Another Ninety Minutes In The Tank

Saturday 19th September 2020

Friendly

Oban Saints 6 - 2 Dunoon Amateurs

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-

James Ford

Gavin Forgrieve

Jamie Graham

Cammy Hill

Scott Johnston

A second half hat-trick from substitute Cammy Hill added to first half strikes from Matty Kelly, Craig MacEwan and Lewis Cameron to seal victory for Oban Saints against Dunoon Amateurs in a friendly encounter last Saturday. A brace from Dunoon's Evan Meyar-McDonagh completed the scoring in an entertaining Argyll Derby played in warm sunshine at a once again spectator-free Glencruiten.

Saints welcomed back Lewis Cameron, James Ford and Scott Maitland to the squad from the previous week's win against South Lochaber Thistle. Unavailable pair Donald Campbell and Kerr Newbigging dropped out while Captain Dene Cassells remined sidelined.

In a bright start from the home side only timely interceptions from Dunoon central defender James Strapp denied Craig MacEwan and Matty Kelly early sights of goal.

Strapp was also quickly across to put the ball behind for a tenth minute corner kick when Myles McAuley sent David Beaton into the box with a give and go on the Saints left. Lewis Cameron placed his delivery perfectly on the head of Matty Kelly who had found pace in the six yard box to nod Saints into the lead.

Dunoon's Ross Montgomery found his way into Referee Jimmy Litster's bad books with a late challenge on Paul Carmichael which halted a driving run out from the back by the big central defender and earned the Dunoon midfielder a yellow card.

Despite the friendly tag all Argyll Derbies are keenly contested and Mr Litster worked hard to earn his match fee keeping tempers on both sides under control.

Myles McAuley headed a twenty first minute Lewis Cameron corner kick into the arms of Dunoon Captain and goalkeeper Jamie Robertson and Craig MacEwan blazed a shot from the corner of the eighteen yard box high and wide of target as Saints struggled create decent openings.

At the other end Ewan McIlkenny wriggled his way through the Saints defence but was denied a shot on goal by a perfectly timed challenge from Myles McAuley at the expense of a corner kick.

Saints doubled their advantage in the thirty fourth minute from a Lewis Cameron free-kick on the left after Ross Montgomery had bundled over David Beaton. Cameron spotted Craig MacEwan's run towards the front post and Skipper for the day MacEwan flicked Cameron's delivery past Jamie Robertson's right hand and into the bottom corner.

David Beaton had the chance to add to his hat-trick heroics of the previous week after a good run and cutback on the right from Ruaridh Horne however the diminutive winger's shot from the corner of the eighteen yard box curled wide of target.

Beaton was in the thick of the action again in the forty second minute racing into the box on the end of a Lewis Cameron through ball where his progress was halted by a sliding challenge by Allan Laughlan. The central defender's lunge knocked the ball out wide but not before going through the Saints wide man giving Mr Litster no option but to point to the penalty spot.

With two assists already under his belt Lewis Cameron added his name to the scoresheet with a calmly despatched penalty kick to send Saints into the half-time interval three goals to the good.

Saints Gaffer Willie Gemmell made two changes for the start of the second half sending on James Ford and Cammy Hill to replace David Beaton and Aaron McKay.

The second half was only two minutes old when Saints added to their tally. James Strapp was penalised for a foul on Cammy Hill thirty yards out from where Lewis Cameron was unable to get his free-kick past the four man Dunoon wall. Cameron was however able to regain possession and steer the ball out wide for Ruaridh Horne who picked out Cammy Hill's near post run for the big striker to clip the ball from close range past the helpless Dunoon keeper.     

Dunoon central defender Allan Laughlan, who was by this time treading a thin disciplinary line, was replaced in the fiftieth minute by Kjeld McIntyre.

Craig MacEwan thought he had doubled his own personal tally in the fifty fourth minute when he headed a James Ford right wing cross into the net off the underside of the crossbar only for Mr Litster to rule out his effort for a Cammy Hill push on James Strapp.

Ford then found himself the recipient of a Myles McAuley cross after McAuley had closed down Dunoon fullback Scott Lauder on the Saints right. After controlling the ball well sixteen yards out Ford was unable to keep his shot down and sent his effort looping over Jamie Robertson's crossbar.

Gavin Forgrieve joined the action as a fifty eighth minute replacement for Central Scottish Amateur Football League Select man Matty Kelly. 

