Saints Complete League Double Over Old Rivals Greenock

Saturday 22nd January 2022

Central Scottish Amateur Football League

Premier Division

Oban Saints 4 - 1 Greenock High School Former Pupils

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Michael Kerr

Last Saturday Oban Saints welcomed Greenock High School Former Pupils to Glencruitten in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division where four goals from the hosts in a devastating nineteen minute first half spell saw off the challenge of their old Scottish Amateur Football League rivals.

David Beaton opened the scoring after twenty five minutes before a quick fire double from Kyle Cooper and a curled finish into the bottom corner from Skipper Craig MacEwan on the stroke of half time gave Saints an unassailable lead at the interval.

Greenock however refused to buckle in the second half giving Saints little chance of adding to their first tally and notched a deserved consolation goal when Jamie Grant beat Graham Douglas from the penalty spot.

Manager Willie Gemmell was forced to make a number of changes to the squad which had secured a place in the fifth round of the West of Scotland Cup with victory away at Uddingston Anvil on the previous Saturday. Out went David Dunlop, Myles McAuley, Cammy Hill, James Conington and Louie MacFarlane with Graham Douglas, Dene Cassells, Scott Maitland and Lewis Cameron all returning.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back three of Steven MacLeod, Dene Cassells and Thomas McCrindle. Across the five man midfield were Ruaridh Horne, Matty Kelly, Daniel MacCuish, Gavin Forgrieve and David Beaton with Kyle Cooper and Captain Craig MacEwan up front. On the bench were Lewis Cameron, Scott Maitland and Ross Maitland.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Lewis Cameron

Scott Maitland

Ross Maitland

Having won the reverse fixture in Greenock back in September Saints were looking to complete the league double over their old friends from the tail o' the bank but got little change out of the visitor's experienced central defensive pairing of Chris McAllister and Gerard McLauchlan in the opening exchanges.

Craig MacEwan sent David Beaton away on the left in the fifth minute from where he looked to pick out Ruaridh Horne coming in at the back post but the combined attentions of James McClure and Ryan Dickson were just enough to deny the young Saints wing back a clean strike.

Greenock won the first corner kick of the match in the twelfth minute when Steven MacLeod made a good interception to turn a Zach McEachran right wing cross behind. Kenny Munro's delivery picked out Gerard McLauchlan at the back post but the big central defender sent his header wide of target.

David Beaton linked well with Daniel MacCuish after fifteen minutes cutting in from the right for MacCuish's return pass and a left foot shot from twenty yards which narrowly cleared the crossbar.

The visitors looked to exploit another set-piece in the twenty second minute with a Chris McAllister header from a free-kick just inside the Saints half which looped harmlessly into the gloves of Graham Douglas.

Saints were knocking on the door and only a fine block from Gerard McLauchlan prevented Gavin Forgrieve from testing Greenock keeper Kyle MacLean after good work on the left from Craig MacEwan.

The breakthrough came after twenty five minutes after a driving run from Matty Kelly through the inside right channel. Kelly picked out the supporting run of David Beaton on the right whose unerring finish across the keeper nestled in the bottom to give Saints the lead.

Saints doubled their advantage four minutes later from a swift counter-attack after dealing comfortably with another Greenock corner kick. Matty Kelly was involved again and picked up the loose ball on the edge of the Saints box before driving forward towards the half-way line. Kelly's through ball was perfectly weighted for Kyle Cooper who turned on the after burners to skip away from Conor Larkin's despairing lunge to slam the ball past Kyle MacLean. Larkin's attempt to stop Cooper earned the Greenock fullback a caution from Referee Michael Kerr.

Cooper completed his brace in the thirty second minute with another composed finish after good link-up play from Gavin Forgrieve and Daniel MacCuish.

Straight from the restart Gavin Forgrieve saw a second goal bound effort blocked by the Greenock defence as Saints looked to stretch their advantage still further.

Despite Saints three goal lead the visitors still posed a threat and Steven MacLeod made another important intervention to cut out a low Zach McEachran right wing cross looking for striker Kenny Munro.

Gerard McLauchlan picked up the second yellow card of the afternoon after going through the back of Craig MacEwan in the centre circle in the forty first minute.

The Saints Skipper rounded off the first half scoring in the forty fourth minute cutting in from the left and finding the far bottom corner with a curling effort despite the best efforts of young Greenock keeper Kyle MacLean.

Saints kicked off the second half attacking the car park end but it was the visitors who were the first to threaten this time from a good near post run from Ryan Dickson to meet a Luke Mullin corner kick from the left with Dickson's header flying inches over the Saints crossbar.

