Winning In The Rain

Monday, 4 November 2019

Four Star Saints Venture Forth In The Scottish Cup

Saturday 2nd November 2019
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Third Round
Westerlands 1 - 4 Oban Saints
Garscube Sports Complex
Maryhill Road
Glasgow
G20 0SP
Kick off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Ian Hamilton

Two typically crisp strikes from Donald Campbell helped Saints past a stuffy Westerlands side, who gave a good account of themselves throughout, and into the fourth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup at a damp Garscube Sports Complex last Saturday afternoon. Also on the score sheet for Saints against the Caledonian League First Division promotion chasers were Captain Dene Cassells, who showed the strikers how to dispatch a penalty kick, and the evergreen Ross Maitland who wrapped up a 4 - 1 victory with his first touch after coming on as a second half substitute.

Co-Managers Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell were deprived of the services of Graham Douglas, Cammy Hill and Matt Rippon who all dropped out of the squad from the previous week's home league fixture against Garrowhill Thistle. Coming in to join the travelling party were able deputies Murdo MacKenzie, James Ford and Ross Maitland.

Murdo MacKenzie made his second appearance of the season in goal behind a familiar back four of Ruaridh Horne, Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Myles McAuley partnered Matty Kelly in the holding midfield roles with David Beaton, Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan supporting central striker Donald Campbell. Returning to take a place on the bench after a month on the sidelines was James Ford where he was joined by youngsters Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay and the evergreen Ross Maitland.

Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-

Ross Maitland
Gavin Forgrieve
Aaron McKay
James Ford

Westerlands, with Obanites Elliot Dougall and Liam MacIntyre in their ranks, kicked off on the narrow grass park on the banks of the river Kelvin which was in remarkably good condition given the recent heavy rain.

Saints started brightly with Ruaridh Horne sending a tempting second minute cross into the box looking for Donald Campbell which Calum Windram did well to head away and Caledonian League Select goalkeeper Blair Haldane showing good reactions getting down to his left to push away a Lewis Cameron shot from eighteen yards sixty seconds later.

The home side enjoyed a good ten minute spell during which wide man Calum McCrossan made a nuisance of himself playing off central striker Elliot Dougall. Deputising for the unavailable Graham Douglas, Saints goalkeeper Murdo MacKenzie showed safe hands to gather a McCrossan delivery from the left before Westies midfielder Scott MacFarlane sent a speculative lob over his crossbar.

Getting forward on the right in the fifteenth minute Ruaridh Horne partially blocked a Paul Kerins clearance which David Beaton promptly delivered onto the six yard line from where Donald Campbell sent a firm header six inches over the crossbar.

Saints were enjoying the majority of the possession but were finding the Westerlands defence, with Liam MacIntyre at it's heart, a difficult nut to crack until a stroke of good fortune in the twenty seventh minute. Lewis Cameron's cross from the right edge of the penalty area hit the outstretched hand of Gavin Edwards which, although unfortunate for the big central defender, was correctly ruled as a penalty kick by Referee Ian Hamilton who handled proceedings well throughout. With Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron both having had mixed results from the penalty spot in recent weeks Captain Dene Cassells decided to show the strikers how it should be done and smashed an emphatic spot kick past Blair Haldane to open the scoring.

The lead lasted barley sixty seconds as Calum McCrossan pounced on a rare slip by Ruaridh Horne, who produced an otherwise steady performance at right back, and poked a good finish underneath the advancing Murdo MacKenzie to draw the hosts level.

Saints responded with a Donald Campbell shot after good link up play by Lewis Cameron and Matty Kelly, both of whom impressed under the gaze of Central Scottish Amateur Football League Select Manager Colin Hamilton, which was deflected just over Blair Haldane's crossbar.

Another deflected Campbell effort in the thirty eighth minute saw Dene Cassells get in between Liam MacIntyre and Gavin Edwards to head the resulting corner kick just wide of the base of Blair Haldane's left hand post.

Haldane showed some of the form which has earned him a place in the Caledonian League Select squad with an excellent double save four minutes before the interval. After clawing away a Lewis Cameron cross come shot which looked set to sneak under his crossbar, the big Westies number one took up a good position at his near post to beat away Donald Campbell's follow up effort from the corner of the six yard box.

Saints ended the half on the front foot with Ruaridh Horne winning a corner kick which Blair Haldane did well to hold under pressure from Craig MacEwan before Referee Hamilton blew for half-time.

