Penalty Shoot-out Heartache for Saints

Saturday 10th July 2021

Castlemilk Dynamo 1 - 1 Oban Saints

After Extra Time

Castlemilk Dynamo win 4 - 1 on Penalty Kicks
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Division 1 Play-off
Dalziel Park
Hagen Drive
Motherwell
ML1 5RZ
Kick-off 2pm

Referee Mr. Scott Pearce

Assistant Mr. Pat O'Donnell
Assistant Mr. Douglas Gunning

Fourteen months later than scheduled Oban Saints finally got their hands on the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B trophy last Saturday afternoon at Dalziel Park Motherwell. However there was to be no double celebration as, after 120 minutes of football could not separate the sectional winners, Division 1A Champions Castlemilk Dynamo emerged victorious from the penalty shoot-out to clinch the Division One trophy.

Having returned to competitive action on 4th June Dynamo held the edge in terms of match sharpness over a Saints side with just ninety minutes of friendly action in the tank. However there was nothing between the sides, both of which spurned chances to win the tie in regulation time, with Castlemilk holding their nerve to win the shoot-out by four successful kicks to one.

With Manager Willie Gemmell  forced to self isolate as a close contact of a positive covid case Coach Ross Maitland and Secretary David Buchanan were left in charge of team matters which saw Rory Dowd drafted in as a late replacement for the unavailable James Ford.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back three Kerr Newbigging, Steven MacLeod and Dene Cassells. Across the midfield were Ruaridh Horne, Gavin Forgrieve, Lewis Cameron, Myles McAuley and Scott Maitland. Up front David Beaton partnered Captain Craig MacEwan. On the bench were Alex Craik, Rory Dowd, Cammy Hill, Matty Kelly and Ross Maitland.

Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used Substitutes:-

Matty Kelly

Cammy Hill

Rory Dowd

Ross Maitland

Unused Substitute:-

Alex Craik

Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end and came within a whisker of opening the scoring inside the first minute. Ruaridh Horne's ball up the line sent David Beaton away on the right wing from where he sent over an inviting cross only for Skipper Craig MacEwan to steer his attempted finish wide of target with just thirteen seconds on the clock.

Recovering from this early scare Dynamo took control of the early exchanges but found the Saints back three of Kerr Newbigging, Steven MacLeod and Dene Cassells in uncompromising mood. A thirteenth minute Newbigging foul on Dean McGinnity gave Dynamo Skipper and set-piece expert Connaire Dawson a chance to test Saints number one Graham Douglas from twenty two yards. Diving to his right Douglas could only parry Dawson's curling effort and had to react quickly to smother the ball at the feet on the onrushing William Hewitt.

Saints were finding it difficult to get Lewis Cameron and Gavin Forgrieve on the ball in midfield but the pair combined well in the sixteenth minute to carve out an opening for Craig MacEwan. The Skipper made a good run into the box on the end of Forgrieve's pass but could only find the gloves of Dynamo keeper Thomas Hollis with his cutback intended for strike partner David Beaton.

Referee Scott Pearce had the benefit of assistants Pat O'Donnell and Dougie Gunning, a luxury not often afforded to Referees at this level, and Mr O'Donnell made the first of a number of important calls on the half hour mark flagging Dynamo's striker Gavin Macleod offside when clean through on goal.

Macleod was through again sixty seconds later but was forced wide by the attentions of Kerr Newbigging. The Castlemilk front man made it to the bye-line but couldn't beat Graham Douglas who made a smart save at his near post.

Saints central defender Dene Cassells made a foray into opposition territory in the thirty second minute and was chopped down on the left touchline midway inside the Castlemilk half. After a string of poor deliveries Lewis Cameron at last found his range and with it the forehead of Ruaridh Horne whose glancing header had Thomas Hollis scrambling across his line to fingertip the ball over his crossbar for a corner kick. William Hewitt headed Lewis Cameron's out-swinger from the right out for a throw-in from where Cameron and Gavin Forgrieve combined to send Craig MacEwan through on Thomas Hollis. MacEwan beat his old Postal United adversary but couldn't believe his luck when his effort bounced back off the inside of the post and out of reach for partner David Beaton before being thumped to safety.