The visitors made a double change on the hour mark replacing Ryan Dickson and Captain Cian McAuley with Jamie Grant and Brandon Lee. Saints followed suit withdrawing Kyle Cooper and sending on Lewis Cameron for his first outing in ten weeks.

Cameron's endeavours found him caught in a sandwich on the corner of the Greenock box in the sixty fifth minute with the Scottish amateur internationalist curling the resulting free-kick wide of target.

Gaffer Willie Gemmell tapped into the strength on his substitutes bench sending on Scott Maitland to join international colleague Cameron at the expense of David Beaton.

At the other end Graham Douglas was brought into the match with a fine save to push away a James McClure shot. The loose ball fell into the path of Kenny Munro whose goal bound shot hit the arm of Thomas McCrindle which saw Referee Michael Kerr point to the penalty spot. Jamie Grant found the bottom corner from twelve yards sending Graham Douglas in the opposite direction in the process to give the visitors some hope of finding a way back into the match.

Those hopes were extinguished however by a solid performance by the Saints rear guard in which youngster Thomas McCrindle impressed alongside the experienced duo of Steven MacLeod and Dene Cassells.

Further personnel changes followed with the evergreen Ross Maitland replacing Ruaridh Horne for Saints and Ronan McCafferty, Thomas McQuilkin and Neil Rankin all making appearances for the visitors.

When Greenock did eventually get past the Saints back three they found Graham Douglas in no mood to be beaten again with saves from two Kenny Munro efforts restricting the visitors to just the one consolation goal.

Greenock holding midfielder Craig Molloy completed the caution count after bringing down his opposite number Daniel MacCuish in the centre circle in the eighty fourth minute. 

The solid second half defensive performance from the visitors continued and Saints were unable to test young Greenock keeper MacLean any further with Lewis Cameron, Daniel MacCuish, Ross Maitland and Scott Maitland all failing to find the target with efforts from distance.

Referee Kerr, who handled proceedings well dismissed two Saints penalty appeals in the closing stages before calling time after an injury time Lewis Cameron free-kick failed to clear the Greenock defensive wall.

Saints are on the road this coming Saturday when they travel to Glenhead Park to face Drumchapel Amateurs. 

Team Captains Craig MacEwan and Cian McAuley with Referee Michael Kerr

David Beaton

Chris McAllister

Kyle MacLean

Thomas McCrindle and Zach McEachran

Celebrations after David Beaton's opening goal

Conor Larkin's last ditch challenge can't stop Kyle Cooper

Kyle Cooper makes it 2 - 0

Kyle Cooper nets his second goal

Kyle Cooper and Matty Kelly

Craig MacEwan gets away from Conor Larkin

Willie Gemmell

Oban Saints legends Frank Beaton, Iain Jackson and David MacLeod

Daniel MacCuish

Steven MacLeod

Kenny Munro

Ross Maitland

Gavin Forgrieve

#monthesaints

Saints March On In The West of Scotland Cup

 

Saturday 15th January 2022

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

Fourth Round
Uddingston Anvil 0 - 2 Oban Saints
Sir Matt Busby Sports Complex
Main Street
Bellshill
ML4 3DP
Kick-off 2pm
Referee Mr. David Cameron

Oban Saints twice postponed West of Scotland Amateur Cup Fourth Round tie against Uddingston Anvil finally got underway at a dank and drizzly Sir Matt Busby Sports Complex last Saturday afternoon.

Having previously fallen victim to high covid numbers and snow the all Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division tie went ahead on the all weather surface in Bellshill where first half goals from Cammy Hill and Daniel MacCuish saw the visitors prevail.

Manager Willie Gemmell was forced to make three changes to the starting eleven which had rounded off 2021 with a home win against Gartcosh United giving a starting role to youngster Thomas McCrindle in central defence and a debut in central midfield to new signing James Conington. To complete the changes veteran goalkeeper David Dunlop took the gloves for the second time this season.

Saints lined up with David Dunlop taking care of business in goal behind a back three of Steven MacLeod, Myles McAuley and Thomas McCrindle. Across the five man midfield were David Beaton, Matty Kelly, James Conington, Gavin Forgrieve and Cammy Hill with Daniel MacCuish and Captain Craig MacEwan up front. On the substitutes bench were Kyle Cooper, Ruaridh Horne, Louie MacFarlane and Ross Maitland.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Kyle Cooper

Ruaridh Horne

Unused substitutes:-

Ross Maitland

Louie MacFarlane

The hosts were looking for a repeat of their two goal victory at Glencruitten when the two sides met ten weeks previously on league business but, despite having the better of the early exchanges, Uddingston got little change out of the previously untried Saints back three of Steven MacLeod, Myles McAuley and Thomas McCrindle.

