undone in the fifty eighth minute after good work on the right wing by Andrew Mochan who found Michael Weir with a cutback from the bye-line which was converted from close range.

Mochan was causing trouble again two minutes later this time cutting in from the right to test Graham Douglas with a low shot which the Saints number one held well.

Coach Ross Maitland made the only change available to him for the final third of the match sending on James Conington to replace young Preston Macintyre who impressed on the left wing.

Saints kept probing for the opening which would bring them back into the match and it was their sense of adventure which lead to the fifth goal for the hosts. A promising sixty fifth minute attack broke down on the edge of the Fallin box and, with Saints over committed in attack, Fallin countered in devastating style for Michael Weir to complete his hat-trick despite Graham Douglas getting a hand to Weir's shot.

Michael Watson gave a glimpse of the form which has attracted the attention of Scottish Amateur National Select Manager Colin MacLeod with an excellent double save to deny Kyle Cooper a seventieth minute consolation after good work on the left from Scott Maitland and James Conington.

Joseph McGuckin had been a constant threat since coming on as a forty ninth minute substitute for Stuart McMeechan and, after speeding past Jack Wright on the left wing, he cut into the Saints box and steered a low finish across Graham Douglas and into the far bottom corner.

To their credit Saints refused to give up and came close again with another Zander Craik effort just wide of target when sent though in the eighty fourth minute by Kyle Cooper.

Saints finally netted for a second time when Cammy Clark cut in from the left and curled a right foot finish past Michael Watson.

Referee Michael Kerr must have been in a hurry to get home as he blew for full time immediately after the restart with three minutes of the ninety plus stoppage time still remaining.

Despite hosts Fallin being worthy winners Saints can take encouragement from the number of chances created against the Scottish Amateur Cup losing finalist and, with a bit of better fortune in front of goal, the final score-line would have been far more presentable.