The interval did little to derail the Saints momentum and five minutes after the restart their endeavour was rewarded with a second goal. Scott Maitland made good ground on the left and rolled the ball up to Craig MacEwan on the the edge of the box who tee'd up Donald Campbell with a delightful lay-off which the Co-Gaffer thumped across Blair Haldane into the far corner of the net.

Last season's top goal scorer Lewis Cameron came within a few inches of ending his mini goal drought when he sent a free-kick just wide of Blair Haldane's left hand post after Liam MacIntyre had bundled him over twenty four yards from goal.

Elliot Dougall's period in opposition to his 2015 Argyll & Bute Cup winning team mates came to an end after fifty five minutes when he was replaced by returning injury victim Jack Halley. The rapid front man wasted no time in getting involved in the action cutting in from the left and firing off a low shot which Steven MacLeod did well to turn behind for a corner kick.

Saints doubled their advantage in the fifty seventh minute when Donald Campbell met David Beaton's cross perfectly on the half volley sending his right foot strike flying past Blair Haldane after Beaton and Ruaridh Horne had linked up well on the right.

Westerlands kept up their pursuit of an avenue back into the match and were denied a second goal by a fine save from Murdo MacKenzie after Grant MacFarlane prodded a loose ball goalwards as Saints struggled to clear a long free-kick from just inside their own half.

Both sides made changes with twenty five minutes remaining with Ewan Dempster replacing Grant MacFarlane for the hosts and Ross Maitland coming on to make a telling contributions at the expense of David Beaton who had put in another good shift on the Saints right.

Maitland's introduction produced instant results when the evergreen winger in his twenty third Saints season slammed the ball into the roof of the net from fourteen yards after Blair Haldane could only parry a Donald Campbell shot on the turn.

Matty Kelly was inches away from connecting with a sixty eighth minute Scott Maitland cross after a give and go with Donald Campbell on the edge of the box before Maitland popped up in his own box sixty seconds later with an improvised back heel clearance to stop a Ryan McGregor cutback reaching Ewan Dempster on the six yard line.

Blair Haldane made an excellent save standing up well at his near post to narrow the angle and deny Craig MacEwan from a Donald Campbell lay-off in the seventy third minute.

Teenagers Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay were given the chance to shine in front the watching Central Scottish Amateur Football League top brass when they replaced Donald Campbell and Matty Kelly for the closing fifteen minutes.

Dene Cassells picked up a cheap yellow card, the only one of the match, for kicking the ball away at a disputed throw-in which went in favour of the home side.

Aaron McKay lifted a decent effort from the edge of the box just over the crossbar after Gavin Edwards had beaten Craig MacEwan in the air to head out a Ross Maitland right wing corner kick.

Westerlands piled bodies into the box for an eightieth minute Scott MacFarlane free-kick which forced Murdo MacKenzie into action making a solid connection to punch clear under pressure.

Gavin Edwards made an excellent sliding interception to prevent Craig MacEwan from adding to the scoring after latching onto a Lewis Cameron through ball in the eighty fourth minute. That proved to be Cameron's final contribution of another productive afternoon and he was replaced for the closing stages by James Ford.

As the clock ticked down Ford wriggled clear of Paul Kerins on the right of the Westies box and tee'd up Gavin Forgrieve for a strike on goal which drifted agonisingly wide of Blair Haldane's right hand post.

Mr Hamilton brought proceedings to a close after two added minutes confirming Saints place in this coming Friday's fourth round draw and leaving Westerlands to concentrate their efforts for a major cup success on their impending West of Scotland Cup third round encounter with 2007 Cup Winners St Patrick's F.P.

Team Captains Dene Cassells and Alasdair Swanson with Referee Ian Hamilton

Elliot Dougall waits to kick off

Ruaridh Horne

Blair Haldane

David Beaton and Paul Kerins

Matty Kelly

Steven MacLeod and Elliot Dougall battle for a high ball

Dene Cassells gives Saints the lead from the penalty spot

Donald Campbell congratulates Dene Cassells on his successfully converted penalty kick

Westerlands goal scorer Calum McCrossan leads the charge back to the halfway line

Dene Cassells heads wide

Blair Haldane holds Lewis Cameron's corner kick under pressure from Craig MacEwan

Lewis Cameron

Donald Campbell makes it 2 - 1 to Saints

Celebrations after Donald Campbell restores the lead

Beautifully timed finish from Donald Campbell for Saints third goal

Celebrations after Donald Campbell makes it 3 - 1 to Saints

Liam MacIntyre and Referee Ian Hamilton have a difference of opinion

Scott Maitland gets away from Calum Windram

Ross Maitland and Paul Kerins

Aaron McKay

Craig MacEwan tries to get away from Gavin Edwards

Gavin Forgrieve

#monthesaints

Monday, 28 October 2019

Definitely Maybe

Saturday 26th October 2019
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1B
Oban Saints 6 - 1 Garrowhill Thistle