A blocked shot from Cammy Hill and a Matty Kelly effort wide of the postage stamp corner was as close as either side came to testing the respective goalkeepers before Cammy Hill opened the scoring after twenty minutes.

James Conington, who impressed on his debut in central midfield, won possession on the halfway line and found Cammy Hill on the left touchline. Hill played his way out of a tight situation with the help of Craig MacEwan and Matty Kelly and continued his run to get on the end of Matty Kelly's pass which sent him racing through on goal. Hill held off the challenge of Ross Ferguson before wrong footing Anvil keeper David McKegney with a clipped finish into the bottom corner.

Thomas McCrindle did well to hold up the progress of Kieron Markey and concede a twenty ninth minute corner kick on the Uddingston right with David Dunlop showing safe hands to claim a good delivery from Robert Dimmer.

Craig MacEwan's dissenting voice after Cammy Hill had been harshly penalised for a challenge on Paul Finnigan earned the Saints Skipper the first yellow card of the match in the thirty eighth minute.

Sixty seconds later Hill showed Finnigan and Christopher Mcaleney a clean pair of heels with another incisive run on the left. The flying wing back drew David McKegney off his line and squared to Daniel MacCuish for a tap-in to double Saints advantage.

On the stroke of half-time MacCuish showed good strength to hold off Ross Ferguson and send David Beaton away on the right wing. Beaton's pace took him to the bye-line from where his cutback looking for Craig MacEwan was well intercepted by the outstretched boot of Christopher McLenaghan.

Kieron Markey's late challenge on Cammy Hill earned the Anvil striker a booking just two minutes into what would be a frustrating second half for the home side who could find no way through a solid Saints defensive performance.

Good work on the left by Gavin Forgrieve and James Conington tee'd up Matty Kelly for a shot from twenty yards which was deflected for a corner kick on the Saints left which would be the first of three in quick succession before Craig MacEwan was eventually penalised for a push inside the six yard box.

At the other end a dipping fifty ninth minute Alan Inch effort from thirty yards was tipped over by David Dunlop who was in no mood to give up his highly prized clean sheet. This was followed two minutes later by a Christopher Owen free-kick high and wide of target from twenty two yards.

Saints responded with an off target effort of their own when Gavin Forgrieve lifted a shot from thirty yards over the crossbar after good work on the left from Cammy Hill, James Conington and Craig MacEwan.

Gaffer Willie Gemmell made his first change after sixty five minutes replacing David Beaton with Kyle Cooper in a straight swap at right wing back.

Robert Dimmer shot narrowly wide of the postage stamp corner in the sixty seventh minute before a flurry of yellow cards from Referee David Cameron had Daniel MacCuish, Cammy Hill, Matty Kelly and Gavin Forgrieve all walking a disciplinary tight rope for the closing stages.

A double block by Craig MacEwan from a seventy second minute Robert Dimmer free-kick personified the they shall not pass Saints attitude which gave the home side little encouragement in their pursuit of a route back into the game.

Saints Gaffer Willie Gemmell made his second and final change with fifteen minutes remaining replacing Daniel MacCuish with Ruaridh Horne. The change saw Kyle Cooper join Craig MacEwan up front with Horne taking the right wing back berth.

Cammy Hill met a seventy eighth minute Gavin Forgrieve corner kick with a solid back post header which flew over David McKegney's crossbar before the Uddingston number one made a routine save from a Craig MacEwan effort from the edge of the box.

James Conington was denied a goal to round off an impressive debut when David McKegney saved his shot from eighteen yards after Kyle Cooper had raced forward on the right from a good advantage played by Referee Cameron after Anvil substitute Ryan Hutchison had clattered into Matty Kelly on the halfway line.

Kelly will claim he hadn't quite fully recovered from the challenge when he miscued his finish from fourteen yards wide of target from a Ruaridh Horne cross after a Craig MacEwan led counter-attack in the ninetieth minute. 

Neither goalkeeper was troubled in the five additional minutes allowed by Mr Cameron before the final whistle confirmed Saints progress to the fifth round.

Awaiting Saints in the fifth round is an away tie against Giffnock North of the Caledonian League Premier Division, Glenburn Miner's Welfare of the Ayrshire Premier League or Glynhill Moorcroft of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division. 