The second half began in similar style to the first only this time the early chance fell to Castlemilk. Still inside the first minute the ball was rolled up to Gavin Macleod who did well to hold off the challenge of Dene Cassells and find the unmarked Joseph Lang who gleefully tucked the ball under Graham Douglas to open the scoring.

The Saints response to going behind was positive and Lewis Cameron threaded a delightful ball through the inside left channel for Craig MacEwan in the forty ninth minute. Thomas Hollis came off his line and did well to stop MacEwan getting round him. Ruaridh Horne was first to the loose ball and steered his right foot effort past the stranded Hollis only to see William Hewitt make a last gasp clearance off the goal line for a corner kick. Lewis Cameron's delivery from the right was headed out to the edge of the box however Saints kept the pressure on and Ruaridh Horne picked out Dene Cassells who got in behind the advancing Dynamo defence but could only find the midriff of Thomas Hollis with both Craig MacEwan and David Beaton screaming for a cutback.

Assistant Referee Pat O'Donnell made a big call in the fifty fourth minute when Craig MacEwan was sent sprawling inside the Castlemilk box. Referee Pearce didn't have a good enough view to make the call however Mr O'Donnell was better placed and immediately signalled for the infringement. Lewis Cameron held his nerve and sent Thomas Hollis the wrong way from the penalty spot to level the scoring.

Since falling behind Saints were enjoying their best spell of the match but still couldn't hit the net from open play. Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan combined well again in the fifty ninth minute with Thomas Hollis making a good parry to his left to deny the Saints Skipper. William Hewitt once again came to his keeper's rescue getting back on the goal line to block David Beaton's effort from the loose ball.

Kerr Newbigging's heart was in his mouth just after the hour mark when his headed back pass to Graham Douglas fell well short but fortunately for the big defender inches too far in front of the outstretched right boot of Joseph Lang.

William Hewitt made it a hat-trick of incredible goal-line clearances sticking out his left boot to deflect a net bound Craig MacEwan effort off target.

David Beaton's pace on the right wing took him away from Dynamo left back Gregg Twaddle but his delivery from the right was fractionally too high for Craig MacEwan who couldn't direct his header on target.

Beaton's afternoon came to a premature end just minutes later when he pulled up with what looked to be a strained hamstring giving Cammy Hill a seventy seventh minute appearance. Hill had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he linked up well with Craig MacEwan on the edge of the box but couldn't direct his shot from fourteen yards past Thomas Hollis.

Both sides made changes for the final ten minutes of the ninety with Matty Kelly replacing Gavin Forgrieve for Saints while Chris Hughes and Samuel Edun swapped places with Dean McGinnity and Joseph Lang for Castlemilk.

Dynamo finished the ninety minutes the stronger of the two with the Saints defence doing just enough to keep them at bay. When the Castlemilk men did break through luck was on Saints side when Gavin Macleod successfully lifted the ball over Graham Douglas but inches wide of the post.

In the second of the three minutes added on by Mr Pearce Castlemilk Skipper Connaire Dawson did well on the right to get get away from Scott Maitland and fire over a cross which opposite number Craig MacEwan was on hand to turn behind at the front post for a corner kick. Dene Cassells headed Dawson's corner kick from the right out to the edge of the box from where Sam Smith struck a crisp half-volley which Graham Douglas, at full stretch, managed to finger tip over his crossbar.

Despite the best efforts of both sides there was to be no winning goal in regulation time nor in the additional thirty which followed.

Saints lost the services of Captain Craig MacEwan in the ninth minute of extra time with Oban Saints Youth product Rory Dowd coming on to make his first team debut.

Castlemilk substitute Chris Hughes had the ball in the net just before the interval but Assistant Referee O'Donnell raised his flag for offside.

Saints Coach Ross Maitland was pressed into action as an emergency right wing back form the final fifteen minutes replacing the flagging Ruaridh Horne. 

