Saints started off their new campaign in the Central Scottish AFL with a narrow win at Craigneuk
With Oban Saints currently enjoying a four-week festive break, Derek Black takes a look back at the season so far beginning with the first six league fixtures.
Saturday August 10 Craigneuk 0, Oban Saints 1
After a disastrous pre-season where every friendly match had to be cancelled due to their scheduled opponents having to withdraw, Oban Saints made their eagerly awaited Central Scottish Amateur Football League debut on August 10.
Craig MacEwan bagged the honour of scoring Saints first goal in their new league setup while Paul Carmichael has the slightly less prestigious distinction of picking up the first red card in a tight Division 1B encounter with Craigneuk.
Saints got their noses in front five minutes before the interval from a free-kick on the edge of the Craigneuk box after a promising Matthew Kelly run had been brought to a premature end by Greig Williams. The home defence couldn’t deal with Lewis Cameron’s delivery and Craig MacEwan pounced on the loose ball to open Saints Central Scottish Amateur Football League account.
A straight ball over the top saw Taylor Lawrence winning the foot race with Carmichael and, with Graham Douglas well off his line, the big centre half elected to tug back the Craigneuk striker giving Mr Murdoch an easy decision to make.
The Saints defence, well marshalled throughout by skipper Dene Cassells, survived what remained of the Craigneuk onslaught to get their Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B campaign off to a hard-fought winning start.
Saturday 17 August Oban Saints 2, Lesmahagow 1
Goals early in each half gave Oban Saints the edge over visitors Lesmahagow when the D&K Lafferty Contractors sponsored side made their first competitive home appearance of the season.
In an evenly contested encounter, strikes from David Beaton and Lewis Cameron had Saints two goals to the good before a 59th minute reply from James McGill set up a nervy closing third of the match for the Glencruitten faithful who were relieved to see their favourites cling on to claim the points. Getting
Referee John Quinn allowed a suspiciously offside James McGinn to continue his 59th minute run on the right with Dene Cassells eventually getting back to concede a corner kick. From Johnny Logan’s delivery the Saints defence left McGinn and Robbie Kilpatrick completely unmarked at the back post where McGinn poked the ball home from five yards out.
The visitors stepped up their aerial bombardment for the closing stages but the Saints rearguard stood firm under pressure protecting keeper Graham Douglas well.
Saturday 24 August Oban Saints 9 Clydebank 0
After labouring somewhat in their first two Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B fixtures,
Saints finally clicked into gear against Clydebank AFC at Glencruitten.
Keeping up a high tempo from the first whistle, Saints gave their goal difference a substantial boost rattling in nine goals without reply in a polished all round performance which kept the Glencruitten faithful richly entertained throughout the ninety minutes.
The early Saints pressure paid off when Lewis Cameron slipped Cammy Hill through on goal with the big striker side footing a low finish into the net past the advancing Andrew Cameron.
After hooking 20-yard effort over the crossbar, David Beaton doubled Saints advantage in the 14th minute reacting quickly to tuck away the loose ball after a Craig MacEwan shot had been blocked by Darren Murray.
Cammy Hill outpaced the Bankies defence to reach a twenty second minute Kerr Newbigging flick-on and take Saints goal tally to three. Hill kept his composure to round the exposed Andrew Cameron before tapping home a composed left foot finish from close range.
A mistimed Ian Huggan sliding challenge on Cammy Hill inside the Bankies box gave referee Tom Cavanagh an easy decision to make in awarding Saints a 38th minute penalty kick. Andrew Cameron got down well to his left to push away Lewis Cameron’s spot kick and was quickly up on his feet to save Cameron’s second effort on the rebound and complete an excellent double save.
A 42nd minute driving run through the inside left channel from Craig MacEwan had the Bankies defence on
athe back foot. MacEwan’s pass inside found Cammy Hill who in turn picked out Lewis Cameron for a shot on goal. Cameron’s effort was blocked and sent wide of target however Matty Kelly kept the move alive and cut the ball back from the left for Craig MacEwan to lift over Andrew Cameron for Saints fourth goal.
A Ruaridh Horne run had the Bankie’s defence backpedalling and his cross to the back post picked out Craig MacEwan. MacEwan’s Bergkampesque exquisite first touch to control Horne’s cross took him away from the advancing Andrew Cameron and opened up the space for him to roll the ball into the empty net for a wonderful goal that will linger long in the memories of the Glencruitten faithful.
Last season’s top scorer Lewis Cameron made up for his earlier penalty miss notching Saints sixth goal on the half hour mark.
Making a return after a long absence was co-manager Donald Campbell who has been out of action since being stretchered off during last season’s West of Scotland Cup semi-final. Campbell took Cammy Hill’s place up front for the final 25 minutes.
James Ford curled a left foot effort wide of Andrew Cameron’s right hand post before Donald Campbell added a seventh goal in the eightieth minute.
Ross Maitland then latched onto an 82nd minute Donald Campbell through ball to slam home goal number eight. Maitland then thumped home another excellent strike taking Saints goal tally to nine in the 87th minute.