This coming Saturday Saints return to league business for the visit of old friends and rivals Greenock High School Former Pupils. 

James Conington

Daniel MacCuish and Ross Ferguson

Thomas McCrindle

Craig MacEwan

Cammy Hill opens the scoring

Cammy Hill and Paul Finnigan

Gavin Forgrieve

David McKegney

David Dunlop

Kyle Cooper

#monthesaints

Christmas Message

Oban Saints AFC Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B Winners 2019 - 20

The covid related postponement of last Saturday's West of Scotland Amateur Cup fourth round tie against Uddingston Anvil was the final act in a year which, for the most part, Oban Saints will be keen to see the back off.

Saints first post lockdown action of 2021 didn't come until 10th July when they were pitched into action against Castlemilk Dynamo in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division One play off. The Division 1A winners had the advantage of competitive action in the weeks leading up to the game which saw them pip Gartcosh United to top the covid disrupted 2019-20 Division 1A. Saints however had been confirmed as Division 1B winners as far back as March 2020 and had only one warm-up game against Lochgilphead Red Star under their belts.

A close match ended level with Lewis Cameron's successfully converted penalty kick cancelling out Joseph Lang's opener for Dynamo. Neither team could find a winner in extra time and it was Castlemilk who came out on top in the penalty shoot-out to be crowned Division One Champions. Consolation for Saints came when Captain Craig MacEwan was presented with the long awaited Division 1B trophy however the main prize for both was to be confirmed as competing in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division, widely considered to be the top amateur division in Scotland.

After yet more covid related fixture disruption Saints finally got their 2021-22 league campaign underway with a heavy defeat away to early pacesetters Lesmahagow. The reverse against the on-fire league leaders unfortunately set the tone for a frustrating run of results where Saints harvested just four points from a possible twenty four before bagging a first home league win of the season against Gartcosh United and finally putting smiles on the faces of their loyal home support.

Oban Saints would like to extend season's greetings and best wishes to sponsors D&K Lafferty Contractors, MKM Oban Building Supplies and Aulay's Bar and also to all of the club's faithful supporters.

#monthesaints

Three Home Points At Last

Saturday 11th December 2021

Central Scottish Amateur Football League

Premier Division

Oban Saints 2 - 1 Gartcosh United

Oban Community Sports Field

Soroba Road

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4JB

Kick Off 1.00pm
Referee Mr Tony McCann

Oban Saints final home fixture of 2021 brought their long awaited first home Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division win of the season. Last Saturday morning's heavy rain forced a switch of venue from Glencruitten to Oban High School and with it a much needed change of fortune.

Matty Kelly gave Saints a deserved first half lead but the home side were pegged back after just two second half minutes after an excellent turn and shot from former Celtic and Scotland striker Craig Beattie. 

This has been an all too familiar story in Saints debut season in the top division in Scottish amateur football however, spurred on by the large and unusually vocal home support, the D&K Lafferty and MKM Building Supplies sponsored side dug in and bagged the three points when Dene Cassells headed home an eighty fifth minute Gavin Forgrieve free-kick.

Work commitments kept Manager Willie Gemmell away from the touchline so Coaches Ross Maitland and Peter MacCallum and Secretary David Buchanan took charge of team affairs. Ruaridh Horne made a welcome return from injury but Scott Maitland, Lewis Cameron, Kyle Cooper and Thomas McCrindle were all unavailable so Alex Craik and Lewis Buchanan were drafted in to join Ross Maitland and Louie MacFarlane on the substitutes bench.

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back three of Steven MacLeod, Dene Cassells and Ruaridh Horne. Across the five man midfield were David Beaton, Myles McAuley, Matty Kelly, Gavin Forgrieve and Cammy Hill with Daniel MacCuish and Craig MacEwan up front.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Alex Craik

Unused substitutes:-

Lewis Buchanan

Ross Maitland

Louie MacFarlane

Gartcosh kicked off in torrential rain attacking the school end and were immediately on the front foot forcing Ruaridh Horne to make a good block to divert a Ross Fisher shot behind for a corner kick. The delivery from Scott Starrs on the right found Craig Beattie but the big central defender couldn't direct his header on target.

Beattie was called into action in his own eighteen yard box twice in quick succession making vital interceptions to prevent Cammy Hill from picking out firstly Craig MacEwan and then Matty Kelly after driving runs on the left.

Jordan Murphy's long throw-ins were to prove a major weapon in the Gartcosh arsenal and his ninth minute throw from the right was headed out from the penalty spot by Dene Cassells but only as far as Ross Fisher on the eighteen yard line whose shot fizzed just wide of Graham Douglas' right hand post.