Mr O'Donnell had his flag raised again three minutes into the final period this time ruling out a Matty Kelly strike after good feet on the edge of the box from Rory Dowd found a fractionally offside Cammy Hill who tee'd up Kelly.  

With a nod to the impending penalty shoot-out Dynamo Manager Gary Hamilton made his final change in the twenty ninth of the thirty additional minutes sending on Alan Semple to replace second half substitute Samuel Edun.

Referee Pearce selected the rugby pitch end of Dalziel Park for the penalty shoot-out which Castlemilk's Sam Smith got underway with a cool finish rolled into the bottom corner. Steven MacLeod levelled things for Saints before yet another intervention from Assistant Referee Pat O'Donnell snatched the advantage away from Saints. Graham Douglas stood up well to stop Connaire Dawson's effort however the eagle eyed Assistant ruled that Douglas had strayed off his line and ordered a re-take which Dawson successfully converted.

Cup Final penalty shoot-out victories don't feature very often in the Oban Saints annals and the first breakthrough came when Thomas Hollis guessed correctly to stop Lewis Cameron's effort with Mark Blakey capitalising with the next kick to stretch the Dynamo advantage. Cammy Hill failed to hit the target with Saints third attempt on Wimbledon finals weekend making it "Championship point" to Dynamo. Gregg Twaddle held his nerve to smash his penalty high past Graham Douglas' left hand to clinch the League Division One Championship for Castlemilk Dynamo.

    

Team Captains Craig MacEwan and Connaire Dawson with Referee Scott Pearce

 

Graham Douglas

Craig MacEwan and William Hewitt

Thomas Hollis saves from Craig MacEwan

Thomas Hollis

Thomas Hollis saves Lewis Cameron's penalty kick

Gregg Twaddle nets the winning penalty

#monthesaints

Saints Get Some Four Star Fuel In The Tank

Saturday 3rd July 2021

Friendly

Oban Saints 4 - 0 Lochgilphead Red Star

Oban Community Sports Field (3G)

Soroba Road

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4JB

Kick Off 1.15pm
Referee Mr Martin Rae


Following the withdrawal of two previously interested parties Oban Saints Secretary David Buchanan was grateful to closest neighbours Lochgilphead Red Star for stepping in at short notice to provide the opposition at Oban High School last Saturday afternoon for the first of Saints four friendlies ahead of the new Central Scottish Amateur Football League campaign. 

Strict matchday protocols, including no changing facilities and no supporters inside the perimeter fencing, were followed by both sides where two first half goals each from Lewis Cameron and Captain Craig MacEwan gave Saints a comfortable victory over a Red Star side featuring a number of youngsters which bodes well for the future of the Mid Argyll club.

Saints had a number of absentees most notably Manager Willie Gemmell, whose place on the touchline was filled by Coach Ross Maitland, and goalkeeper Graham Douglas with Club legend David Dunlop taking care of business between the posts.

Saints lined up with David Dunlop in goal behind a back three of Ruaridh Horne, Kerr Newbigging and Dene Cassells. Across the midfield were David Beaton, Rory Dowd, Lewis Cameron, Myles McAuley and Scott Maitland. James Ford partnered Captain Craig MacEwan up front. On the bench were Kenneth Black, Alex Craik, Matty Kelly and Steven MacLeod.


Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Saints kicked off attacking the school end and quickly stamped their authority on a first half which they would go on to dominate almost entirely. From a first minute Lewis Cameron corner kick on the right the ball found it's way back to the taker's feet who cut into the box and crashed a shot into the side netting from an acute angle.

After having a right foot volley from a James Ford left wing cross blocked by Joseph Harper, Lewis Cameron opened the scoring in the thirteenth minute from Saints first effort on target. David Beaton was felled twenty four yards out from where Cameron found the top corner with unerring accuracy giving Red Star keeper Ally Lewis no chance.

Saints skipper Craig MacEwan made a good sixteenth minute run opening up space for another Cameron effort which flew narrowly wide of target.

The visitors were dealt a blow when they lost the services of skipper Aaron Moore to injury after twenty minutes allowing young central midfielder Keiran Caskie a longer than planned run-out on his first team debut.

