Scottish Cup dream over for Saints
‘I’m really proud of the players. Two semi-finals and a quarter final in three seasons is a superb achievement’
Goldenhill 3 Oban Saints 1 Scottish Cup - quarter final
OBAN Saints’ dreams of a third successive Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final appearance were crushed at the Donald Dewar Centre, Drumchapel last Saturday afternoon. Two fixtureless Saturday’s in the lead up to the most important match of the season did little to help their cause and, despite an encouraging first half where they lead through a 17th minute strike from captain Donald Campbell, Saints eventually ran out of steam and found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-1 quarter-final scoreline against Scottish Amateur Premier Division rivals and deserved winners Goldenhill.
Manager Alex Craik kept up his unwanted record of naming a different starting 11 for every game this season and shuffled his pack once again for line-up number 25. Graham Douglas lined up in goal behind a back four of Steven MacLeod, Willie Gemmell, Paul Carmichael and Scott Maitland. The midfield four comprised Kerr Newbigging, Matthew Kelly, Myles McAuley and captain Donald Campbell. Up front were Shaun MacIver and leading goal scorer Craig MacEwan.
Recently returned from a spell with Lochgilphead Red Star, Fraser MacFarlane provided the youth on an experienced substitutes bench comprising Alex Craik, Jamie Graham and Keith Millar. Late call-offs from youngsters Ruaridh Horne and James Ford left a space which was filled at extremely short notice by Dene Cassells.
Saints kicked off attacking the Linkwood Crescent end and had an opportunity to test the home defence inside the first minute thanks to a free-kick midway inside the Gowdie half won by Craig MacEwan. Unfortunately Willie Gemmell’s flighted delivery from the left was too long for Kerr Newbigging coming in at the back post and drifted harmlessly behind.
The hosts had in their armoury a tremendous weapon in the long throw of striker Daniel Gibson which they were keen to deploy at every opportunity. The Saints defence did well to repel the danger from Gibson’s prodigious throws, winning vital headers to withstand Goldenhill’s early pressure.
A good Paul Carmichael interception on Daniel Gibson on the edge of the Saints box set up a Craig MacEwan counter-attack on the left in the 15th minute which Jamie Grimes did well hold up. Saints were, however, able to keep the ball in the Goldenhill half and forced a throw-in on the right level with the 18-yard line from where they would open the scoring. Kerr Newbigging and Shaun MacIver worked the ball along the line and out to Craig MacEwan on the left. MacEwan fed Donald Campbell on the corner of the box whose one-two with Matthew Kelly opened up the home defence. Campbell calmly lifted the ball high into the net over the advancing Scott Rennie and the last gasp attempted block of Matthew Moore.
From the restart Daniel Gibson was halted, unfairly in the opinion of referee James Gallacher, just outside the Saints box on the Goldenhill right. Gibson’s setpiece delivery found Matthew Moore at the back post but the big defender was unable to direct a difficult chance on target and cushioned a left foot volley over the crossbar.
Saints countered again in the 25th minute, with Craig MacEwan and Myles McAuley linking up well on the left. MacEwan picked out the supporting run of Matthew Kelly racing into the box who unfortunately couldn’t make a solid enough connection sending his right foot effort agonisingly wide of Scott Rennie’s right hand post.
The hosts came within inches of levelling the scores in the 41st minute. James Gallagher got away from Paul Carmichael and sent in a low cross from the right. Daniel Gibson, whose good all round play must have caught the eye of watching Scottish Amateur Select manager Bruce McNaught, got the deftest of touches three yards out at the front post sending the ball across the face of goal and on to the inside of the post. The bounce favoured Graham Douglas who clutched the ball gratefully to his chest before launching another counter-attack up the left.
Craig MacEwan’s perseverance won a corner kick which strike partner Shaun MacIver sprinted across to take. MacIver’s delivery picked out Paul Carmichael unmarked on the six yard line. Unfortunately, despite a good leap, Carmichael was slightly underneath the flight of the ball and sent his header looping high over the crossbar.
Mr Gallacher brought a first half of few chances to an end after three added minutes.
Despite being reasonably satisfied with the first half performance, Saints gaffer Alex Craik will have been disappointed not to have converted at least one more chance ahead of the inevitable second half onslaught from the hosts.
Left sided Goldenhill midfielder Marc Morrison lasted just three second half minutes before limping off to be replaced by the more attack minded Reece Syed.
Goldenhill equalised when Daniel Gibson fed substitute Syed on the left whose low cross found the unmarked Matthew Moore. Classy central defender Moore, who had remained forward after Gibson’s long throw, took full advantage of the space afforded him to side foot the ball past Graham Douglas and bring the hosts level.