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Anthony McCann

Following the drama of the Scottish Amateur Cup tie against Vale of Earn which took two games and a penalty shoot-out to resolve Oban Saints returned to league business at Glencruitten last Saturday for the visit of Garrowhill Thistle. Second half substitute Matt Rippon successfully converted his third penalty kick of the season to round off a 6 - 1 win adding to a brace from Donald Campbell and a hat-trick from leading goalscorer Craig MacEwan.

Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell made two changes to the starting line-up from the previous week's trip to Crieff promoting Cammy Hill from the bench to replace David Beaton and rewarding Gavin Forgrieve for his recent impressive displays for the second team with a place in midfield affording Matty Kelly a rest following his exertions with the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Select.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a familiar back four of Ruaridh Horne, Steven MacLeod, Captain Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. Teenager Gavin Forgrieve partnered Willie Gemmell in the holding midfield roles behind the more advanced triumvirate of Cammy Hill, Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan. Leading the line was Donald Campbell while David Beaton, Matty Kelly, Myles McAuley, Aaron McKay and Matt Rippon occupied the bench.

Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-

David Beaton
Matty Kelly
Myles McAuley
Aaron McKay
Matt Rippon

Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end where Willie Gemmell twice came close to opening the scoring inside the first ten minutes. Firstly Gemmell squeezed a lay-off from Craig MacEwan after a Scott Maitland overlapping run and cross inches wide of target before Thistle keeper Callum McAuley threw up a strong left hand to stop a thumping twenty five yard strike from the Saints Co-Gaffer.

The home faithful didn't have too much longer to wait for the opening goal which came from the head of Craig MacEwan in the thirteenth minute. Ruaridh Horne sent a tempting cross from the right onto the six yard line where MacEwan held off the challenge of William Coulter to nod the ball into the bottom corner past a static Callum McAuley.

Donald Campbell had a fifteenth minute shot blocked behind for a corner kick from the right which swung agonisingly out of the reach of Cammy Hill before the visitors threatened for the first time at the other end. Thistle striker Lee Drummond was afforded space and time to carry the ball unchallenged into the left corner of the Saints box from where he sent a decent effort just over Graham Douglas' crossbar.

There was a loud appeal for offside from the Saints back four in the nineteenth minute however Referee Tony McCann, sporting a new Liam Gallagher style haircut, was unimpressed and allowed Oliver Ferguson to continue his run into the box and fire off a shot which Graham Douglas did extremely well to hold.

The indecisiveness at the back which so nearly saw Saints exit the Scottish Amateur cup in their last home outing returned for a very jittery ten minute spell which gave the visitors the belief they could take something from the game. Ruaridh Horne let a twenty first minute Craig Lamont pass roll under his feet straight into the path of Alister Macready who lifted a very presentable opportunity over the crossbar. This was followed up three minutes later by another let-off after Oliver Ferguson turned Dene Cassells on the halfway line and raced through on goal. Fortunately for Saints the Jags striker fired his shot straight at Graham Douglas who gratefully clutched the ball to his chest.

Willie Gemmell's frustration boiled over in the twenty eighth minute when he picked up the first yellow card of the afternoon for a late challenge on Oliver Ferguson. Lee Drummond got in between Lewis Cameron and Steven MacLeod to glance Craig Lamont's free-kick wide of Graham Douglas' right hand post as the Saints goal continued to lead a charmed life.

Saints doubled their advantage on the half hour mark from a patient passing move from the back. Gavin Forgieve picked up the ball in the centre circle from Dene Cassells and sent Scott Maitland scurrying forward on the left. Maitland found Craig MacEwan in the Jags box who carried the ball to the bye-line and, after a double step over, picked out Donald Campbell arriving at the near post to knock the ball home with the outside of his right foot.

Thistle keeper Callum McAuley produced two fines saves to prevent Saints from further stretching their advantage. After standing up well at his near post to beat away a Craig MacEwan left foot effort from the corner of the six yard box McAuley leapt acrobatically to his left to push a curling Donald Campbell shot bound for the top corner round the post.

Ruaridh Horne joined Willie Gemmell in Referee McCann's notebook for kicking the ball away at a free kick conceded by Steven MacLeod.