A rare Red Star foray into Saints territory had the home defence appealing in vain for an offside decision from Referee Martin Rae which wasn't forthcoming. Ryan Caskie ran onto Andy Weir's ball over the top however Saints keeper David Dunlop narrowed the angle sufficiently to force Caskie into looking for a cutback which Ruaridh Horne intercepted to mop up the danger.

Horne featured at the other end in the twenty fourth minute winning a throw-in on the right level with the Red Star six yard line. Horne took the throw himself finding Lewis Cameron whose measured cross found the head of Captain Craig MacEwan who headed firmly past Ally Lewis to double the home side's advantage.

Saints kept up the pressure on the Star defence and four minutes later added a third with Skipper MacEwan completing his brace. James Ford and Lewis Cameron combined well on the left to send Myles McAuley on an overlapping run from where he produced an unlikely left foot cutback which MacEwan slammed home from close range.

A second change and first team debut for the visitors came on the half hour mark when young Woody Hoad replaced Ryan Caskie on the right of midfield.

Saints continued to knock the ball about confidently and struck again with ten of the first forty five minutes remaining. Myles McAuley won possession on the halfway line and sprayed the ball out to Ruaridh Horne on the right. Horne sent David Beaton scurrying forward with the pacy Saints wide man holding off the attentions of Joseph Harper to fire a low cross along the six yard line which Lewis Cameron arriving at the back post cushioned home with some aplomb.

Despite having almost nothing to do for entire first half veteran Saints keeper David Dunlop kept his wits about him to preserve his highly prized clean sheet safely holding a forty third minute snap shot from Stuart MacLean.

Saints Coach Ross Maitland made a double change for the start of the second half replacing Dene Cassells and Rory Dowd with Steven MacLeod and Matty Kelly.

The second half opened in similar style to the first and inside the first minute Scott Maitland and James Ford combined well on the left with Ford's cutback from the left being knocked out to Myles McAuley on the edge of the box who dragged his low shot just wide of target.

Despite his alleged retirement in 2018 the evergreen Alex Craik continued to turn back the years replacing Kerr Newbigging in the middle of the Saints back three in the fifty fifth minute. 

Red Star's young keeper Ally Lewis made an impressive stop to deny Craig MacEwan a fifty seventh minute hat-trick goal from a Lewis Cameron lay-off. Lewis repeated the trick sixty seconds later when MacEwan and Cameron reversed roles for MacEwan to send Cameron into the box for a low effort which Lewis saved well at his near post.

Oban Saints GG Skipper Kenneth Black replaced Ruaridh Horne on the hour mark prompting a reshuffle in the back three where Steven MacLeod moved to the right allowing Black to take up his familiar position on the left.

Although still in control of proceedings Saints posed nowhere near the threat they carried in the first half and the visitors gained in confidence as the match progressed with Lee MacLean impressing in the midfield battle.

Scottish Amateur international colleagues Scott Maitland and Lewis Cameron linked up to good effect on the left for Cameron to pick out James Ford for a shot from eighteen yards which slipped just wide of Ally Lewis' right hand post.

Red Star Gaffer Colin Weir made it a hat-trick of first team debuts when he gave hard working central midfielder Angus Lewis a well earned rest and sent on Craig Aitken. The young left fullback made an instant impact racing forward on the left to fire off a shot which David Dunlop was pleased to see fly over his crossbar.

At the other end David Beaton had a similarly high and wide effort in the sixty seventh minute before Coach Ross Maitland made his first use of the rolling substitutes option to replace Craig MacEwan with Rory Dowd.

Lewis Cameron's search for a third goal continued in vain in the seventy sixth minute when despite a good turn to escape the attentions of Coll McCallum he was once again unable to find the target from eighteen yards.

David Beaton took what would prove to be a short breather when Ruaridh Horne replaced him in a straight swap on the right of midfield.

With the tempo continuing to drop Myles McAuley was caught in possession in the centre circle and was grateful to Alex Craik who put Neilly Russell under just enough pressure to ensure his effort lacked the pace to pose David Dunlop any problems.

