Hard-fought win keeps Saints out in front
Oban Saints maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a hard-fought win over last season’s Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division One Champions Barrhead at Glencruitten last Saturday. With the remainder of the Premier Division in West of Scotland Amateur Cup action the win stretches Saints lead at the top of the league table to six points over nearest challengers St Joseph’s FP and Goldenhill.
Saints kicked off attacking the railway end on a Glencruitten surface which was in remarkably good condition considering the recent heavy rain. In the opening stages the fluency of the 8 - 1 win against Dunoon on their last home outing appeared to have deserted Saints and they struggled to settle into their usual rhythm taking until the 10th minute to muster a shot on goal.
Standing in for regular keeper Ross O’Hagan, Jamie Henderson showed he is no slouch between the posts as 60 seconds later he dived full length to his right to finger-tip a low, net bound, James Ford drive around the post for a corner kick. Fraser MacFarlane produced a great delivery, picking out a near post run from Dene Cassells who prodded the ball home from three yards out to give Saints the lead.
Saints doubled their advantage in the 32nd minute after Jamie Graham was felled just inside the Arky box on the Saints right. Referee Archie Mitchell was well positioned and had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. With regular penalty taker Lewis Cameron unavailable Matt Rippon seized the opportunity to add to his goal tally and made no mistake leaving Henderson rooted on his goal-line as the ball nestled in the bottom corner to make the half time score 2-0.
Saints began the second half in determined fashion and the visitors required a vital sliding interception from Darren Livingston to foil James Ford after a delightful flick from Donald Campbell.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 75th minute when John McDade got in between Kerr Newbigging and Dene Cassells to nod home David Bannerman’s corner kick from the right.
The Oban side regained their composure after this reversal and came close two or three times but in the end had to setle for a 2-1 victory.
Mr Mitchell’s final whistle brought to a close an entertaining afternoon for the Glencruitten faithful who can look forward to another home fixture this coming Saturday when Motherwell Thistle bring their own 100 per cent record to Glencruiten for a Premier Division clash; kick-off 2pm.