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.