Lewis Cameron's seventy ninth minute chip was well held by Ally Lewis before David Beaton was thrust back into the action to replace Myles McAuley for the closing stages.

The visitors deservedly kept their second half clean sheet intact when Ally Lewis saved with his feet to deny James Ford from close range after a jinking run into the box by Ford left the Red Star defence trailing in his wake.

Mr Rae, who handled proceedings well, brought a competitive but good natured encounter to an end with the minimum of added time giving both sides a valuable ninety minutes in the tank ahead of the season ahead.

For Red Star their preparations for the new Scottish Amateur Football League campaign continue with a trip to the Isle of Bute on Saturday 17th July to face Rothesay Brandane.

Before Saints can focus on the new Central Scottish Amateur Football League season they must first conclude the 2019 - 20 season with the League Division One play-off against the very impressive Division 1A winners Castlemilk Dynamo at Dalziel Park, Motherwell this coming Saturday.

Ross Maitland

David Beaton and Joseph Harper

Lewis Cameron opens the scoring

Rory Dowd and Lee MacLean

Ruaridh Horne

Kenneth Black

Matty Kelly

David Dunlop

James Ford is denied by Ally Lewis

#monthesaints

Saints GG Earn Top Marks At Hermitage Academy

Saturday 29th May 2021

Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League

Spring Cup Section One

Helensburgh 0 - 10 Oban Saints GG

Hermitage Academy

Cardross Road

Helensburgh

G84 7LA

Kick Off 2.00pm

Referee Mr Michael Murray

Oban Saints Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League team rounded off their Spring Cup campaign in style with an emphatic ten-nil victory over an experimental Helensburgh side at Hermitage Academy last Saturday afternoon. Defeats to South Lochaber Thistle and Vale of Leven in their previous Group One matches had already ended Saints GG's interest in the competition however Manager Donald Black was keen to see his charges bow out in style and named a strong blend of youth and experience for the final match.

A hat-trick before the half hour mark from striker Keir Maclean gave Saints a solid platform to build on with central defender Nathan Allan completing the first half scoring. Second half substitute Kyle Cooper also netted three times before Gavin Forgrieve and a brace from veteran defender Alex Craik rounded off a convincing victory for Saints.

Saints lined up with Murdo MacKenzie in goal behind a back three of Alex Craik, Captain Kenneth Black and Nathan Allan. Across the midfield were Craig Livingstone, Louis MacFarlane, Gavin Forgrieve, Martin Bonar and Ruaridh Horne with Robert Johnstone and Keir Maclean up front. On the bench were Kyle Cooper, Thomas McCrindle and Gary MacCuish.

In warm sunshine on the Hermitage Academy 4G surface it was almost a perfect start for Saints when in just the second minute Gavin Forgrieve picked out what looked to be a well timed run from Keir Maclean only for Referee Michael Murray to give a hotly contested offside decision in favour of the home side.

Helensburgh didn't wait around to debate the decision and moved swiftly to the other end where Murdo MacKenzie was tested for the first time holding a Jamie Halliday shot from eighteen yards low down to his right.

There was a far more agreeable decision from the man in the middle in the fourth minute when Forgrieve found an onside Keir Maclean who raced through the inside left channel and placed the ball across Helensburgh keeper Darren Reid and into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

Further controversy followed in the twenty second minute when Alex Craik climbed well to win a classic downward header from a Gavin Forgrieve corner kick which landed over the goal-line before being collected by the goalkeeper. To Craik's extreme frustration the Mr Murray was unsighted and unable to award the "goal".

The sense of frustration was soon forgotten however when sixty seconds later Forgrieve once again opened up the home defence with a slide rule pass for Keir Maclean who gleefully accepted the opportunity to double the Saints advantage.

Having never even met before the match far less played together, Martin Bonar and young Louis MacFarlane were forming a solid midfield partnership giving colleague Gavin Forgrieve space to measure his passes for front two Keir Maclean and Robbie Johnstone.

Forgrieve picked out Maclean again in the twenty fifth minute only for the Referee Murray to deny the Saints striker his hat-trick with another tight offside call.

