Saints on Scottish Cup replay duty
The D & K Lafferty-sponsored Oban side came from behind twice to gain a creditable draw at Battery Park two weeks ago.
After a goal-less first half, Greenock took the lead in the 52nd minute when Ryan McCorkindale’s run into the box was forced left by Alex Craik. The Greenock striker dug out a cross from the bye-line which looped over Graham Douglas to be poked home at the back post by Ryan Corr who held off the attentions of Scott Maitland to open the scoring.
Saints struck back almost immediately with Scott Maitland and Shaun MacIver combining to force a corner on the left straight from the re-start.
So often chipping in with vital strikes already this season, Willie Gemmell added to his growing list of telling contributions, curling an equaliser direct from the corner flag just inside the far post.
The thrills and spills kept coming and three minutes after the equaliser Harry Donaldson was felled in the Saints box by Craig Campbell with Mr Caldwell pointing to the penalty spot.
The visitors were relieved to see Kevin Brown strike the crossbar with his spot kick with Alex Craik heading the rebound clear.
The home side regained the lead in controversial circumstances after 72 minutes. After a tussle with Daniel McCuish on the Greenock right, Chris McAllister sent a long ball into the box which Craig Boyd appeared to handle under pressure from David McPhee.
Ignored
Referee Caldwell saw nothing wrong and ignored the loud Saints appeals allowing Ryan Corr on the edge of the box to lob the loose ball back towards goal.
A back-pedalling Steven MacLeod got his head to the ball, but only succeeded in sending it back to Boyd who, from six yards, beat the combined efforts of Graham Douglas and Alex Craik to find the bottom corner.
Not to be denied, the visitors kept pushing forward and the extra endeavour from the players paid dividends with ten minutes remaining. Daniel MacCuish, making his debut for the senior team, slipped a perfect ball through the inside left channel for the overlapping run of Scott Maitland who beat the advancing Neil Flack with a low left foot finish drilled into the bottom corner to make the final score 2-2.
Saints and Greenock High enjoy a healthy rivalry, having crossed swords on many occasions over the years since Saints gained entry to the Scottish Amateur Football League in 1976.
At that time Greenock, who last month held their 110th anniversary celebrations, had already been members of Scotland’s oldest surviving amateur football league for 52 years. During that golden period, they clinched four Division One titles, three West of Scotland Cups and two Scottish Amateur Cups to cement their place as one of Scotland’s top amateur clubs.
Greenock High’s progress to the Scottish Amateur Cup fourth round has seen them put seven without reply past Troon Dundonald of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association First Division in round two following a first round bye. In the third round, AS Airdrie of the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Premier Division proved a harder nut to crack with Greenock edging out the Lanarkshire men thanks to a successfully converted first half penalty kick from central midfielder Kevin Brown.
Saints started their Scottish Cup campaign with a 4-0 home win over Mauchline United in the first round thanks to goals from Craig MacEwan (3) and Shaun MacIver.
This was followed by a convincing 6-0 home win against Plains in round two. Donald Campbell (3), Fraser Macfarlane, Scott Maitland and Paul Carmichael were on target for the Oban side.
It took Saints two hard games to get past an impressive Falkirk side in round three, the first game ending in a 3-3 draw at Alva Academy. Donald Campbell (2) and Craig MacEwan were Saints’ scorers. The replay in Oban a week later saw Saints edge through 3-2 thanks to goals from Craig MacEwan, Willie Gemmell and Myles McAuley.
With both Saints and Greenock off the pace in their