David Beaton's pace on the right took him into the Gartcosh box on the end of an eighteenth minute Craig MacEwan lay-off from Matty Kelly's through ball. With a cut-back to MacEwan also an option Beaton elected to shoot from a tight angle and rattled Andrew Barlow's near post with a thumping effort.

Five minutes later Craig MacEwan's jinking run took him behind the Gartcosh back line and into the box but with only young keeper Barlow left to beat the Skipper tried to find David Beaton with a miscued effort across the face of goal allowing Jordan Murphy to get back and clear the danger.

Saints were knocking hard on the Gartcosh door and a twenty seventh move involving Matty Kelly, Gavin Forgrieve and Craig MacEwan saw the Skipper's shot from sixteen yards well saved by Andrew Barlow.

Referee Tony McCann produced the first yellow card of the afternoon for Philip Dolan's late challenge on Steven MacLeod after a good covering challenge from the veteran Saints defender as Dolan threatened to break through.

The deadlock was broken in the thirty third minute when Saints broke with pace after repelling another Jordan Murphy long throw. Dene Cassells won the header which was picked up on the edge of the box by Matty Kelly who sent Cammy Hill off on a run up the left. Hill's perfectly weighted pass into Kelly's path was met with crisp finish into the bottom corner past Barlow's left hand.

Saints tried to pick their way through the Gartcosh rear guard again on the stroke of half-time with David Beaton, Daniel MacCuish, Cammy Hill, Matty Kelly and Craig MacEwan all involved before Beaton's shot was blocked by the considerable frame of Craig Beattie.

The good first half work was undone after just two second half minutes when cheaply conceded possession was clinically punished by the visitors. David Beaton's clearing header from Jordan Murphy's throw-in was picked up by Daniel MacCuish on the Saints right but his flick intended for Matty Kelly was easily read and intercepted by Murphy whose raking ball to the far post found the still up in attack Craig Beattie. Despite now operating as a central defender Beattie has lost none of his striking prowess and after taking the ball down expertly and turning away from Ruaridh Horne he slammed an unstoppable shot past Graham Douglas to level the scoring.

The early second half momentum was with the visitors and Philip Dolan and Dylan Kerr both drew good saves from Saints number one Graham Douglas.

At the other end a perfectly timed sliding challenge from Jordan Murphy denied David Beaton a strike on goal from a swift counter attack on the right.

Ruaridh Horne's first start of the season came to an end after sixty five minutes when he was replaced in the back three by veteran Alex Craik.

Referee McCann, who handled proceedings well, went to his top pocket again twice in the space of as many minutes dishing out yellow cards to Bradley Renfrew for dissent and second half substitute Jordon Wood for a late challenge on Cammy Hill.

Saints were left appealing in vain for a seventy fourth minute handball decision which didn't come. Jordon Wood didn't wait about to debate the decision and raced through on the Gartcosh right beating Graham Douglas to his left and, fortunately for the static Saints defence, smacking his shot off the left hand upright.

After the early second half set-back Saints had fought their way back into a finely balanced affair and Gavin Forgrieve's right foot shot from the left edge of the Gartcosh eighteen yard box curled inches wide of the postage stamp corner.

Jordan Murphy's seventy ninth minute mistimed challenge on Craig MacEwan earned the Gartcosh left fullback his side's fourth caution.

Gavin Forgrieve joined the Gartcosh contingent in Mr McCann's notebook for his reaction to Callum Galloway's late challenge. Forgrieve, who put in a good midfield shift alongside Myles McAuley and Matty Kelly dusted himself down to take the eighty fifth minute free-kick from sixteen yards inside the visitor's half. Forgrieve's delivery was met perfectly by the head of Dene Cassells whose run dissected Gartcosh central defensive pairing of Stewart Diamond and Craig Beattie to guide the ball past Andrew Barlow and into the unguarded net.

The Cosh threw everything they had into the search for a second equaliser in the remaining five minutes plus the additional four allowed by Mr McCann but the Saints rear-guard with experienced trio Dene Cassells, Alex Craik and Steven MacLeod at it's heart stood firm to secure a morale boosting victory.

Saints are on their travels this coming Saturday with a trip to North Lanarkshire to face Uddingston Anvil in the fourth round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup.    

