Oban Saints have that semi-final feeling once again
Oban Saints 3 Cambria 1
West Cup - quarter final
A sensational strike from Lewis Cameron and an equally impressive save from Graham ‘Sugar’ Douglas helped Oban Saints to see off the challenge of old rivals Cambria and seal a place in the semi-finals of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup last Saturday afternoon.
Cameron’s wonder strike in off the crossbar re-established the lead for Saints before Sugar broke Cambria hearts with a wonderful reaction save and a free flowing move, rounded off by Daniel Croarkin, made the tie safe for Saints.
The incessant rain ended any hopes of the match going ahead on the grass at Glencruitten so a switch to the all-weather surface at Oban High School was hastily arranged for the 1pm kick-off watched by a large number of spectators who had braved the miserable weather conditions.
The visitors kicked off attacking the school end with the wind, unusually blowing from the Dalintart end, at their backs.
Dangerous
As the game began to open up Scott Maitland made a good 12th minute run on the left and sent a dangerous low ball into the box however the Cambria’s central defensive pairing remained in control with Donald Mackay successfully holding off Craig MacEwan for Adam Rennie to gather safely at his feet.
A goal-kick from Rennie produced a moment to forget for the Cambria defence as Gordon Hanley found himself quickly closed down in the left-back position by James Ford. The big centre-half slipped and scuffed a pass back which was pounced on by Craig MacEwan, who calmly slipped the ball under the advancing goalkeeper and into the bottom corner for the opening goal.
Saints were left cursing the award of a corner kick in the 43rd minute by assistant referee Matthew Farr which appeared to have gone out for a throw-in by the corner flag on the Cambria right.
The 2017 cup winners took full advantage of this slice of good fortune with a well-rehearsed corner kick routine between Craig Coleman and Ryan O’Donnell resulting in Coleman picking out Andrew McEwan on the penalty spot who swept the ball past Graham Douglas to make the half time score 1-1.
Saints made a bright start to the second half and had the ball in the net in the 49th minute from a sweeping move on the left. Scott Maitland looked to have timed his overlapping run to reach Lewis Cameron’s pass to perfection and sent a square ball across the Cambria box which Daniel Croarkin slammed past Adam Rennie.
However, an offside decision from Mr Farr, which must have been an extremely close call, brought the Saints
celebrations to an abrupt end.
Donald Campbell came from deep in the 59th minute to power a thumping drive from the corner of the Cambria box wide of the junction of post and bar after good approach play from James Ford, Matthew Kelly, Craig MacEwan and Daniel Croarkin.
Reaction save
Having dominated the opening stages of the second half Saints had goalkeeper Graham Douglas to thank for a good reaction save to deny Andrew McEwan a second goal when the Saints number one thrust up a strong left hand to push McEwan’s half volley from a David McArthur cross over his crossbar.
Saints were finally rewarded for their second half endeavours when Lewis Cameron produced a magic moment in the 68th minute. Substitute Cammy Hill and Donald Mackay contested a bouncing ball on the edge of the Cambria box with the Saints youngster doing just enough to see the ball land at the feet of James Ford, who cracked a shot off Mackay’s back with the rebound spinning out to the left. Scott Maitland kept the move alive picking out Lewis Cameron on the corner of the box, who curled a delicious right foot finish in off the underside of the crossbar to restore Saints’ lead.
Two minutes later Craig MacEwan made a good turn on the edge of the Cambria box from a Lewis Cameron cutback and stabbed a low left foot shot inches wide of Adam Rennie’s left hand post.
The quick feet of Lewis Cameron were proving difficult for Cambria to deal with and skipper Stewart Nicoll was lucky to escape with just a talking to from referee Payne for a heavy challenge in the 75th minute.
He may stand at six feet five inches in his stocking soles but young Saints striker Cammy Hill is blessed with a nimble touch for such a big man. In the 80th minute Hill danced his way past three tackles in the Cambria box before he was finally denied by the outstretched legs of keeper Adam Rennie.
With the visitors now taking more and more chances at the back, the game became very open, often dangerously so for Saints given their slender lead.
The action once again swung to the other end and Dene Cassells was relieved to find Mr Payne satisfied just to award a free-kick against him for a heavy challenge on Andrew McEwan wide on the Cambria right. Ross Wilson’s delivery was headed down by Craig MacEwan on the six-yard line but straight into the path of Dean McGinnity whose first time effort was miraculously stopped on the goal-line by Graham Douglas. The danger didn’t end there and David McArthur’s header from the rebound was blocked on the six-yard line by Dene Cassells before Donald Mackay finally lashed a shot wide of the postage stamp corner.
Exploited
That was as close as Cambria would come to getting back on terms and, with the additional time allowed for stoppages by Mr Payne now being played, Saints finally exploited the ever-widening gaps in the Cambria defence. After winning back possession from a Cambria throw-in, Saints swept up the right wing from where Lewis Cameron cut inside and tee’d up Daniel Croarkin for a calm side foot finish past the advancing Adam Rennie to send Saints through to a third major cup semi-final in four seasons. This Saturday the Oban side return to league business and another test against Scottish Amateur Cup semi-finalists Alba Thistle. Kick off at Ralston Sports Centre, Paisley is 1.15pm.