Maclean however didn't have too much longer to wait to complete his treble with Forgrieve once again the Architect. The striker skipped away from the Helensburgh defence in the twenty eighth minute before rounding the keeper and rolling the ball into the unguarded net.

A previously well hidden sense of adventure from Nathan Allan took the young central defender deep into the opposition half in the thirty first minute where he was played in on goal by Ruaridh Horne, himself playing in an unaccustomed left wing back role. Showing all the composure of a striker Allan steered the ball low past the advancing keeper and into the bottom corner to round off the first half scoring.

Saints GG Manager Donald Black made a double half-time substitution withdrawing Keir Maclean and Louis MacFarlane and replacing them with Kyle Cooper and Gary MacCuish.

The hosts changed things around themselves at the interval, pushing David Wikis into attack and made a promising start to the second half coming close with a George McConnell header from a right wing corner kick which flashed wide of Murdo MacKenzie's right hand post.

Scorer of the fourth goal Nathan Allan turned provider for the fifth making a rampaging run up the left wing to get on the end of a Kenneth Black long pass. Allan's cut-back from the bye-line was cushioned into the path of Kyle Cooper by Gavin Forgrieve for the young substitute to open his account.

In a surprising change for the closing half hour veteran defender Alex Craik was pushed up front to partner Cooper after promising youngster Thomas McCrindle had replaced the hard working Robert Johnstone. The new strike partnership soon bore fruit with Cooper latching onto another Gavin Forgrieve through ball and rounding the keeper before squaring to Craik for an easy tap-in for goal number six.

Saints continued to open up the beleaguered home defence and Gavin Forgrieve deservedly added a goal of his own to his tally of assists with a seventieth minute shot from the edge of the home box which took a slight deflection on it's way past Helensburgh keeper Darren Reid.

In the seventy second minute Kyle Cooper tee'd up Craik to complete his brace from close range before Cooper was denied his own second goal by the feet of the Helensburgh keeper.

Craik then repaid the compliment setting up Cooper for goal number nine with fifteen minutes remaining. 

The heat was understandably slowing the pace of the game but Saints were still able to find the gaps in the Helensburgh defence and, predictably, it was Gavin Forgrieve who threaded the ball through for Kyle Cooper to complete his hat-trick in the eighty first minute.

The home side were denied a consolation goal when Murdo MacKenzie capped a solid performance by springing high to his left to acrobatically finger tip a thirty six yard David Wikis free-kick over his crossbar.

MacKenzie's opposite number Darren Reid also ended his afternoon on a more positive note thwarting first Martin Bonar and finally Kyle Cooper when the young striker could only flick a delightful cross from Thomas McCrindle into the grateful arms of the well positioned goalkeeper.

The convincing victory, albeit against a Helensburgh side containing a number of previously untried youngsters, gives the Saints second string a much needed shot in the arm going into yet another fixture hiatus.

Oban Saints GG will continue their preparations for the new Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League season with regular training sessions with Manager Donald Black and Coach Brian Forgrieve hopeful of confirming some pre-season friendly dates in the near future.

      

#monthesaints

Saints GG Lose Out Again In Spring Cup

Saturday 22nd May 2021

Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League

Spring Cup Section One

Oban Saints GG 2 - 3 Vale of Leven AFC

Oban Community Sports Field (3G)

Soroba Road

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4JB

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Martin Rae

Oban Saints Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League side looked to bounce back from their opening night Spring Cup defeat to South Lochaber Thistle with another difficult tie against Vale of Leven AFC at Oban High School last Saturday afternoon.

Previously competing in the Scottish Amateur Football League as FC Argyle the visitors have recently rebranded as the amateur wing of Alexandria footballing institution Vale of Leven FC and begin their Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League journey in this season's Division 3B. Among an experienced Vale line-up was former Scottish Amateur International striker Allan MacPherson whom Saints fans will recall from previous visits to Oban with Haldane United and Vale of Leven Juniors. 

In an entertaining encounter, well handled by Referee Martin Rae, it was a tale of missed opportunities and defensive calamities from the young Saints side which ultimately saw the visitors come out on top by the odd goal in five.                   