Goldenhill made another early second half change bringing on winger Jonathon Dyer to replace Steven Dock on the right of midfield in the 52nd minute. Dyer’s first contribution to the proceedings was to prevent Myles McAuley from taking a quick throw-in earning him a yellow card within 60 seconds of joining the action.
Dyer was quickly joined in Mr Gallacher’s notebook by Daniel Gibson whose prolonged protests at a disputed throw-in exhausted the referee’s patience.
The hosts took the lead in controversial circumstances in the 58th minute. James Gallagher appeared to impede Graham Douglas as the two challenged at the back post for a Daniel Gibson right wing cross. Crucially, referee Gallacher saw nothing wrong with the Goldenhill striker’s challenge and allowed play to continue where Jonathon Dyer prodded home the loose ball from two yards out.
Graham Douglas and Paul Carmichael were incensed at the lack of a free-kick award from Mr Gallacher who rubbed salt into the wound by booking both for their protests.
Understandably for a game of this magnitude there was a nervousness in the play of both teams, with both failing to find the fluency which had taken them to the quarter finals stage of the national cup competition.
However, with their noses now in front it was Goldenhill who were in command and even a perceived sense of injustice failed to raise the Saints performance to anywhere approaching the level required to turn the tie around.
James Gallagher’s pace on the break almost caught out the Saints back four in the 70th minute but assistant referee Tony McCann flagged the Goldenhill striker offside from Scott McGuire’s pass.
Oblivious to the flag, Gallagher continued his run and drew a fine save from Graham Douglas before referee Gallacher halted the action with the award of a free-kick to Saints.
The Saints defence coped well with a flurry of Goldenhill corners before manager Craik rang the changes in the 75th minute. Kerr Newbigging and Shaun MacIver were withdrawn to be replaced by Keith Millar and Jamie Graham. Millar slotted into midfield with Graham going into the central defensive role vacated by Paul Carmichael who was pushed up front.
The change briefly gave Saints an attacking impetus but still without seriously testing the Goldenhill back three superbly marshaled by Jack Bennett.
As Saints pushed forward in search of an equaliser Scott McGuire won a crucial interception and sent Damon Gray and Jonathon Dyer off on a 79th minute counter-attack on the left.
Willie Gemmell made good ground to head off the danger at the expense of a corner kick, however there was to be no stopping the effort which was to follow from talismanic striker Daniel Gibson. The corner kick duties were left to James Gallagher who picked out Gibson unmarked on the edge of the box who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the postage stamp corner to double the home side’s advantage.
Saints were now forced to gamble, often leaving themselves short at the back where they were again grateful to the frame of the goal which came to their rescue on two occasions. James Gallagher lifted a Scott McGuire through ball onto the crossbar in the 84th minute and Damon Gray cracked a 35-yard drive off the upright five minutes later.
In between those two let-offs manager Craik gave a first outing of the season to Dene Cassells who, in replacing Steven MacLeod at right full-back, became the 29th player used in this season’s eventful cup run.
Taking the ball to the corner flags at every opportunity, hosts Goldenhill successfully ran down the time added on for stoppages by Mr Gallacher to claim a deserved victory and set up a mouthwatering semi-final clash against Bridgewater of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League at New Douglas Park, Hamilton on Wednesday April 25.
Manager Alex Craik was bitterly disappointed with the result. He said: ‘We played well in the first half and could have scored another couple of goals, but Goldenhill are a good side who play almost the same squad week in week out, while we have had to chop and change for every game this season which you just can’t do at this level of the game.
‘However, I’m really proud of the boys. Two semi-finals and a quarter final in three seasons is a superb achievement for a small town club like Oban Saints.’
The team will try to put the disappointment of their Scottish Amateur Cup exit behind them when they return to league action this Saturday with the visit to East Kilbride Rolls Royce in a Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division clash.
The game takes place at The Murray with a 1.15pm kick-off with referee Decio Esphina in charge.
Last Saturday’s results involving Argyll teams in the Scottish Amateur League – Scottish Amateur Cup quarter final – Goldenhill 3, Oban Saints 1, Premier Division One – Campbeltown Pupils no game; Premier Division Two – Port Glasgow OBU v Lochgilphead, Red Star, postponed; Tarbert 5, Cardross 0.
This Saturday’s fixtures: Premier Division – East Kilbride RR v Oban Saints; Premier Division One – Campbeltown Pupils no game; Premier Division Two – Easthall Star v Lochgilphead Red Star; Tarbert v FC Argyll.