Winning In The Rain

Saturday, 19 January 2019

Thorn Return

Saturday 19th January 2019
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
4th Round
Oban Saints v Thorn Athletic
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Kick Off 1.15pm
Referee Mr Michael Kerr

After the bitter disappointment of last Saturday's Scottish Amateur Cup exit at the hands of Rothie Rovers Saints face arguably their biggest test of the season so far when they welcome Caledonain League Premier Division table toppers Thorn Athletic to Glencruitten this Saturday in the West of Scotland Amateur Cup.

It is almost four years since Saints and old advesaries Thorn last locked horns but players, officials and supporters on both sides will still recall with fondness the epic struggles played out during Thorn's Scottish Amateur Football League days. No quarter was ever asked or given as the two ambitious sides put their healthy mutual respect to one side and battled for silverware and in particular, what was to prove elusive for Thorn, the Premier Division title.

In season 2014/15, their last in the Scottish Amateur Football League, Thorn finally gained the upper hand on keen rivals Saints but were cruelly denied a deserved Premier Division crown by a points deduction for an administrative error which handed the title to St Joseph's FP on goal difference.

The sanction imposed by the Scottish Amateur Football League most probably served to hasten Thorn's departure for the Caledonian League where they have flourished into title contenders in one of the top amateur leagues in the country.

Thorn made an instant impact in their first season in the Caledonian League clinching the First Division title to claim their first silverware since the 2009/10 Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division One and Jimmy Marshall Trophy double.

League

Now firmly established in the top flight of the Caledonian League Thorn are pushing hard to better last season's runners-up position behind Dumbarton Academy FP and currently sit proudly on top of the Premier Division with twenty eight points from their opening eleven fixtures. Only Giffnock North and Milton during the first few weeks of the league season have managed to take points from Thorn who look to be serious contenders for the highly prized Caledonian League crown.

Domestic Cups

After romping through the group stages of the Douglas Smith League Cup, and knocking out reigning Premier Division Champions Dumbarton Academy FP in the quarter finals, Thorn finally succumbed in the semi finals to Giffnock North who will face East Kilbride YM in the final.

In the William Turner Challenge Cup Thorn have a home tie against Rothesay Brandane to look forward to after edging past FC Dalriata in the first round.

Scottish Amateur Cup

Thorn's involvement in this seaon's national cup competition proved to be short lived when they exited at the first round stage after an epic struggle with fellow Caledonian League side Cambria. After a goalless draw at home the Johnstone men lost out in the replay by the odd goal in five in a see-saw match at Stepps.

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

Thorn were drawn at home in the first round against FC Dalriata of Caledonian League Division 1A where five goals without reply saw them safely through to round two.

The second round would prove to be somewhat of a canter for the Johnstone men against near neighbours Erskine United. The recently formed Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League Division Three strugglers were no match for the considerably more experienced Thorn who almost ran out of fingers and toes to keep track of the final 18 - 0 scoreline.

A third successive home draw saw another newly formed side visit Thorn's McMaster Sports Centre in the third round. Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Division One promotion chasers Royalle Madrid succeeded where the previous two opponents had failed in finding the Thorn net, however at the other end they couldn't blunt Thorn's potent strike force which rattled in seven goals to bring their tally to thirty in the three rounds so far.

Saturday's match at Glencruitten will be a major test for Saints and looks set to provide another entertaining afternoon of cup football for the Glencruitten faithful who will be joined by a large travelling support from Johnstone. The tie must be played to a finish on the day with extra-time and penalty kicks coming into play to decide the winner if the two sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes. Taking charge of proceedings is experienced Referee Michael Kerr of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League.

Craig McGlone heads home a Paul Young corner in Thorn's 3 - 2 victory at Glencruitten on 11th April 2015

Thorn Athletic's results so far this season:-

Caledonian League Premier Division

22nd August 2018 Thorn Athletic 1 - 3 Giffnock North
25th August 2018 Finnart 1 - 5 Thorn Athletic
29th August 2018 Thorn Athletic 3 - 2 Strathclyde University
22nd September 2018 Milton 1 - 1 Thorn Athletic
13th October 2018 Glasgow Harp 0 - 5 Thorn Athletic
27th October 2018 Dalziel HSFP 0 - 3 Thorn Athletic
3rd November 2018 Thorn Athletic 2 - 1 Finnart
10th November 2018 Cambria 0 - 2 Thorn Athletic
8th December 2018 Strathclyde University 1 - 2 Thorn Athletic
5th January 2019 Stenhousemuir Community 0 - 5 Thorn Athletic
12th January 2019 Dumbarton Academy FP 0 - 1 Thorn Athletic

