Jags are no match for six-goal Saints
Saints on Scottish Cup duty this weekend
Following the drama of the Scottish Amateur Cup tie against Vale of Earn which took two games and a penalty shoot-out to resolve, Oban Saints returned to league business at Glencruitten last Saturday for the visit of Garrowhill Thistle.
Second half substitute Matt Rippon successfully converted his third penalty kick of the season to round off a 6-1 win adding to a brace from Donald Campbell and a hattrick from leading goalscorer Craig MacEwan.
Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell made two changes to the starting line-up from the previous week’s trip to Crieff, promoting Cammy Hill from the bench to replace David Beaton and rewarding Gavin Forgrieve for his recent impressive displays for the second team with a place in midfield. This allowed Matty Kelly to rest following his exertions with the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Select.
Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end where Willie Gemmell twice came close to opening the scoring inside the first 10 minutes.
Firstly he squeezed a lay-off from Craig MacEwan after a Scott Maitland overlapping run and cross inches wide of target before Thistle keeper Callum McAuley threw up a strong left hand to stop a thumping 25-yard strike from the Saints co-gaffer.
The home faithful didn’t have too much longer to wait for the opening goal which came from the head of Craig MacEwan in the 13th minute. Ruaridh Horne sent a tempting cross from the right on to the six-yard line where MacEwan held off the challenge of William Coulter to nod the ball into the bottom corner past a static Callum McAuley.
There was a loud appeal for offside from the Saints back four in the 19th minute but referee Tony McCann was unimpressed and allowed Oliver Ferguson to continue his run into the box to fire off a shot which Graham Douglas did extremely well to hold.
Scurrying
Saints doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark from a patient passing move from the back. Gavin Forgieve picked up the ball in the centre circle from Dene Cassells and sent Scott Maitland scurrying forward on the left.
Maitland found Craig MacEwan in the Jags box, who carried the ball to the bye-line and, after a double step over, picked out Donald Campbell arriving at the near post to knock the ball home with the outside of his right foot.
Thistle keeper Callum McAuley produced two fines saves to prevent Saints from further stretching their advantage. After standing up well at his near post to beat away a Craig MacEwan left foot effort from the corner of the six-yard box, McAuley leapt acrobatically to his left to push a curling Donald Campbell shot bound for the top corner round the post.
Scott Maitland continued the form which has earned him a call-up to train with
SAFA International Select with a darting 43rd-minute run into the Jags box but was denied a strike on goal by a perfectly timed, sliding interception by Josh McCormick.
Maitland thought his tackle on Craig Lamont 60 seconds later was equally well timed but Mr McCann thought otherwise and awarded the visitors a free-kick midway inside the Saints half.
Gavin Forgrieve’s sliced clearance of Lamont’s delivery into the box landed at the feet of Paul Thomson 17 yards out.
Already harbouring a sense of injustice, Saints were left incredulous when Mr McCann pointed to the penalty spot after Lewis Cameron was penalised for a handball, protecting his face from Thomson’s point blank range shot. Jags striker Lee Drummond placed the ball on the spot and on the referee’s whistle slammed the ball home to half the deficit.
With their composure restored Saints made the perfect start to the second half immediately regaining possession through Cammy Hill, who made a driving run at the heart of the Jags defence.
Hill threaded a well-measured diagonal ball for Craig MacEwan cutting in from the left, who wasted no time in clipping a shot across the advancing keeper and into the far corner of the net.
Tight angle
Saints put some daylight between themselves and their visitors in the 51st minute when Dene Cassells returned a Callum McAuley clearance with a thumping header.
Craig MacEwan helped it on to Donald Campbell, who rounded the advancing
keeper and, from a tight angle, slotted the ball into the unguarded net.
Both teams made their first changes on 57 minutes.
Christopher Cameron replaced Paul Thomson for the visitors with Myles McAuley coming on for Willie Gemmell in the Saints midfield.
Scott Maitland’s perseverance on the left won a 61st-minute corner kick which Callum McAuley came through a pile of bodies to punch clear.
Unfortunately for the Jags keeper his punch landed neatly at the feet of Craig MacEwan, who steered the ball past the still-off-balance McAuley to seal his hat-trick.
The fifth goal was the cue for a triple Saints change with David Beaton, Aaron McKay and Matt Rippon coming on to replace Gavin Forgrieve, Cammy Hill and Craig MacEwan.
Rippon almost made an instant impact making a good run through the inside right channel to collect a Lewis Cameron pass but seeing his low shot blocked by the feet of Thistle keeper McAuley.
Further changes followed in the 72nd minute when Matty Kelly replaced Lewis Cameron for Saints and the visitors sent on Ryan Latter for Oliver Ferguson.
Shot-shy
An 82nd-minute nose bleed from Myles McAuley in the unfamiliar territory of the opposition 18-yard box saw the shot-shy midfielder pass up a shooting opportunity in favour of a lay-off to Donald Campbell, whose effort on the stretch slipped agonisingly wide of target.
David Beaton’s pace through the middle was causing problems for the visitors and his 86th-minute run was brought to a premature end by Ryan Latter giving
Mr McCann an easy decision to point to the spot. Matt Rippon kept up his 100 per cent record from the penalty spot sending his effort into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Callum McAuley to notch a sixth goal for Saints.
With the clock ticking into stoppage time David Baton couldn’t direct a Donald Campbell cutback on target and Matt Rippon sent a 28-yard free-kick over the crossbar before Mr McCann called time. This confirmed Saints’ eighth win of a perfect start to the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B campaign.
Saints are back on the road this coming Saturday when they visit Garscube Sports Complex to face Westerlands of the Caledonian League in the Scottish Amateur Cup third round – kick-off 2pm.