Eightsome reeling
Oban side reach the last 16 of both West of Scotland and Scottish Cups
OBAN Saints saw off the challenge of Woodhall Thistle with an 8-0 win to book their place in the last 16 of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup.
A HAT-TRICK from Shaun MacIver on his return from suspension helped Oban Saints see off the challenge of Woodhall Thistle last Saturday at the Oban Community Sports Field to book their place in the last 16 of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup.
The Caledonian League Division 1B visitors from Holytown posed one or two problems for Saints in the early exchanges, however, once skipper Donald Campbell had given the home side the lead there was only ever going to be one winner.
Youngster Daniel MacCuish got his second goal in as many games and new signing Lewis Cameron bagged a brace to mark his return to the club and set up an intriguing sixth round away tie against 2016 cup winners Shortlees in Ayrshire this coming Saturday.
Saints secretary David Buchanan had taken the decision on Friday afternoon to switch the tie from Glencruitten to the all-weather surface at Oban High School. This turned out to be an inspired move as heavy overnight rain rendered all grass parks in the town unplayable and wiped out all except the Saints match from the sporting calendar.
Saints kicked off attacking the old Games Park end in dry overcast conditions which quickly gave way to heavy rain.
The change in the weather did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the large crowd whose numbers were no doubt boosted by the cancellation of the remainder of the local sporting events.
The visitors were first to threaten with stand-out player Dean Harper proving an early handful for the Saints defence.
In the third minute Harper forced his way through and stung the palms of Saints keeper Graham ‘Sugar’ Douglas with a fierce right foot shot from just inside the box.
Two minutes later Harper was allowed to carry the ball a long way from right to left and set up Kieron McGowan for a curling right foot effort which Graham Douglas at full stretch did well to turn round his left hand upright. Douglas claimed the corner kick from the right, ahead of Dominic Greenhorn, and launched a counter attack where Daniel MacCuish and Craig MacEwan opened up the Thistle defence for Donald Campbell to run in behind and slot the ball low past Alan Rennie in the visitors’ goal and give Saints the lead.
The Thistle keeper appealed in vain for an offside decision and continued his protestations too long for the referee’s liking earning the first caution of the match.
Although not a dirty game, referee James Gallacher’s notebook would prove to be well used with Christopher McCormack becoming entry number two after 15 minutes.
Bombing forward from right back Matthew Kelly was beginning to get some joy in the attacking third and picked out a terrific Myles McAuley run into the box in the 17th minute.
McAuley couldn’t extend his recent hot goal scoring streak and lifted the ball over the prostrate Alan Rennie but narrowly wide of the keeper’s left hand post.
In the 21st minute more excellent work on the right from Matthew Kelly received the finish it deserved when Daniel MacCuish, running in at the back post, knocked in his second goal in as many games from close range. Mr Gallacher gave the benefit of a tight offside decision to the visitors when Donald Campbell and Shaun MacIver looked to breach the Thistle back line in the 23rd minute. From the quickly-taken free-kick Thistle immediately lost possession with Craig MacEwan catching Alan Rennie well off his line with a 25-yard lob which landed on the roof of the net.
A 32nd minute lapse in concentration in the centre circle from Shaun MacIver gifted possession to Thistle danger man Dean Harper.
The big striker was again given rather too much space to run into and picked out Anthony Blair for a strike on goal which Graham Douglas did well to hold.
Saints immediately raced to the other end where Craig MacEwan timed his run on the left to beat the Thistle offside trap and sent a cutback to Donald Campbell who steered a side-footed effort from 18 yards, inches wide of Alan Rennie’s left hand post.
The Thistle offside trap was breached once again in the 35th minute by Shaun MacIver who slammed a measured throughball from Scott Maitland low past the keeper’s right hand and into the bottom corner of the net for Saints’ third goal.
The visitors continued to test the patience of referee Gallacher, who took the names of Stephen Molloy and Lee Knox in quick succession in the 37th minute after a heavy challenge on Shaun MacIver. From the resulting free-kick Willie Gemmell found the head of Craig MacEwan 10 yards out but the Saints top scorer failed to add to his tally sending his header wide of target.
Saints Gaffer Alex Craik made the first of five changes for the start of the second half giving Myles McAuley’s troublesome ankle a deserved rest and introducing Lewis Cameron, who makes an extremely welcome return to the club after two seasons ‘down under’ with Rochedale Rovers in the Brisbane Premier League.
In the 47th minute Kieron McGowan powered away from Daniel MacCuish who had dropped back into midfield for the second half and fed Jody Agnew on the right.