Caledonian League Douglas Smith League Cup

First Round Group Stage

Group H
11th August 2018 Kilsyth 1 - 5 Thorn Athletic
15th August 2018 Weirs Recreation 0 - 5 Thorn Athletic
18th August 2018 Thorn Athletic 4 - 2 Strathclyde University

Quarter Final
29th September 2018 Dumbarton Academy FP 1 - 3 Thorn Athletic

Semi Final
24th November 2018 Giffnock North 2 - 0 Thorn Athletic

Caledonian League William Turner Challenge Cup

First Round
16th October 2018 FC Dalriata 1 - 2 Thorn Athletic

Second Round
Date to be confirmed Thorn Athletic v Rothesay Brandane

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

First Round
15th September 2018 Thorn Athletic 5 - 0 FC Dalriata

Second Round
2nd October 2018 Thorn Athletic 18 - 0 Erskine United

Third Round
17th November 2018 Thorn Athletic 7 - 1 Royalle Madrid

Fourth Round
19th January 2019 Oban Saints v Thorn Athletic

Scottish Amateur Cup

First Round
1st September 2018 Thorn Athletic 0 - 0 Cambria

First Round Replay
8th September 2018 Cambria 3 - 2 Thorn Athletic

Thorn Athletic Caledonian League Division One Champions 2015-16

Oban Saints Route to the Third Round of the West of Scotland Cup

Round One

Saints were scheduled to play Rannoch at Glencruitten in round one however the Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League Division Three outfit elected not to fulfill the fixture handing the tie to Saints by way of a walkover.

Round Two

Round two saw Saints travel to the Toryglen Regional Football Centre in the shadow of Hampden Park to face Uddingston of the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League. Flying high with a 100% record in Championship A hosts Uddingston would provide their Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division opponents with a tough test.

Craig MacEwan beat the Uddingston offside trap to open the scoring in the seventh minute deftly lobbing the keeper after being put through by a well weighted Daniel Croarkin pass. Ronan Hughes equalised for the hosts from the penalty spot on the half hour mark after Ruaridh Horne was penalised for barging into Brian McLeod after hesitation in the Saints defence. Parity however lasted for just five minutes when Lewis Cameron caught out keeper Kieran Muldoon at his near post with a smart finish to restore the Saints lead.

Uddingston showed just why they are favourites for a second successive league championship with a much improved second half performance which kept Saints pinned back in their own half for the most part. Despite Uddingston's domination of possession Saints defended well and looked set to the keep the hosts at bay until an eighty ninth minute wonder strike levelled the scoring for a second time. Craig MacEwan's clearing header from a corner kick from the Uddingston right fell invitingly for second half substitute Paul Cassidy who slammed a thirty yard rocket through a ruck of bodies which Graham Douglas got both hands too but could only help into the net.

Saints last visit to Toryglen, a 2015-16 Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy quarter-final against Kings Park Rangers, ended in a penalty shoot-out victory however thankfully on this occasion there was to be no requirement for a similarly nerve wracking decider.

Lewis Cameron won an eleventh minute free-kick thirty two yards from goal. With Saints having failed to pose much of a threat with their earlier set-pieces Donald Campbell finally produced a piece a magic lifting the ball over the Uddingston wall for the well timed run of Craig MacEwan who deftly glanced the ball past Kieran Muldoon's left hand to put Saints ahead for a third time.

Saints rounded off the scoring in the twenty first minute of extra-time when Kerr Newbigging sent Craig MacEwan in behind the Uddingston defence wide on the left. MacEwan took the ball to the bye-line and sent a looping cross to the back post for Donald Campbell to cushion a close range finish into the net and at last put some daylight between the two sides and seal victory for the visitors.

Round Three

Saints were made to dig deep to book their place in the fourth round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup at a windswept Kilsyth Sports Field on Saturday 17th November. Well organised hosts Kilsyth Community FC Amateurs, who are flying high in Division 1A of the Caledonian League, successfully kept Saints at bay for almost an hour before a deflected Craig MacEwan shot finally turned the tie in Saints favour. Kilsyth front pairing of Peter Gribbin and Jack Williamson remained a constant threat throughout before close range efforts from Matthew Kelly and David Beaton finally made the tie safe for Saints.

