Saints brought back down to earth
SAFL Premier Division
AFTER the euphoria of the previous week’s Scottish Amateur Cup seventh round replay win against Letham, Saints were brought crashing back to earth last Saturday with a crushing home league defeat to title rivals St Joseph’s FP.
The 3 - 0 reverse leaves Saints 11 points behind Premier Division leaders Goldenhill, albeit with three games in hand. Crucially St Joseph’s have now opened up a three point gap on Saints with a further game in hand over their old rivals.
Injuries to Paul Kerr and Scott Maitland forced manager Alex Craik to change his lineup from the previous week with Dene Cassells, Matthew Kelly and Myles McAuley all promoted to the starting line-up.
The gaffer named a strong bench with Martin Bonar, David McArthur and new signing Kerr Newbigging joining last week’s substitutes Ross Maitland and Dean Smith.
The visitors kicked off attacking the Mossfield end and created the first opening of the match in the second minute.
Wide midfielders Kieran O’Brien and Martin McComish combined with O’Brien spraying a delicious diagonal ball from right to left sending McComish in behind Matthew Kelly.
However, the low cross from McComish was fractionally too far in front of strikers Gregor Cree and Ryan Halpin.
St Joe’s keeper Nathan Bogle, one of 11 new faces in this season’s squad, made a fine save low down to his left in the sixth minute to deny Donald Campbell from Saints’ first strike on goal.
The woodwork came to Saints rescue in the eighth minute after Ryan Halpin had beaten Dene Cassells in the air to help on a Nathan Bogle goal kick. Martin McComish, one of just four survivors from St Joe’s visit last May, raced away on the left driving into the box and smacking a left foot shot off Thomas McCulloch’s right hand post.
After a slow start, Saints enjoyed a decent spell of pressure leading up to the quarter hour mark.
The 18th minute saw referee John Scott produce the only yellow card of the match for a late challenge by Kieran Boyce on Paul Carmichael.
A good turn and cross from the corner of the Saints 18yard box from David Gallagher tested the handling of Thomas McCulloch who needed two attempts to get the ball safe under pressure from Ryan Halpin.
Halpin was enjoying renewing hostilities with old adversary Marc Maccallum and his physical presence was giving the Saints back four plenty to think about
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when Saints failed to clear their lines from a long ball knocked up to Halpin.
The loose ball fell kindly for Scott Smith who smacked the ball into the bottom corner past Thomas McCulloch’s despairing left hand.
Saints responded immediately with Brian Mackay running at the heart of the St Joe’s defence and setting up Willie Gemmell for a shot from 18-yards which curled wide of Nathan Bogle’s left hand post.
Saints ended a frustrating first half still probing for openings in a solid looking St Joe’s back four.
Manager Alex Craik made a tactical switch to a 3-5-2 formation for the start of the second half which saw Matthew Kelly and Paul Carmichael taking the wide roles in midfield.
Kelly immediately pushed forward straying marginally offside for a 46th minute Carmichael cross from the left. A 47th minute driving run from Myles McAuley had St Joe’s back-peddling, however his pass into the inside right channel fell frustratingly between Craig MacEwan and Matthew Kelly allowing Nathan Bogle to slide out and collect comfortably.
Craig MacEwan was inches away from finding the head of Paul Carmichael at the back post in the 51st minute after curling a cross from the corner of the 18-yard box from a Willie Gemmell throw-in on the right.
Dene Cassells surged forward in the 53rd minute holding off Scott Smith’s challenge to feed Matthew Kelly wide on the right.
Kelly’s deep cross was met perfectly on the volley by Willie Gemmell who saw his effort bravely charged down by David Gallagher who required a rub down with the magic sponge before he could continue.
Despite there being valuable league points up for grabs, Saints seemed to lack the urgency required to put the visitors under sustained pressure and it was they who would strike again in the 64th minute. This goal falls into the gift category. Shambolic defending saw Willie Gemmell and Myles McAuley run into each other gifting possession to Gregor Cree who fed Martin McComish on the left of the box and rolled the return ball into the empty net.
Paul Carmichael came close to pulling one back from the restart, making a good near post run to meet Donald Campbell’s cross from the left but lifting his cushioned volley over the crossbar under pressure from Craig Cameron.
With 22 minutes remaining, Saints manager Alex Craik made a triple substitution withdrawing Jamie Graham, Willie Gemmell and Brian Mackay replacing them with David McArthur, Ross Maitland and new signing Kerr Newbigging.
While Saints were adapting to the changes, Craig Cameron ventured forward from his defensive beat and fired in a shot which Thomas McCulloch did well to block at his near post. David Gallagher then scuffed a left foot shot well wide spurning a good opportunity to put the result beyond any doubt.
Paul Carmichael continued to have the best of Saints chances and ought to have done better with a 75th minute header. Kerr Newbigging, a good addition to the Saints squad, won a freekick 20- yards from goal and right of centre.
Ross Maitland curled the ball towards the back post where Paul Carmichael got across Kieran Boyce but flashed his header inches wide of Nathan Bogle’s left hand post.
When Saints finally did hit the target, they found Nathan Bogle equal to the task. Kerr Newbigging combined on the right with Matthew Kelly and dug out a good cross for Craig MacEwan who met it with a powerful header. But Bogle dived to his left to tip the ball round the post.
Bogle was off his line smartly moments later spreading himself at his near post to block from Matthew Kelly.
The Maitland and Carmichael combination provided another near thing in the 85th
I’m sure the boys will be fired up for Saturday’s Scottish Cup quarter final Oban Saints manager Alex Craik
minute after a good pass from David McArthur sent Ross into space on the right wing. Ross hit the bye-line and crossed towards the near post where Paul Carmichael glanced wide of the post again.
A dispirited Saints conceded a third inside the time Mr Scott, who had a good game, had allowed for stoppages.
David McArthur beat Dominic O’Neill in the air but his header on the corner of the Saints box looped over the advancing Thomas McCulloch allowing O’Neill to nip in and roll the ball into the empty net to complete a deserved victory for St Joe’s and a thoroughly miserable afternoon for Saints.
Saints have no time to dwell on the disappointment of a third league defeat of the season and must lift themselves immediately for this coming Saturday’s Scottish Amateur Cup quarter final tie against Barca-Milton 97 in Edinburgh. The game will be played at Jewel Park, Duddingston, with a 2pm kick- off.
Manager Alex Craik was bittterly disappointed.
He said: ‘ This was a vital league game but we never got going. The whole team looked flat and lacked urgency.
‘This was by far our worst performance of the season.
‘I know the players were disappointed in the performance as well but I’m sure the boys will be fired up for Saturday’s Scottish Cup quarter final.’