Celebrations after Matty Kelly's opening goal

Matty Kelly and Craig MacEwan

Gavin Forgrieve

Dene Cassells wheels away in celebration after his winning goal

Alex Craik closes down Jordan Murphy shot

#monthesaints

Saints GG and Giffnock SC Share The Spoils

Saturday 4th December 2021 

Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League

Division 3A 

Giffnock Soccer Centre Amateurs Reds 1 - 1 Oban Saints GG

Woodfarm High School

Thornliebank

Glasgow

G46 7HG

Kick Off 1.15pm

Referee Mr. Michael Fox                

Oban Saints second string travelled to Thornliebank last Saturday to face bottom of the table Giffnock Soccer Centre Amateurs Reds. Three points separated the pair at the foot of the Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League Division 3A table at the start of play and a goal-a-piece ensured the positions remained unchanged after ninety evenly contested minutes.

Kieran Hendry gave Saints GG a sixty eighth minute lead however with a second league victory of the season tantalising close Skipper Calum Brook levelled for Giffnock in stoppage time to notch his side's first league point.

With the first eleven having no fixture Saints GG Manager Donald Black was able to call on the services of first team squad members Gavin Forgrieve, Ruaridh Horne and Thomas McCrindle. The Oban Saints youth set-up was also called upon and Andrew Barclay, Ruaridh Buchanan and Lewis Campbell were handed places on the substitutes bench.

Saints GG lined up with Murdo MacKenzie in goal behind a back three of Ruaridh Horne, Captain Kenneth Black and Thomas McCrindle. Across the five man midfield were Craig Livingstone, Gavin Forgrieve, Martin Bonar, Cammy Clark and Dylan Anderson. Up front were Lewis Buchanan and Aaron McKay. On the substitutes bench were Andrew Barclay, Ruaridh Buchanan, Lewis Campbell and Kieran Hendry. 

Oban Saints GG starting eleven:-

Murdo MacKenzie (GK)

Ruaridh Horne

Kenneth Black (Captain)

Thomas McCrindle

Craig Livingstone

Gavin Forgrieve

Martin Bonar

Cammy Clark

Dylan Anderson

Lewis Buchanan

Aaron McKay

Used substitutes:-

Kieran Hendry

Ruaridh Buchanan

Andrew Barclay

Lewis Campbell

There was an early set-back for Saints when Cammy Clark went over his ankle in the centre circle after eight minutes signalling the introduction from the bench of Kieran Hendry.

Hendry's nineteenth minute cross-field pass picked out the run of Craig Livingstone whose right foot shot was well saved at his near post by Giffnock keeper Scott MacLennan. Opposite number Murdo MacKenzie was called into action immediately thereafter when the home side swiftly counter-attacked. Andrew McKerlie's long ball up to Schwan Nuri saw the Giffnock striker get the better of Saints Skipper Kenneth Black but not Murdo MacKenzie who saved well to his right.

MacLennan needed two attempts to hold Lewis Buchanan's twentieth minute shot as the heavy morning rain which forced a number of fixture cancellations finally abated.

A twenty ninth minute Aaron McKay foul on Matthew Coyle gave dead-ball expert Iain McIntosh the chance to measure another excellent delivery into the Saints box which Euan McDiarmid headed wide at the far post under pressure from Dylan Anderson.

Kieran Hendry robbed Stuart Lemay as he tried to usher the ball over the bye-line for a thirtieth minute goal kick. Hendry then beat Scott MacLennan at his near post however Referee Michael Fox harshly disallowed the goal for a Hendry foul on Lemay.

Sixty seconds later Saints had the ball in the net again when Aaron McKay tucked away a Lewis Buchanan cut-back from the left however Mr Fox made it two disallowed goals in as many minutes when he ruled Buchanan offside.

In time added on for first half stoppages Dylan Anderson's strong running on the left took him to the bye-line from where he picked out Kieran Hendry. Hendry spotted the supporting run of Martin Bonar and rolled the ball into the big central midfielder's path however Bonar's usual keen eye for goal deserted him on this occasion and his shot hit the side netting.

Saints started the second half well without testing Scott MacLennan with Craig Livingstone heading a Dylan Anderson cross wide and Kieran Hendry sending a decent effort dipping inches over the crossbar after cutting in from the left.

Gavin Forgrieve's jinking run into the Giffnock box on the hour mark was brought to a halt by Euan McDiarmid whose challenge sent Forgrieve tumbling. Referee Fox, much to the bemusement of the entire Saints contingent, saw nothing wrong with McDiarmid's challenge and dismissed the loud appeals for a penalty kick.

Aaron McKay's low sixty fifth minute shot across Scott MacLennan beat the Giffnock keeper's right hand but also the far post as the breakthrough continued to elude Saints. 