Two quick-fire goals sixty seconds either side of the hour mark from speedy striker Evan Meyar-McDonagh brought the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division side roaring back into the game. Firstly the Saints defence was left appealing for an offside call which didn't come leaving Meyar-McDonagh to round the stranded Graham Douglas and tuck the ball into the unguarded net. Then, in the sixty first minute another straight ball through the middle from Brendan McIlkenny caught out the Saints back four again with the Dunoon striker producing an excellent curling finish past Graham Douglas to half the deficit.

Recovering from this setback a sustained period of pressure saw Saints notch their fifth goal of the afternoon. After Jamie Robertson had twice denied Craig MacEwan, Myles McAuley picked out Cammy Hill whose turn on the eighteen yard line took him in behind the Dunoon defence from where he slotted the ball into the bottom corner past Robertson's left hand.

Willie Gemmell made his final changes with fifteen minutes remaining replacing Ruaridh Horne and Myles McAuley with Jamie Graham and Scott Johnston. The visitors also made a change with Jordan McIlkenny taking over from Cameron McAllister.

Jamie Graham's fresh legs on the right helped set up further chances for Craig MacEwan who headed over and Cammy Hill who found the side netting from close range. 

Player/Coach Graham played a vital role in Saints sixth and final goal closing down and dispossessing Brendan McIlkenny ten yards inside the Dunoon half before laying the ball off to Lewis Cameron. Scottish Amateur international Cameron capped a splendid display with yet another assist threading in Hill to round the keeper and clip home from a tight angle.

After five added minutes Referee Litster, who handled proceedings well throughout, brought to an end a good workout for the teams giving both sets of players more valuable game time ahead of the resumption of competitive action.

Craig MacEwan and Allan Laughlan

Matty Kelly heads home the opening goal

Matty Kelly

David Beaton jumps over Scott Maitland's pass

Cammy Hill

James Ford

Craig MacEwan and Jamie Robertson

Evan Meyar-McDonagh

Scott Johnston

Gavin Forgrieve

Referee Jimmy Litster with his portable changing room

#monthesaints

Football Returns

Saturday 12th September 2020

Friendly

Oban Saints 4 - 2 South Lochaber Thistle

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 1.00pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-

Donald Campbell

Paul Carmichael

Cammy Hill

Scott Johnston

Unused substitutes:-

Willie Gemmell

Ben Pollock

189 Days after their last match Oban Saints finally returned to action last Saturday in a friendly encounter with near neighbours South Lochaber Thistle. The Glencruitten 2 playing surface was in it's usual excellent condition for the 1.00 pm kick-off however that was one of the few familiar sights as football adjusted to the new normal.

The Scottish Football Association's Match Day Protocols restrict the numbers permitted on the touchline to substitutes and a small number of coaching staff only. All but the players and match officials are prohibited from entering the playing surface. Only the first aider can enter the "red" playing zone and even then only if suitably attired with mask, apron and gloves. The small number in the "amber" coaching zone must exercise strict social distancing and all must have their own water and hand sanitiser.

Additionally with no changing facilities permitted all players must arrive and depart in their playing kit. 

Perhaps the cruellest and most difficult to enforce at grassroots level of the Scottish Football Association's Match Day Protocols is the no spectators rule and the Players and Management of Oban Saints extend their grateful thanks to their loyal band of supporters who played their part by denying themselves their football fix and staying away. 

With Referee Jimmy Litster satisfied that both sides were complying fully with the guidelines he got the action underway where it was the visitors who showed the least amount of ring rust in the opening exchanges.

Veteran Jags striker David Forbes forced Graham Douglas into action in the third minute with the  Saints number one producing an excellent save low down to his left and getting quickly back to his feet to push a second effort from Forbes behind for a corner kick.

Confusion at the back between Douglas and his new look central defensive pairing of Steven MacLeod and Kerr Newbigging gifted David Forbes an eighteenth minute sight of goal which he passed up in favour of a cutback for strike partner Andrew McLean. Young Saints fullback Ruaridh Horne spared the blushes of his more experienced back four counterparts with a perfectly timed sliding challenge to take the ball off McLean's toe.