Oban Saints 2017-18 West of Scotland Amateur Cup campaign so far:-

1st Round
15th September 2018 Oban Saints v Rannoch (Walkover to Saints)

The Oban Saints squad resplendent in their new tracksuits and polo shirts kindly supplied by kit sponsors D&K Lafferty Contractors Ltd.

2nd Round
20th October 2018 Uddingston 2 - 2 Oban Saints (Saints win 4 - 2 after extra-time)

The National Stadium just a short distance way from Toryglen

Team Captains Dominic Clarke and Dene Cassells with Referee Stuart Broadfoot

Scott Maitland and Ronan Hughes

Craig MacEwan's lob finds the net to open the scoring

The Saints players celebrate Craig MacEwan's opener

Debutant David Beaton

Graham Douglas

Frankie Murray heads wide of target

Jack Lyons makes an important challenge to dispossess Scott Maitland

Scott Maitland shoots wide

Brian McLeod

Steven MacLeod

Frankie Murray

Fraser MacFarlane and Brendan Smith

Kevin Burns

Fraser MacFarlane

Kieran Muldoon

Dene Cassells heads over

Craig MacEwan heads Saints into an extra-time lead

Celebrations after Craig MacEwan's second goal of the afternoon

Donald Campbell rounds off the scoring

All smiles after a difficult afternoon

3rd Round

17th November 2018 Kilsyth Community FC Amateurs 0 - 3 Oban Saints

Team Captains Dene Cassells and Peter Griffin with Referee Derek Dempster

Jamie Graham, Daniel Croarkin and Grant Penman

Craig MacEwan with Matthew Charles and Kyle Brown in close attendance

Derek Keough gathers ahead of David Beaton

Kerr Newbigging and Grant Penman

Donald Campbell and Grant Whyte

Peter Gribbin curls a free-kick over the crossbar

David Beaton

Craig MacEwan beats Kyle Brown to Grant Penman's corner kick

Graham Douglas

Donald Campbell tries to find Craig MacEwan with a cutback

Derek Keough clutches David Beaton's free-kick

Daniel Croarkin, Craig MacEwan, Steven MacLeod and Dene Cassells celebrate Craig's opening goal

Dene Cassells and Jack Williamson

Matthew Kelly adds a second goal

Matthew Kelly celebrates his goal with Donald Campbell

David Beaton rounds off the scoring

Smiles all round for the Saints goalscorers

Scott Maitland

Scott Crawford gets away from Donald Campbell

James Kerr heads wide

#monthesaints

Sunday, 13 January 2019

Saints Pay The Penalty

Saturday 12th January 2019
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Fifth Round Replay
Oban Saints 2 - 2 Rothie Rovers (After Extra-Time)
Rothie Rovers win 9 - 8 on penalty kicks
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Kick off 1.30pm
Referee Mr Ross Holms

Oban Saints and Rothie Rovers from Aberdeenshire kept a large crowd at Glencruitten richly entertained last Saturday in a Scottish Amateur Cup fifth round replay which ultimately required a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner. After a goal a piece in the ninety minutes followed by the same again in extra-time it was Rothie goalkeeper Lewis Milne who emerged the hero saving two Saints penalties to give his side a 9 - 8 shoot-out victory and clinch a place in the last sixteen.

Saints made three changes to the starting eleven from the previous week's draw in Rothienorman with Ruaridh Horne, Matthew Kelly and Donald Campbell coming in at the expense of Jamie Graham, David Beaton and James Ford who all dropped to the bench where they had Dougal Graham, Fraser MacFarlane and Shaun MacIver for company.

Saints lined-up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Ruaridh Horne, Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Willie Gemmell partnered Daniel Croarkin in the holding midfield roles. Up front Donald Campbell lead the line in front of Craig MacEwan, Matthew Kelly and Lewis Cameron.

Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end in dull and wet conditions on a Glencruitten surface which had once again been painstakingly prepared by Argyll & Bute Council Groundsman Ian Hay.

Scott Maitland and Lewis Cameron had some early joy on the left for Saints with Maitland swinging over a dangerous second minute cross which Lewis Milne in the Rothie goal did well to hold under pressure from Craig MacEwan.

Three minutes later Milne produced the first of a string of excellent saves getting down smartly to his right to hold a Lewis Cameron shot after the Saints wide man had beaten Gavin Smart to cut in from the left.

