Saints struggle in first game of the season
OBAN Saints kicked off their 2017-18 Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division campaign with a disappointing away defeat against newly-promoted Hillington at Glasgow Club, Drumoyne, last Saturday.
Injuries, retirals and unavailability of players dictated the Saints line-up would contain just five survivors from the starting 11 which put four goals past Hillington in last season’s Jimmy Marshall trophy semi-final. With a number of key players missing for various reasons, manager Alex Craik was forced to call up three of the club’s youth players.
And a late call- off from Keith Millar had the gaffer searching the kit bag for his own boots to make his first start in eight months.
Saints kicked off attacking down the slight slope and into the stiff breeze where they made the most of the early running but lacked the guile to find a way through the Hillington defence.
Good work on the right by Daniel Croarkin and Matthew Kelly created a fifth minute opening for Dean Smith who saw a decent effort well blocked by Scott Caskie. A well-timed 14th minute run from Matthew Kelly took him in behind the Hillington back line on the end of a Fraser MacFarlane pass. From 20 yards, Matthew attempted to chip the advancing goalkeeper but Gordon Phillips extended himself fully to make a fine save and keep the scores level.
Saints’ bright start to the match began to fade as the hosts came more into the match, making good use of set-pieces and long throws to put the Saints back line under pressure. A 21st minute long throw-in from Hillington right back Ross McQuilter caught the Saints defence out completely with Thomas Cunningham ghosting in behind to send a terrific opportunity wide of Sugar’s left hand post.
Willie Gemmell had a 27th minute opportunity to show his prowess with the dead ball after Mark McAllister had halted a Dean Smith run just outside the Hillington box. Willie’s effort caught the top of the Hillington wall with Fraser MacFarlane’s shot from the loose ball also blocked and cleared.
Saints survived another letoff at the hands of Thomas Cunningham when the Hillington striker moved in unmarked at the back post and guided a Paul McDonald ball along the six-yard line into the grateful arms of Graham Douglas.
At the other end, Dean Smith’s perseverance finally won him a clear sight of goal in the 34th minute but he couldn’t capitalise on it and sent his shot from 16-yards just over the top of the Hillington crossbar.
Stuart Ashton and Steven Cunningham both sent snap shots well wide of target for the hosts before referee John McNab blew the half-time whistle.
As in the first half, Saints made the better start but were again unable to find a way past the well- organised Hillington defence.
Scott Caskie was on his toes 60 seconds later to head behind a Willie Gemmell ball over the top.
A flurry of Saints’ corner kicks followed, which the Hillington rearguard successfully repelled.
The home side got their noses in front in the 60th minute, severely punishing a misplaced Saints pass on the half-way line. Ashton again broke forward on the left and sent an inviting ball along the six-yard line which skipper Scott Gold knocked home sliding in at the back post. Saints responded with Craig MacEwan collecting a Willie Gemmell pass and cutting in from the right before curling a left foot shot wide of target.
Manager Alex Craik made his first change in the 64th minute bringing to an end young Nathan Allan’s competitive debut replacing him on the left of the back three with the experienced David Smith.
The gaffer added further fresh legs in the 67th minute with Daniel Croarkin and Dean Smith making way for Cameron Kerr and Shaun MacIver.
Disappointed
Youngster Kerr, another making his senior competitive debut, made an early contribution playing in Craig MacEwan who was disappointed not to make better contact with his shot sending an excellent chance wide of the keeper’s left hand post.
With 15 minutes remaining, Hillington’s Scott Caskie made a vital interception taking the ball off Craig MacEwan’s toe from a Fraser MacFarlane cutback after the Saints wide man had made a good run on the right wing.
From the resulting corner kick, Gordon Phillips spread himself full length to his right to turn a Scott Maitland shot from 18 yards around the post.
Craig MacEwan’s frustrating afternoon continued in the 76th minute when he failed to make the desired contact with Willie Gemmell’s bouncing through ball, allowing Gordon Phillips to make another save.
When Saints finally managed to beat Phillips in the 78th minute referee John McNab, who had a good game, correctly ruled out Shaun MacIver’s effort for offside.
Willie Gemmell was handed an ideal 87th minute free-kick opportunity 22-yards out and slightly left of centre. Willie successfully guided his effort on target with Gordon Phillips only able to parry the ball after it bounced six yards in front of him. Cameron Kerr reached the loose ball but could only steer it wide of target under pressure from Steven Cunningham and Martin O’Connor.
Mr McNab gave the benefit of an extremely close off-side call to the home side in the 88th minute with Craig MacEwan through one- on- one with goalkeeper Phillips.
With time ebbing away, Hillington began knocking the ball into the corners to run down the clock, a tactic which produced an unexpected bonus in the first of the four minutes added by Mr McNab. Marc Maccallum regained possession from Paul McDonald and knocked the ball back to Graham Douglas on the right edge of his penalty box. Sugar’s clearance caught the top of Thomas Cunningham’s head severely reducing its effectiveness. The ball looped perfectly onto the instep of Hillington skipper Scott Gold ten yards inside the Saints half who cushioned a delightful volley into the unguarded net to seal the win for his team.
Saints kept plugging away in search of a consolation goal and had a Shaun MacIver header from a Fraser MacFarlane corner saved before Fraser fired a decent opportunity into the side netting with the last kick of the game.
Despite having so many players missing, manager Alex Craik will be bitterly disappointed with the poor showing of his charges getting a poten-
Football
tially difficult season off to the worst possible start.
Already at the wrong end of the table in what has all the makings of an extremely competitive league campaign, Saints will be hoping for encouraging news on the injury front to bolster their threadbare squad ahead of next Saturday’s visit by Motherwell Thistle.
The South Lanarkshire men, who were 3 - 2 winners on their only previous visit to Glencruitten, began their season last week with a convincing 3- 0 Centenary Cup win over Kings Park Rangers and will be looking to continue their good start with another victory in Oban.
The game will be played at Glencruitten with a 2pm kickoff. Referee in charge is Jimmy Litster.