After thirty five lethargic minutes where the visitors were by far the more impressive, Saints finally came alive and tested Thistle's Obanite goalkeeper Owen Cooke. Skipper for the day Craig MacEwan won possession on the edge of the centre circle and drove forward with Matty Kelly making a supporting run from midfield. MacEwan's well weighted pass slipped in the Central Scottish Amateur Football Select man for a delicate chip which Cooke did very well to claw away. MacEwan was first to the loose ball and tee'd up young Gavin Forgrieve for a shot which again Cooke was the equal of leaping high to his left to push the ball behind for Saints first corner kick of the afternoon.

The deadlock was broken in the fortieth minute when young Aaron McKay made a driving run up the right wing and found David Beaton on the corner of the eighteen yard box for a low shot across the keeper and into the bottom corner.

Sixty seconds after the restart McKay lifted a very presentable close range chance over the crossbar after Owen Cooke had pushed out a Craig MacEwan header.

Mr Litster added on one minute for stoppages which afforded David Forbes a further attempt on goal which he sent inches wide of Graham Douglas' right hand post after racing in from the right touchline and skipping over the despairing challenge of Kerr Newbigging.

Jamie Graham and Aaron McKay made way for Paul Carmichael and Cammy Hill for the start of the second half with the big central defender playing a key part in Saints second goal seven minutes after the restart.

Steven MacLeod won the ball well on the edge of the Saints eighteen yard box and played the ball across to Carmichael on the left. Carmichael's raking left foot pass sent David Beaton racing up the left wing where his searing pace took him comfortably away from his marker and through on substitute keeper Andrew Brown whom he beat with ease low down to his right to double the home advantage.

Saints impressive start to the second half continued and a third goal was added in the fifty fifth minute when David Beaton bundled the ball over the line from close range to seal his hat-trick after good work from Craig MacEwan.

Three Saints corner kicks in quick succession kept the pressure on the visitor's goal but, after Paul Carmichael had headed Gavin Forgrieve's delivery from the left just wide of target, it was the Jags who were next to strike.

From Andrew Brown's goal kick Andrew McLean won a flick-on which Captain Martin Munro quickly latched onto. Munro's pace was too much for Kerr Newbigging and the wide man raced through on goal and slotted the ball under Graham Douglas to give the visitors hope of mounting a comeback. Newbigging's failed attempt to halt Munro's run earned him the only booking of good-natured encounter well handled by Referee Litster.

Home for a brief spell from his work commitments in England Saints Co-Manager Donald Campbell joined Willie Gemmell on the sidelines and gave his managerial colleague the added bonus of declaring himself fit enough for a thirty minute run out. Youngster Gavin Forgrieve made way for old war horse Campbell with Scott Johnston also making a sixtieth minute appearance in favour of Myles McAuley.

Campbell's vision sent Matty Kelly through the inside right channel in the seventy fourth minute but neither Cammy Hill nor David Beaton could latch onto Kelly's cutback. The Thistle defence however couldn't fully clear the danger and Campbell quickly regained possession. After taking the ball wide right all time Saints top goal scorer Campbell turned provider and delivered an inch perfect cross onto the forehead of Craig MacEwan who nodded the ball over the stranded Andrew Brown and into the net for Saints fourth goal.

Saints leading goal scorer for the 2019-20 season, MacEwan, was unable to add to his tally for the afternoon when he sent a difficult chance from a Ruaridh Horne right wing cross past the junction of post and bar and, from an even tighter angle, screwed a left foot effort across the face of goal and agonisingly wide of the far post.

In the second added minute Martin Munro was unable to wriggle through the Saints defence but was given a dead ball opportunity by Referee Litster who spotted an infringement. Unfortunately for Saints Graham Douglas didn't quite get his angles right and was beaten low to his right by Munro's sweetly struck twenty five yard free-kick which completed his brace and rounded off the scoring.

With the Saints coaching staff beginning to wonder if Mr Litster was going to add on all of the time lost due to lock down he eventually blew for full-time after seven added minutes bringing to an end a good workout for both sets of players. 

Great British Bake Off Contestant David Buchanan

Team captain's Craig MacEwan and Martin Munro with Referee Jimmy Litster

Aaron McKay

Andrew McLean heads clear

Gavin Forgrieve

Ruaridh Horne and Martin Munro

David Beaton, Craig MacEwan and Matty Kelly 

Celebrations after Saints third goal

Paul Carmichael heads wide

Covid Compliant Ball Boy Peter MacCallum

Cammy Hill and David Forbes

Donald Campbell

Ruaridh Horne

Graham Douglas can't keep out Martin Munro's free kick

#monthesaints

Saints Go Shopping

Bright and early last Saturday morning a group of volunteers from Oban Saints first and second teams, headed by first team Manager Willie Gemmell, Coach Jamie Graham and second team Manager Donald Black met up to arrange a food drop for some of those in the local community less able to get out and about.