The deadlock was broken in the sixty eighth minute when Kieran Hendry beat the Giffnock offside trap to get on the end of a Dylan Anderson through ball. Scott MacLennan came out to the edge of his box to intercept the pass but Hendry got there before him and calmly slotted the ball into the unguarded net.

Ruaridh Buchanan replaced Dylan Anderson after seventy seven minutes joining brother Lewis in attack with Aaron McKay moving to left wing back.

Hearts were in mouths on the Saints touchline when Sam Webb's speculative eighty first minute effort from wide on the left looped high over Murdo MacKenzie before landing on top of the crossbar and bouncing behind.

Ruaridh Horne made way for Andrew Barclay with nine minutes remaining with the youngster joining Kenneth Black and Thomas McCrindle in the back three.

The Buchanan brothers strike partnership was brought to an end in the eighty sixth minute when Lewis made way for yet another Saints youth product Lewis Campbell.

The home side kept pressing but Saints defended well and just as it looked as though Saints had done enough to secure the victory two valuable points were snatched from the right at the death. Martin Bonar got back to help out his defence and concede a ninety second minute corner kick. The delivery from the left was headed back in the direction it came from however a second delivery looped over the Saints defence and was met perfectly at the back post by Giffnock Skipper Callum Brook whose header from two yards arrowed back across Murdo MacKenzie and into the net.

There was barely enough time left on the clock to restart the match and Mr Fox brought proceedings to a close with honours even.

Oban Saints GG have no fixture this coming Saturday while the first team return to Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division action with a visit from Gartcosh United.

 

Cammy Clark smiles through the pain

Murdo MacKenzie punches clear

Kenneth Black and Shwan Nuri

Gavin Forgrieve

Craig Livingstone with Shwan Nuri in pursuit

Aaron McKay and Stuart Lemay

Kieran Hendry

Martin Bonar and Craig MacLennan

Lewis Buchanan

Scott MacLennan

Kieran Hendry

Thomas McCrindle and Shwan Nuri

Dylan Anderson and Jamie Dougan

Scott MacLennan gathers at Ruaridh Buchanan's feet

Calum Brook heads home the equaliser

#monthesaints

Saints Make No Impression On Anvil

Saturday 27th November 2021

Central Scottish Amateur Football League

Premier Division

Oban Saints 0 - 2 Uddingston Anvil

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Ross Stirling

This season's all too familiar story of missed chances and cheaply conceded goals cost Oban Saints three more valuable Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division points at Glencruitten last Saturday.

After Saints Skipper Craig MacEwan had put through his own net in the first half, visitors Uddingston Anvil took full advantage of the generosity of their hosts to establish a two goal lead inside the first minute of the second half. 

Despite a spirited performance there was no way back for the desperately out of luck Saints who missed a hatful of chances and found Anvil goalkeeper David McKegney in truly inspired form. 

Teenage defender Thomas McCrindle was given a starting debut in place of the injured Dene Cassells as Saints made three changes to the starting eleven which had secured progress to the West of Scotland Cup fourth round in their last outing. 

Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back three of Steven MacLeod, Willie Gemmell and Thomas McCrindle. Across the five man midfield were Kyle Cooper, Gavin Forgrieve, Matty Kelly, Myles McAuley and Scott Maitland with Daniel MacCuish and Craig MacEwan up front. On the bench were David Beaton, Alex Craik, Cammy Hill, Fraser MacFarlane and Louie MacFarlane.

Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

David Beaton

Cammy Hill

Louie MacFarlane

Unused substitutes:-

Alex Craik

Fraser MacFarlane

Attacking the railway line end in the first half the visitors came flying out of the traps and had the ball in the net in the third minute when Christopher Owen's diving header across the face of goal was turned in by Ewan Moyes. Referee Ross Stirling however ruled that Owen had strayed offside to meet Darren Ferguson's free-kick and disallowed the goal.

Daniel MacCuish felt his progress inside the Anvil box in the fourth minute had been unfairly impeded however Mr Stirling dismissed the Saints penalty appeal.

Kyle Cooper saw his tenth minute shot from the edge of the box deflected behind for a corner as Saints looked to have weathered the early Anvil storm.

Cooper did well again on the right two minutes later beating Reece McAuley to reach the bye-line. Cooper's cut back was met by Daniel MacCuish who had his first attempt blocked before sending his second effort on the rebound wide of target.

Saints first self inflicted injury came in the fifteenth minute when Graham Douglas misjudged Darren Ferguson's in-swinging corner kick from the right and Craig MacEwan's attempt to clear the danger ended up in his own net.