Manager Donald Black was without four of the squad from the previous Wednesday night's encounter with South Lochaber Thistle but was still able to name a fifteen man squad containing thirteen graduates of the Oban Saints Youth set-up.

Saints lined up with Murdo MacKenzie in goal behind a back four of Craig Livingstone, Aiden Campbell, Alex Craik and Captain Kenneth Black. Cammy Clark and Louis MacFarlane once again anchored the midfield with the more advanced trio of Robert Johnstone, Gavin Forgrieve and Cammy Hill supporting central striker Kyle Cooper. On the bench were Nathan Allan, Thomas McCrindle, Gary MacCuish and Fraser MacFarlane.

The visitors kicked off in bright sunshine attacking the Dalintart end and Saints number one Murdo MacKenzie did well to hold a Ross Davies volley from twenty yards after Alex Craik had headed out a fourth minute corner kick from the Vale right.

The normally rock solid Craik then set an unfortunate and unwelcome trend for defensive blunders when he was caught in possession on the corner of the Saints eighteen yard box by Cameron Jamieson who eagerly snatched the opportunity to open the scoring despatching the ball past the hopelessly exposed MacKenzie.

After a decent Gavin Forgrieve free-kick delivery drifted just out of reach for the on-rushing Alex Craik Saints conceded another avoidable goal in the twelfth minute. Central defender Aiden Campbell misjudged the bounce of a Cameron Jamieson cross into the box gifting a chance to former Scottish Amateur International striker Allan MacPherson who made no mistake in inflicting the punishment.

Young Louis MacFarlane, making just his second appearance for the club, linked up well in the eighteenth minute with Cammy Hill and Kyle Cooper to create an opening for Gavin Forgrieve who dragged his right foot shot just wide of target.

Vale central midfielder Richard Stibbs had his heart in his mouth in the twenty third minute when his attempted clearing header from a Gavin Forgrieve free-kick spun off the top off his head and looped inches over his own crossbar. 

The visitors lost the services of Allan MacPherson to injury ten minutes before the interval with the strikers place being taken by Lewis Scott.

Saints Skipper Kenneth Black made a good run on the left in the thirty ninth minute and picked out Cammy Hill in the middle for a low shot just wide of Vale keeper Ally Shields' right hand post.

Saints impressive end to the first half continued and only an excellent Ally Shields save from Craig Livingstone denied the home side after the fullback's driving run had been picked out by an excellent diagonal ball from Robbie Johnstone.

Reward for their endeavours came Saints way ninety seconds into the second half after tenacious work by Louis MacFarlane on the right won possession just inside the Vale half. MacFarlane found Kyle Cooper on the edge of the Vale box where he turned away from his marker and slotted a low right foot shot beyond the grasp of Ally Shields to half the deficit.

The visitors suffered another injury set-back and the young Saints side were now very much in the ascendancy but passed up three gilt edged chances to take control of the tie with Cammy Hill each time failing to hit the target after taking up good scoring positions.

Vale lost a second player to injury when what looked like a pulled hamstring saw Cameron Jamieson replaced by Gary Campbell.

Aiden Campbell's afternoon was cut short when a twisted right knee saw him replaced in central defence by Nathan Allan.  

Saints failure to capitalise on their chances came back to haunt them when another defensive calamity gifted the visitors a third goal. Murdo MacKenzie spilled a routine catch from a right wing cross straight to the feet of Richard Stibbs who needed no second invitation to roll the ball into the unguarded net.

Fraser MacFarlane and Thomas McCrindle replaced Cammy Hill and Louis MacFarlane for the closing twenty minutes as Saints continued their pursuit of a route back into the tie.

Alex Craik's never say die attitude took the veteran defender into unfamiliar territory with a driving run out from the back and deep into the Vale half. Craik's pin point cross was met perfectly by Robbie Johnstone whose header from twelve yards looped over Ally Shields into the net.

Saints Manager Donald Black made a final change in the eighty first minute sending on Gary MacCuish to replace Cammy Clark.