Following an 8 a.m. rendezvous at Glencruitten and a talk from Commander-in-Chief Gemmell on hand sanitising and social distancing, the twelve split up into smaller groups and departed for the various local supermarkets to put their highly questionable shopping skills to the test. Probably amazed to discover that supermarkets don't just sell sweets and alcohol, the Saints shoppers went trolley to trolley with people who actually knew what they were looking for in the already packed shopping aisles.

Forearmed with information from their mothers or better halves on what would be useful purchases and, observing anti bulk buying protocol, the willing volunteers stacked their trolleys with sensible amounts of essential items before heading to the check-outs where purse string holders Gemmell, Graham and Black waited with money collected from player donations and club funds.

After dividing the haul and packing it into boxes the Saints battle weary old mini-bus was once again pressed into action for a food parcel drop to the day rooms of the local sheltered housing complexes. Oban's Dunmar Court, Lynn Court and Torosay Court were all visited as well as Dunbeg's MacCallum Court and Ford Spence Court in Benderloch. Also in receipt of grocery boxes were Hope Kitchen in Argyll Street and Blue Triangle in Shore Street. 

The club are delighted to have been able to give something back to the the local community which supports them so well and, for as long as it remains possible to do so in these trying times, Oban Saints management, players and officials will continue to make themselves available to assist those in need of a helping hand. The club can be contacted through their social media channels or by phoning Willie Gemmell on 07455 260 175 or Jamie Graham on 07882 331 998. 

#monthesaints

Friday 13th Football's Unluckiest Day

The shock news received on the afternoon of Friday 13th March that all Scottish Amateur football has been suspended due to the coronavirus has sidelined Oban Saints push for the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B title.

Despite the fact that amateur football matches are rarely, if ever, attended by crowds of five hundred or more people, the Scottish Football Association, under whose jurisdiction all grassroots football falls, made their decision based on "public health, the commitments of emergency and medical services, and also on the safety of those involved in the game, which applies from senior professional football to the lowest grassroots ages." Scottish Football's governing body further affirmed "the decision is also designed to protect the volunteer network that supports the grassroots game, in line with UK Chief Medical Officer's advice".

The first Saints fixture to fall foul of the Scottish Football Association's moratorium was last Saturday's scheduled trip to Glebe Park, one of the league's finest grass playing surfaces, to face promotion rivals Lesmahagow. A win for Saints on their longest away league trip would have been another massive step on the march to promotion however Lesmahagow are a formidable outfit on their own turf and were desperate to inflict a first league defeat of the season on Saints.

The Glebe, Lesmahagow

The South Lanarkshire men were impressive in the reverse fixture at Glencruitten back in August where centre forward James McGill's fifty ninth minute reply for the visitors set up a nervy closing third of the match after David Beaton and Lewis Cameron had put Saints two goals to the good.

Fifth placed Lesmahagow's four games in hand on league leaders Saints, and six on second placed Blantyre RGM, puts last season's Scottish Amateur Football Association Sunday Trophy runners up right in the mix for promotion to the Premier Division at the first time of asking.

With no decision yet made on exactly how long football's self isolation will actually last, a curtailed fixture list upon resumption remains one of many possibilities currently being pondered by the Central Scottish Amateur Football League hierachy. Abandoning the eight additional fixtures, originally designed to extend the season for clubs not involved in cup competitions, in favour of a return to a more conventional sixteen game card would see Saints already home and hosed as Division 1B winners. There is, however, much for the Executive Committee to consider and the season being completely written off cannot be ruled out.

Oban Saints will continue to function as close to normal as is possible under the current circumstances however, following further advice issued by the Scottish Football Association on Monday 16th March, all training has been suspended until further notice.

Club elder statesman David Buchanan continues to employ his own tried and tested precautionary measures against the spread coronavirus by self medicating with a popular elixir produced by Messrs Whyte and Mackay of Glasgow.