Agnew’s cross on the run was well cut out by Steven MacLeod, who enjoyed another steady afternoon at the centre of the Saints defence which would ultimately hold on for a muchprized clean sheet.
After Dean Harper had shot wide of target in the 51st minute Saints finally regained control of the midfield and soon had the ball in the back of the net again only for Mr Gallacher to rule the effort out for offside.
Saints stretched their advantage after 10 second-half minutes when Craig MacEwan raced from inside his own half onto a Paul Carmichael ball out from defence. MacEwan’s run up the left and into the Thistle box drew Stephen Molloy out of the centre and left Shaun MacIver a simple tap-in at the back post from MacEwan’s cutback.
Dominic Greenhorn picked up what was to prove a costly caution for a trip on Lewis Cameron on the hour mark.
The Saints gaffer made two further changes replacing Paul Carmichael and Daniel MacCuish with Jamie Graham and Kerr Newbigging in the 62nd minute.
Steven MacLeod had the dubious honour of being the first Saints name in the referee’s notebook for pulling back Dean Harper just inside the Saints half on the Thistle left.
Shaun MacIver sealed his hattrick in the 65th minute once again springing the visitors’ offside trap before skipping round Alan Rennie and rolling the ball into the unguarded net.
The fifth goal was the cue for Alex Craik to make the last of his changes handing debuts to Ruaridh Horne and new signing Connor Howe, who replaced Matthew Kelly and Willie Gemmell.
Dominic Greenhorn’s earlier caution then came back to haunt him when he had one too many words to say to Mr Gallacher who produced a second yellow and issued Greenhorn with his marching orders.
With 20 minutes remaining a Craig MacEwan effort from distance drew another fine save from Alan Rennie who had a good game despite the scoreline.
Kerr Newbigging found his way into referee Gallacher’s notebook in the 75th minute for a high challenge on Lee Knox with Stephen Molloy sending the resulting free-kick high over the Saints crossbar. That proved to be Molloy’s last serious involvement as he then picked up a second caution for deliberate handball and joined Dominic Greenhorn in having an early bath.
The nine men conceded again with 10 minutes remaining after an adventurous run into the box by young Ruaridh Horne was halted by a shove in the back.
Mr Gallacher had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot from where Donald Campbell gave Alan Rennie no chance firing high into the top corner.
As Saints tightened the screws Lewis Cameron met an 81st minute Scott Maitland cross from the left with a crisp half volley which flew inches over.
There was no respite for the beleaguered Thistle defence with Rennie making a brave stop at the feet of Shaun MacIver before Connor Howe sent a good chance wide.
Lewis Cameron opened his goal scoring account with five minutes remaining but only after Alan Rennie had made another fine save to deny Craig MacEwan.
MacEwan tricked his way past Christopher Gallagher but couldn’t beat Rennie who came out well to narrow the angle on the corner of his six-yard box.
Rennie was powerless to stop MacEwan turning the loose ball back across goal into the path of Lewis Cameron who thumped it into the roof of the net.
Cameron rounded off the scoring 60 seconds later working a one-two with Craig MacEwan and racing into the box to slot the ball low past the cruelly exposed Thistle keeper.
The final whistle now couldn’t come soon enough for the visitors, who were spared the ignominy of a double figures defeat when Kerr Newbigging missed a glorious 87th minute opening and keeper Alan Rennie safely fielded an 89th minute Connor Howe shot before Mr Gallacher blew for full time.
This Saturday Saints face a tough test when they travel to Grange Academy, Kilmarnock, to take on high-flying Shortlees for a place in the quarter finals of the West of Scotland Cup. Kick-off 1.30pm.
Scottish Amateur FL results and fixtures Football
LAST Saturday’s results: West of Scotland Cup, fifth round - Oban Saints 8, Woodhall Thistle 0; Premier Division One - Campbeltown Pupils no game; Premier Division Two - Lochgilphead Red Star 6, Houston 1; Port Glasgow OBU 3, Tarbert 0.
Saturday’s fixtures: West of Scoland Cup, sixth round Shortlees v Oban Saints; Jimmy Marshall Cup, second round - Dunoon v Claremont; Premier Division One - Rossvale v Campbeltown Pupils; Premier Division Two - FC Argyle v Lochgilphead Red Star; Tarbert v Duncanrig.
Saints’ youth team results and fixtures Youth football
LAST weekend’s results: Dumbarton Riverside v Under 13s; Under 14s no game; Under 15s v Cambuslang; Under 16s v Helensburgh; Under 17s v Ardencaple. All games were postponed.
This weekend’s fixtures: Under 13s v Summerston; Dumbarton United v Under 14s; Campbeltown Pupils v Under 16s; Under 17s no game.