A further setback for the home side followed five minutes later when Kyle Cooper rolled his right ankle ending his participation in the game and earning David Beaton an earlier than anticipated call up from the substitutes bench.

Saints front pairing of Craig MacEwan and Daniel MacCuish linked well in the twenty fourth minute with MacCuish teeing up the Skipper for a shot from twenty yards which flew wide of David McKegney's left hand post.

Willie Gemmell's deep fortieth minute free-kick from wide on the right just inside the Anvil half was met by a solid David McKegney punch however Saints kept the pressure on and Craig MacEwan played in Matty Kelly for an effort from a tight angle which bounced agonisingly across the face of goal before being turned behind for a corner kick.

The visitors lost the services of Ross Ferguson to injury just before the interval with Anton Murray entering the fray as his replacement.

The second half began in disastrous fashion for Saints when the visitors capitalised fully on possession gifted to them midway inside the Saints half. Caught in two minds with what to do with the ball Daniel MacCuish only succeeded in clipping the ball into the path of Robert Dimmer who in turn picked out the run of Kieron Markey. The teenage striker raced in behind the Saints back three and made no mistake in beating the advancing Graham Douglas to double the Anvil advantage.

Anvil dead ball expert Darren Ferguson's forty ninth minute free-kick from thirty two yards was well held by Graham Douglas before opposite number David McKegney produced the first of a number of vital saves to deny Daniel MacCuish from Scott Maitland's left wing cross.

Graham Douglas saved a second Darren Ferguson free-kick and launched a fifty third minute Saints counter-attack which took Craig MacEwan into the Anvil box. Cutting in from the left MacEwan's shot across David McKegney beat the Anvil keeper but bounced inches wide of target.

Daniel MacCuish's fifty sixth minute cross field pass looking for the run of Scott Maitland was cut out by the head of Dylan Hendry but only into the path of Craig MacEwan who controlled well but sent his stabbed effort straight into the midriff of McKegney.

Thomas McCrindle, who acquitted himself well on his home debut, was replaced on the hour mark by Cammy Hill in a switch which saw Scott Maitland drop back into the back three.

Anton Murray found his way into Referee Stirling's note book for a late challenge on Cammy Hill wide on the Saints left. Willie Gemmell lifted the resulting free-kick to the far post from where Daniel MacCuish planted his header wide of target.

Saints were getting some joy from Hill's introduction on the left and his inviting sixty fifth minute low cross along the six yard line was put out for  throw-in by Anton Murray. Hill got his head to Myles McAuley's throw but his flick-on was too high for Gavin Forgrieve and was claimed by keeper McKegney.

Willie Gemmell's spectacular attempted overhead kick from Gavin Forgrieve's seventy fifth minute free-kick sailed over the crossbar before the visitors made their second and final change sending on Harris Gunn to replace Ruaridh Howat.

Robert Dimmer did well on the right to escape the attentions of Scott Maitland and set up Dylan Hendry for a seventy sixth minute shot just wide of Graham Douglas' left hand post. Two minutes later space opened up for another Hendry shot which Douglas saved comfortably.

Saints kept pushing for the goal which would bring them back into the game and only an excellent save from David McKegney kept the Saints attack at bay. Cammy Hill's eighty third minute cross field run from left to right had the Anvil defence trailing in his wake and his low shot looked certain to find the target until McKegney's intervention at full stretch finger tipped the ball around his right and post.

There was more heroics from McKegney sixty seconds later to deny Craig MacEwan after Matty Kelly and Daniel MacCuish combined to set up the Skipper.

More good work on the left from Cammy Hill saw the big utility man fizz a low cross to Daniel MacCuish who thumped a shot off the left hand upright just as Darren Ferguson crashed into him. Bizarrely Referee Stirling saw nothing wrong with the challenge and allowed play to continue albeit without MacCuish who had to be carried from the field of play.

Cammy Hill joined Craig MacEwan up front for the closing stages with MacCuish's replacement Louie MacFarlane taking up the left wing back position but Saints were unable to test McKegney again and slumped to a sixth league defeat of what is shaping up to be a long and difficult season.     

Team Captains Craig MacEwan and Alan Inch with Referee Ross Stirling

Graham Douglas

Myes McAuley gets away from Darren Ferguson

Thomas McCrindle and Ruaridh Howat

Daniel MacCuish tries to escape the attentions of Reece McAuley and Christopher Owen

David McKegney

Matty Kelly

Cammy Hill skips away from Ewan Moyes

Darren Ferguson wipes out Daniel MacCuish

#monthesaints