Going into the enforced break Saints sit top of Division 1B having won all of their fourteen games finding amassing fifty four goals and conceding just nine. Overall top goal scorer Craig MacEwan also leads the way in the league where fourteen of his nineteen goals have come. Just one league goal behind on thirteen is last season's top marksman Lewis Cameron whose outstanding contribution from midfield has earned him a recall to the Scottish Amateur Football Association Select set-up.

Craig MacEwan

Lewis Cameron

Joining Lewis in receiving international recognition from Select Manager Colin MacLeod is left-back Scott Maitland, a vital part of the league's meanest defence. Maitland's regular partners in front of Saints number one Graham Douglas are young right-back Ruaridh Horne, old war horse Steven MacLeod and Skipper Dene Cassells who only lost his omnipresent tag in Saints last fixture the Cinema Cup victory away at St Patrick's FP. Regular keeper Graham Douglas has so far shared the number one jersey with Murdo MacKenzie, Jamie Strachan, Thomas MacCulloch and, for a twenty minute spell against Blantyre RGM, Steven MacLeod.

Graham Douglas

Steven MacLeod

International pair Cameron and Maitland also grace the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Select where midfield dynamo Matty Kelly has also caught the eye of Manager Colin Hamilton. The Saints triumvirate have helped the league select to a convincing Friendship Trophy win over the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association. Colin Hamilton has also masterminded wins over the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association and the Scottish Amateur Football League to progress to the final of the Inter League Trophy where the Kingdom of Fife Amateur Football Association lie in wait.

Scott Maitland

Matty Kelly

Matty Kelly's sterling performances have come in a Saints midfield where competition for places is at it's highest. Fourteen players, from teenagers Aaron McKay and Gavin Forgrieve all the way through to evergreen Ross Maitland regularly battle it out for five starting places. Maitland's early season exploits for Saints second string earned him a return to the first team squad where, on Saints return from the Christmas and New Year break, he was able to complete the remarkable feat of representing Saints in four separate decades.

Gavin Forgrieve

Aaron McKay

Ross Maitland

Co-Manager Donald Campbell's work sojourns in Birmingham have left colleague Willie Gemmell with limited options for the central striker role. Top marksman Craig MacEwan remains the man in possession however teenager Cammy Hill with six goals continues to push him hard for the number nine shirt.

Donald Campbell

Willie Gemmell

Cammy Hill

Perhaps the only positive that can be taken from enforced shutdown is that it gives a well earned rest to Saints overworked minibus. The battle weary bus, gifted to the club in by the Scottish Football Association West Region and the Scottish Football Partnership, has carried Saints adult and youth teams the length and breadth of the country since 2011 but is rapidly approaching the end of it's working life. The club were due to embark on some major fundraising initiatives this year with a view to replacing the bus however the current public health emergency has also put those on hold.

In a club statement on the current situation Secretary David Buchanan said "The first thing to say is that football is just a small part of a much bigger picture and you only have to look at what is unfolding in other countries to see the dangers. The safety of our players, officials, supporters and indeed the wider community is the most important thing. I get regular updates from the Scottish Football Association and the Central Scottish Amateur Football League which I pass on to our team members. We can only hope the pandemic passes quickly but in the meantime - everybody stay safe".

#monthesaints

Saints Book Another Cinema Trip

Saturday 7th March 2020
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Cinema Cup First Round
St Patrick's F.P. 2 - 4 Oban Saints

Our Lady and St Patrick's High School

Howatshaws Road
Bellsmyre

Dumbarton

G82 3DR

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Stephen Payne

A makeshift Oban Saints side missing a number of key players recorded an unlikely battling Central Scottish Amateur Football League Cinema Cup victory against three time Scottish Amateur Cup winners St Patrick's F.P. in Dumbarton last Saturday afternoon. At a windswept Our Lady and St Patrick's High School goals from Myles McAuley, Craig MacEwan, David Beaton and Cammy Hill won the battle of the Saints for Oban against old friends and former Scottish Amateur Football League rivals St Pat's.

Dene Cassells, James Ford and Scott Maitland joined long term injury victims Matty Kelly and Matt Rippon on the sidelines adding to the selection problems of Co-Manager Willie Gemmell. Gemmell's own absence, coupled with that of management colleague Donald Campbell left Coach Jamie Graham in charge ably assisted by Coach Peter MacCallum and Secretary David Buchanan.

