Saints drummed out of Scottish Cup
Oban Saints 1 Drumchapel United 2
Scottish Cup third round
Oban Saints crashed out of the Scottish Amateur Cup at a wet and windy Glencruitten last Saturday afternoon.
Saints started brightly with Scott Maitland forcing the first corner kick of the match in the fourth minute. Lewis Cameron’s delivery from the left was tempting but cleanly caught by Drumchapel keeper Stephen Mather.
At the other end, Saints number one Graham Douglas punched clear a corner kick from the left after Willie Gemmell had deflected a Marc McCran shot wide of target.
Myles McAuley, whose midfield partnership with Gavin Forgrieve looked solid, turned the clock back several years with a rampaging run forward in the 16th minute. Not renowned for his shooting prowess, McAuley unleashed a powerful shot from 25 yards which Stephen Mather could only parry into the path of Daniel MacCuish whose attempt to lob the big keeper unfortunately cleared the crossbar.
Saints opened the scoring in the 34th minute from a free kick inside their own half following a foul on Lewis Cameron after Dene Cassells had headed away a Drumchapel corner kick from the left. Willie Gemmell rolled the ball short to Myles McAuley who once again strode forward purposefully, this time picking out Daniel MacCuish for an accomplished finish into the top corner from the edge of the box.
David Beaton was inches away from doubling Saints’ lead, diving in at the back post after Drumchapel skipper Paul McConachie had headed a 39th minute Lewis Cameron free-kick back across the face of his own goal.
On the stroke of half-time, a perfectly timed tackle from Adam Douglas foiled Cammy Hill who delayed pulling the trigger when clean through on Stephen Mather’s goal just long enough for the Drumchapel full back to get his challenge in.
The second half was just three minutes old when Saints were made to pay for their missed first half opportunities.
Paul McConachie and Jack Wilson were allowed to race in unattended at the back post from an Alan Kelly free-kick from the right. McConachie squared the ball into the path of Connor Higgins who prodded past Graham Douglas from six yards. Saints appealed loudly for an offside decision but referee Joe Todd saw no infringement and further upset the home side by cautioning Willie Gemmell for dissent.
Three minutes later the turnaround was complete with Higgins knocking home from just a few inches after Graham Douglas had clawed a dipping and swerving Jamie Ross effort from underneath his crossbar to the feet of the onrushing striker.
Dene Cassells joined central defensive partner Gemmell in the referee’s notebook for a late challenge on Paul McConachie with Mr Todd, who handled the keenly-contested cup tie well throughout, balancing up the card count with cautions for Connor Higgins and Marc McCran.
Saints introduced Craig MacEwan, Matty Kelly and Kyle Cooper but the closest the home side would come was a close range David Beaton effort which Stephen Mather clawed behind at his near post.
As the clock ticked down, Saints gave a debut to youth team product Louie MacFarlane before Mr Todd brought proceedings to a close.
This Saturday Saints return to league business with a trip to Dumbarton to face reigning Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions St Patrick’s FP. The game will be played on a 3G surface at either Our Lady of St Patrick's High School or Argyll Park, Alexandria, with a 2pm kick-off.
Youth results and fixtures
League Cup: Dumbarton United 6, Under-13s 2. Scoring for Saints were Corey Pyper and Duncan Hunt. Scottish Cup: Under-16s 1, Pollok United 3. Cody McCulloch scored for Saints. This Sunday’s fixtures: Under-15s v East Kilbride; St Cadoc’s v Under16s. Under-13s – no game.