Rothie's main threat was to come from set pieces and a tug on the shirt of Jake Stewart by Craig MacEwan gave the very impressive Rothie Skipper Keith Walker the chance to put the ball into the danger area looking for the head of central defender Mark Thomson. Graham Douglas beat the big man in the air to punch to the edge of the box from where Jack Brown volleyed well over the crossbar.

Referee Ross Holms placed Steven MacLeod on the disciplinary tightrope in just the eleventh minute when he flashed a yellow card at the Saints central defender for a challenge on Rothie danger man Jake Stewart just inside the Saints half. MacLeod won the ball cleanly however Mr Holms deemed the challenge to be "out of control" and issued the first caution of the match.

In the thirteenth minute Saints carved a way through the solid Rothie defence however Donald Campbell's final ball was too far in front of Matthew Kelly allowing Lewis Milne to come off his line to gather safely at Kelly's feet.

An eighteenth minute Lewis Cameron corner kick from the left found it's way through to Donald Campbell at the back post whose cushioned volley back across the face of goal drifted wide of Lewis Milne's right hand post.

So often Saints saviour with the dead ball, Willie Gemmell had a chance to make his mark in the twentieth minute after Craig MacEwan had been hauled back on the edge of the box. Gemmell beat the Rothie wall but only succeeded in shaving the outside of Lewis Milne's left hand post with the keeper rooted to the spot.

The Saints pressure was building and they took a deserved lead in the twenty third minute when a Daniel Croarkin shot from eighteen yards took a deflection which deceived Lewis Milne a nestled in the bottom corner of the Rothie net.

Lewis Cameron will feel he should have done better from a good opening on the half hour mark however Lewis Milne still required two attempts to save Cameron's effort from just inside the Rothie box.

It was Milne to the rescue once again when he pulled off the save of the match to fingertip over a looping Donald Campbell effort from eighteen yards after the Saints Co-Manager had escaped the close attentions of Gavin Smart and Keith Walker.

Rothie Skipper Keith Walker went crashing to the ground on the edge of the Saints penalty area anticipating a challenge from opposite number Dene Cassells which never came. Referee Holms however was taken in and awarded the visitors a free-kick which Mark Thomson flicked on to Ryan Walker at the back post. Fortunately Walker's header lacked the power to seriously test Graham Douglas who made a routine catch.

Saints survived one final Rothie set piece before the interval with Dene Cassells making a decisive clearing header from a Keith Walker left wing corner which Steven MacLeod had conceded under pressure from Jake Stewart.

Second half

The visitors started the second half in determined mood and enjoyed a good spell of pressure keeping Saints pinned back in their own half for the opening five minutes. Saints weathered the Rothie storm and got back on the front foot with Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron both narrowly failing to find Craig MacEwan with crosses from the left.

In the fifty third minute Scott Maitland made an excellent run on the left jinking into the box where he was finally stopped by a well timed sliding challenge from Gavin Smart. The young Rothie fullback however appeared to injure himself in the process and limped off shortly afterwards to be replaced by Scott Chalmers.

Craig MacEwan passed up a gilt edged chance on the hour mark sending a header straight down the throat of the Rothie keeper after a good give and go on the right with Ruaridh Horne.

The pair linked up well again in the seventy second minute with MacEwan curling a low right foot shot wide of Lewis Milne's right hand post.

Five minutes later the Saints defence was finally breached from a Rothie set piece when Mark Thomson bundled home a Keith Walker corner kick from the left.

The Rothie goalscorer picked up a yellow card shortly after for an over the ball challenge on Craig MacEwan. From the resulting free-kick Lewis Milne saved with his feet to deny Donald Campbell from close range after a Craig MacEwan cutback from the left.

The visitors made another change replacing Jack Brown with Andi Bremner. Saints responded with their first change when Jamie Graham came on to replace Ruaridh Horne in a straight swap at right back.

Saints kept pressing for the winner and introduced James Ford in the eighty fourth minute at the expense of Daniel Croarkin to boost their attacking options.

Despite having all of the late pressure Saints struggled to breach the well organised Rothie defence and when they eventually did in time added on for stoppages they were again denied by the feet of Lewis Milne who blocked two point blank Saints shots to send the tie into extra-time.