Saints lined up with Captain for the day Graham Douglas in goal behind a back three of Kerr Newbigging, Steven MacLeod and Daniel Croarkin. Across the midfield were Ruaridh Horne, Gavin Forgrieve, Myles McAuley, Lewis Cameron and Ross Maitland. The front two were David Beaton and Craig MacEwan. Coach Jamie Graham joined teenagers Cammy Hill and Aaron McKay on the substitutes bench.


Oban Saints starting lineup:-

Used substitutes:-

Cammy Hill
Aaron McKay

Unused substitute:-

Jamie Graham

Saints kicked off with the strong wind at their backs and fashioned an opening for Lewis Cameron inside the first minute. Cameron raced onto a lay-off from Craig MacEwan but sent his effort from the edge of the box straight into the midriff of St Pat's keeper Brian Gallacher.

A good ball up the right wing from Kerr Newbigging for Craig MacEwan saw the Saints striker bundled over by Ross Cannon handing Lewis Cameron a chance to put the ball into the St Pat's box. Cameron's free-kick was well met by MacEwan at the near post with Brian Gallacher only able to parry the header back into the danger area. MacEwan was quickest to react and, from the right of the six yard box lifted the ball back across the face of goal for Myles McAuley to head into the net for the opening goal.

After a slow start the hosts began to show their Premier Division class and carved out the first of a number of good first half opportunities in the sixteenth minute. Scottish Amateur international striker Ciaran McElroy was allowed to carry the ball a long way on the right and cut into the box to unleash a powerful right foot shot which, fortunately for Saints, flew well off target.

Another McElroy run on the right was stopped, illegally in the opinion of Referee Stephen Payne, by Ross Maitland five minutes later. Martin Currie rolled the free-kick from the corner of the box back to Skipper Dominic Ruane for a shot which Graham Douglas did well to hold at the second attempt.

Some pointless back chat to Mr Payne after a disputed twenty second minute free-kick award earned both Craig MacEwan and Joseph Coleman a place in the Referee's notebook which would later prove costly for the big St Pat's central defender.

St Pat's striker Ryan McColl got the better of Kerr Newbigging to fire a left foot shot just over before right back Dominic McElroy found his way in Mr Payne's notebook for pulling back Ross Maitland in the twenty ninth minute.

The hosts levelled from the penalty spot on the half hour mark after benefitting from an extremely harsh decision given against Steven MacLeod. The once again well forward Dominic McElroy appeared to run into MacLeod after the experienced head at the heart of the Saints makeshift back three had made a clean sliding interception however Mr Payne considered MacLeod had caught McElroy with his challenge and awarded a penalty kick. St Pat's Skipper Dominic Ruane expertly tucked away the spot kick to level the scores. 

Myles McAuley joined the growing list of miscreants in Mr Payne's notebook in the thirty third minute before Ryan McColl narrowly failed to connect with a tempting cross from left back Neil Allan.

Saints rediscovered their attacking threat with a good thirty ninth minute move up the right wing involving Kerr Newbigging, Ruaridh Horne and David Beaton with only Craig MacEwan's usually reliable first touch denying the Saints leading goalscorer a clear sight of goal.

Ciaran McElroy continued to show why he figures so prominently in Scottish Amateur Select Manager Colin MacLeod's plans with another driving run and cross from the right which Stephen Gardiner, on the stretch, headed over from four yards range.

After surviving a dominant spell from the hosts Saints regained the lead in the forty first minute. A lofted ball over the top from Ruaridh Horne picked out a clever run from Lewis Cameron. Brian Gallacher was alive to the danger and came a long way out of his box to beat Cameron to Horne's through ball. Luck however deserted the St Pat's keeper when Craig MacEwan controlled his attempted clearance and sent it sailing back over his head into the unguarded net.

The Saints goal however continued to lead a charmed life when, on the stroke of half-time, Ciaran McElroy sent over another excellent cross which Joseph Cullen glanced wide of target from three yards range.

Despite conceding the considerable wind advantage to their hosts Saints made a good start to the second half and were unlucky to see a Lewis Cameron through ball for Craig MacEwan taken off the toe of the Saints striker before Gavin Forgrieve fired the loose ball twelve inches over the crossbar.