Opposite number Chris Anderson followed suit playing his last card with the arrival of Stuart Toole at the expense of Sean Aitken.

Saints kept pressing right to the end but were unable to find the equaliser ensuring a happy bus journey home for the men from the Vale.

Despite two cup defeats to quality opposition in the opening week of the return to competitive football Saints GG Manager Donald Black and Coach Brian Forgrieve can take heart from the positive attitude of his young charges and can look forward in anticipation to the league season ahead.  

#monthesaints

Five Star Jags Ease Past Saints GG

Wednesday 19th May 2021

Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League

Spring Cup Section One

Oban Saints GG 3 - 5 South Lochaber Thistle

Oban Community Sports Field (3G)

Soroba Road

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4JB

Kick Off 7.00pm
Referee Mr Martin Rae

Oban Saints Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League side launched their Spring Cup campaign with a 7pm kick off against Division One outfit South Lochaber Thistle at Oban High School last Wednesday evening.

In a high scoring encounter the young Saints acquitted themselves well in patches against their more experienced opponents however the top flight Lochaber side were ultimately comfortable and deserved winners.

Saints lined up in their new all red kit kindly sponsored by D&K Lafferty Contractors with Murdo MacKenzie in goal behind a back four of Craig Livingstone, Aiden Campbell, Alex Craik and Captain Kenneth Black. Cammy Clark and Louis MacFarlane anchored the midfield with the more advanced trio of Aaron McKay, Gavin Forgrieve and Robert Johnstone supporting central striker Cammy Hill. On the bench were Nathan Allan, Alan Buchanan, Fraser MacFarlane, Keir MacLean and Andrew Moore.

Before the action got underway Referee Martin Rae lead both sides in a silence of remembrance for the late Tam Maitland, father of Saints Scottish Amateur International Scott Maitland and a stalwart supporter of the Club.

After both goalkeepers had made good early saves midfielder David Forbes opened the scoring for the visitors in the twentieth minute with a cushioned volley into the top corner after Alex Craik had headed out a Martin Munro free-kick from the right.

The talismanic Munro was a constant threat and veteran Saints defender Alex Craik had to use all of his experience to marshal his defence through a difficult first half where the visitors held the upper hand for the most part. 

It wasn't however all one way traffic and rampaging runs on the right from Robbie Johnstone twice narrowly failed to find the feet of striker Cammy Hill with cutbacks from the bye-line.

When Johnstone eventually managed to pick out Hill in the thirty sixth minute after good work from Forgrieve and McKay the Thistle keeper denied the big Saints striker with a smart save low to his left.

Three goals in a devastating ten minute spell at the start of the second half effectively clinched the tie for the visitors with thirty five minutes still to play. 

Manager Donald Black made his first changes on the hour mark with Fraser MacFarlane and Keir MacLean replacing Cammy Clark and Cammy Hill.

Despite the four goal deficit the young Saints side refused to let their heads drop and found a way back into the game in the sixty fourth minute when Alex Craik climbed well at the back post to head a Gavin Forgrieve corner kick crashing into the top corner of the net.

Further personnel changes followed with Nathan Allan, Alan Buchanan and Andy Moore replacing Kenneth Black, Aaron McKay and Craig Livingstone respectively.

With just three minutes of the ninety remaining Saints were handed the opportunity to half the deficit when Fraser MacFarlane was tripped in the Thistle box. Never short of confidence the diminutive Saints striker grabbed the ball and placed his sweetly struck spot kick well out of reach of the Thistle keeper.

Regrettably for Saints the visitors, who had rarely been seen as an attacking threat since their blistering start to the second half, restored their three goal cushion just sixty seconds later cruelly punishing a mix-up in the Saints defence.

Keir Maclean immediately grabbed another goal back for Saints latching onto a Gavin Forgrieve through ball and lobbing the keeper from thirty yards to give Saints a glimmer of hope of snatching an unlikely draw.

Maclean and MacFarlane both had chances to add to their respective tallies in the four minutes of time added on by Referee Martin Rae but found the Thistle number one equal to the task ensuring victory for the South Lochaber men.  

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