Scott Maitland continued the form which has earned him a call-up to train with Scottish Amateur Football Association Select with a darting forty third minute run into the Jags box but was denied a strike on goal by a perfectly timed sliding interception by Josh McCormick.

Maitland thought his tackle on Craig Lamont sixty seconds later was equally well timed however Mr McCann thought otherwise and awarded the visitors a free-kick midway inside the Saints half. Gavin Forgrieve's sliced clearance of Lamont's delivery into the box landed at the feet of Paul Thomson seventeen yards out. Already harbouring a sense of injustice Saints were left incredulous when Mr McCann pointed to the penalty spot after Lewis Cameron was penalised for handball protecting his face from Thomson's point blank range shot. While Steven MacLeod debated the decision with Mr McCann Jags striker Lee Drummond placed the ball on the spot and on the Referee's whistle slammed the ball home to half the deficit.

The Saints protests continued until the interval where Donald Campbell made it a third Saints name in Mr McCann's notebook.

With their composure restored Saints made the perfect start to the second half immediately regaining possession through Cammy Hill who made a driving run at the heart of the Jags defence. Hill threaded a well measured diagonal ball for Craig MacEwan cutting in from the left who wasted no time in clipping a shot across the advancing keeper and into the far corner of the net.

The visitors came within a few inches of a second goal straight from the restart when Oliver Ferguson wriggled free on the edge of the Saints box and shaved a coat of paint off the outside of Graham Douglas's left hand post.

Ruaridh Horne was the victim of a meaty forty ninth minute challenge from Ben Shaw ten yards inside the visitors half. Willie Gemmell collected a short free-kick from Steven MacLeod and carried the ball all the way to the eighteen yard line from where he unleashed a left foot shot just wide of target.

Saints put some daylight between themselves and their visitors in the fifty first minute when Dene Cassells returned a Callum McAuley clearance with a thumping header which Craig MacEwan helped onto Donald Campbell who rounded the advancing keeper and, from a tight angle, slotted the ball into the unguarded net.

Graham Douglas saved a decent Lee Drummond effort in the fifty seventh minute before both sides made their first changes. Christopher Cameron replaced Paul Thomson for the visitors with Myles McAuley coming on for Willie Gemmell in the Saints midfield.

Scott Maitland's perseverance on the left won a sixty first minute corner kick which Callum McAuley came through a pile of bodies to punch clear. Unfortunately for the Jags keeper his punch landed neatly at the feet of Craig MacEwan who steered the ball past the still off balance McAuley to seal his hat-trick.

The fifth goal was the cue for a triple Saints change with David Beaton, Aaron McKay and Matt Rippon coming on to replace Gavin Forgrieve, Cammy Hill and Craig MacEwan.

Rippon almost made an instant impact making a good run through the inside right channel to collect a Lewis Cameron pass but seeing his low shot blocked by the feet of Thistle keeper McAuley.

Further changes followed in the seventy second minute when Matty Kelly replaced Lewis Cameron for Saints and the visitors sending on Ryan Latter for Oliver Ferguson.

Ben Shaw picked up a seventy fifth minute caution for kicking out at Aaron McKay after the young Saints substitute had fouled the Jags fullback. Veteran striker Lee Drummond also saw yellow as tempers briefly threatened to boil over before Mr McCann restored order.

An eighty second minute nose bleed from Myles McAuley in the unfamiliar territory of the opposition eighteen yard box saw the shot-shy midfielder pass up a shooting opportunity in favour of a lay-off to Donald Campbell whose effort on the stretch slipped agonisingly wide of target.

Dene Cassells showed he wasn't afraid to try his luck striding out from the back and sending a twenty five yard effort just wide of the junction of post and bar.

David Beaton's pace through the middle was causing problems for the visitors and his eighty sixth minute run was brought to a premature end by Ryan Latter giving Mr McCann an easy decision to point to the spot.

Matt Rippon kept up his 100% record from the penalty spot sending his effort into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Callum McAuley to notch a sixth goal for Saints.

The visitors refused to let their heads go down and, from the restart, Lee Drummond came close to claiming a second goal with a curling right foot effort just wide of the postage stamp corner.

With the watch ticking into stoppage time David Baton couldn't direct a Donald Campbell cutback on target and Matt Rippon sent a twenty eight yard free-kick over the crossbar before Mr McCann called time confirming Saints eighth win of a perfect start to the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B campaign.

Saints are back on the road this coming Saturday when they visit Garscube Sports Complex to face Westerlands of the Caledonian League in the Scottish Amateur Cup third round.