The hosts drew level for a second time after ten second half minutes from a hotly disputed free-kick awarded for handball against Kerr Newbigging. From the corner of the eighteen yard box Martin Currie bent the ball into the corridor of uncertainty between defenders and goalkeeper and was delighted to see the ball bounce beyond the despairing grasp of Graham Douglas and into the net.

Parity however lasted just three minutes when David Beaton gained his reward for a punishing shift against imposing central defenders Ross Cannon and Joseph Coleman. After Coleman had been penalised for a shove on Craig MacEwan just inside the St Pat's half Saints worked the ball forward for Beaton who raced away from Cannon and Coleman to slot the ball past the advancing Brian Gallacher.

The hosts response to falling behind for a third time was to send on 2017 Central Scottish Amateur Football League Player of the Year Kevin McElroy in favour of Stephen Gardiner.

Pressed into action on the right McElroy drew a sixty sixth minute foul from Daniel Croarkin which earned the Saints emergency defender a yellow card. Croarkin however immediately redeemed himself by heading clear Ryan McColl's free-kick.

Saints made their first change with twenty minutes remaining sending on Cammy Hill to replace David Beaton.

Joseph Coleman's earlier yellow card for dissent came back to haunt him when Referee Payne took exception to another comment from the Scottish Amateur Select man and sent the big central defender for an early bath.

The woodwork denied St Pat's a third equaliser when Dominic Ruane rattled the crossbar with a thumping seventy fourth minute drive.

Pressing forward in search of an equaliser the ten men were leaving pace at the back for Saints to exploit and Lewis Cameron found Cammy Hill in the clear in the seventy sixth minute but the teenage striker dragged his shot across the face of goal and wide of Brian Gallacher's right hand post.

In serious danger of running out of lead for his pencil Mr Payne added Kerr Newbigging to the lengthy list of cautions in the seventy eighth minute.

Matthew Devine replaced Martin Currie for the closing ten minutes and his cross from the right in the eighty second minute was hooked just wide by fullback Dominic McElroy who had again added his support to the attack.

Ruaridh Horne took a whack on the left ankle in the eighty fifth minute and, from the resulting free-kick, Gavin Forgrieve threaded the ball through to Lewis Cameron who fired a left foot shot from eighteen yards narrowly over the crossbar. Horne failed to recover from his knock and was replaced by Aaron McKay who was asked to take on an unfamiliar defensive role.

The hosts threw everything into the search for an equaliser and had Saints pinned back in their own box with a succession of corner kicks which the Saints defence, with Steven MacLeod an inspiration at it's heart, manfully repelled.

Cammy Hill and Ryan McColl became the latest to have Mr Payne reaching for his yellow card for a spot of pushing and shoving in the centre circle. From the resulting free-kick awarded in St Pat's favour Saints Skipper for the day Graham Douglas took the pressure off his embattled defence by coming through a ruck of bodies to make a clean catch.

Moving into time added on for stoppages Saints invited more pressure with a cheaply conceded free-kick which earned Gavin Forgrieve the final yellow card of the match. Graham Douglas once again made a telling contribution with a solid clearing punch paving the way for the killer goal. Lewis Cameron and Aaron McKay linked up well on the left from where Cameron found Craig MacEwan inside the centre circle. MacEwan's perfectly weighted pass sent Cammy Hill racing through where he kept his nerve to lift the ball over Brian Gallacher on the edge of his box and make the tie safe.

Saints reward for their gutsy against the odds win is another hugely difficult away tie at West of Scotland Cup holders Bannockburn.

This coming Saturday Saints return to league business with a trip to face promotion rivals Lesmahagow. 

Team Captains Graham Douglas and Dominic Ruane with Referee Stephen Payne

Brian Gallacher parries Craig MacEwan's header

Myles McAuley heads Saints into the lead

Graham Douglas

Ruaridh Horne in pursuit of Stephen Gardiner

David Beaton and Martin Currie

Kerr Newbigging

Ryan McColl shoots over

Craig MacEwan accepts the congratulations of his team mates after putting Saints 2 - 1 ahead

Martin Currie's free-kick brings St Pat's level at 2 - 2

David Beaton nets Saints third goal

Celebrations after David Beaton's goal

Craig MacEwan and Dominic Ruane with Joseph Coleman in the background

Steven MacLeod heads away

Daniel Croarkin and Ryan McColl

Cammy Hill rounds off the scoring

Celebrations after Cammy Hill's goal

#monthesaints