Extra-time

In the fourth of the extra thirty minutes Scott Maitland was tripped as he attempted to burst into the Rothie box. Mr Holms ruled the offence had taken place outside the box awarding Saints a free-kick which could not possibly have been any closer to being on the line. Willie Gemmell's delivery was headed behind for a corner kick on the right from which Craig MacEwan rose well but sent his header narrowly wide of the junction of post and bar.

Sixty seconds later Saints were again undone from a set piece much to the delight of the large travelling support. A long straight free-kick from Keith Walker was flicked on by Grant Ritchie to Ryan Walker who volleyed past the helpless Graham Douglas to give Rothie the lead.

Saints were briefly rocked back on their heels and were relieved to see Keith Walker's dipping twenty five yard effort soon after skim the top of the crossbar on it's way over.

The interval arrived with Rothie still holding on to their slender advantage and Saints pushing Dene Cassells into attack and adding Shaun MacIver in place of Matthew Kelly. Rothie seemed happy to protect their lead and withdrew second half substitute striker Richard Fisher, who had earlier replaced Christopher Wood, in favour of defender Mykie Pugh.

The second half continued in the same vein with Saints pushing for the equaliser and Rothie defending doggedly.

There was a loud appeal for a penalty kick from Saints in the twenty third minute when a Lewis Cameron cross from the right struck a defender's hand however Mr Holms remained unmoved.

Rothie withdrew top goalscorer Jake Stewart with five minutes remaining replacing him with Aidan Elrick.

With two minutes remaining Shaun MacIver struck the outside of Lewis Milne's right hand post after an almighty goalmouth scramble from a Willie Gemmell throw-in from the left.

With sixty seconds of extra-time remaining Donald Campbell spun away from his marker and was felled in the box for what appeared to be a "stone wall" penalty kick. To the bemusement of all Mr Holms bizarrely pointed the other way and issued a second yellow card to Campbell for simulation ending the Saints Co-Manager's involvement in the game. Despite the Referee's apparent error there can be no excuse for the foul and abusive language which followed from Shaun MacIver which earned the Saints substitute a straight red card. Neither can there be any excuse for MacIver's reaction to his dismissal which may yet have further repercussions for the hot headed young striker.

Spurred on by a deep sense of injustice the nine men miraculously drew level deep into time added on for stoppages. A straight ball over the top was glanced by Dene Cassells beyond the advancing keeper and into the top corner sparking wild celebrations among the home support.

Dougal Graham made the briefest of substitute appearances replacing Steven MacLeod before the restart from where the ball hadn't left the centre-circle before Referee Holms blew for full time.

Penalties

In rapidly failing light Mr Holms took the players away from the bulk of the crowd to the railway line end where ten penalties each would be taken before a winner would emerge.

Saints were playing catch up right from the start when Aidan Elrick's successful kick was followed by a save by Lewis Milne to deny Dene Cassells.

Keith Walker and Lewis Cameron netted their efforts before Graham Douglas saved from Sean Bremner giving Craig MacEwan the chance to level which he gratefully accepted.

Some excellent penalty kicks followed with both goalkeepers also finding the net. Scorers for Rothie were Andi Bremner, Mark Thomson, Lewis Milne, Scott Chalmers, Grant Ritchie (despite Graham Douglas getting both hands to it), and Ashley Vasey. Successful for Saints were Graham Douglas, Willie Gemmell, Scott Maitland, Dougal Graham, Jamie Graham and James Ford.

With Saints only having nine players on the field it was back to the start where Aidan Elrick repeated his earlier straight down the middle success. Having scored from the spot in the first match, Lewis Cameron was by now taking his third penalty kick of the tie and Lewis Milne finally won the battle of wits guessing correctly and dropping to his right to beat away Cameron's effort and seal victory for Rothie.

The Rovers from Rothienorman will now travel to Paisley in the sixth round where they will face Alba Thistle of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division on Saturday 2nd February.

Saints will feel this is a tie they should have won however they simply didn't do enough to overcome a hard working Rothie team who defended resolutely and took full advantage of the few chances which came their way.

Thorn

The Glencruitten faithful are in for another treat this coming Saturday when former Scottish Amateur Football League rivals Thorn Athletic come calling in the West of Scotland Cup fourth round. The Johnstone men are currently eight points clear at the top the Caledonian League Premier Division and will provide a massive test for Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell and their charges.

Kick off at Glencruitten is 1.30pm with the prospect of extra-time and penalty kicks if the two sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes. In charge of proceedings is experienced Central Scottish Amateur Football League Referee Michael Kerr.