Alan is Athletic’s hat-trick hero
Oban Athletic Crookston League Cup - 2nd round
LAST week was a bitter sweet one for Oban Athletic.
They travelled to take on Carradale on Wednesday night and found themselves on the losing end of a 6-5 defeat, despite being up 4-2 at half time.
A more determined Carradale and a Craig Campbell red card were defining factors in the result.
However, Athletic were back to winning ways on Saturday with a comfortable 3- 0 victory over Crookston in the second round of the league cup.
The first half was generally played out in the middle of the park, with neither side creating many chances.
The most defining moment came just before half time, when Craig Campbell brought down his man and received a second yellow card and his second red in as many games.
The sending off might have been the kick Athletic needed as they started the second half strong.
Mark Robertson beat his man at the byline and whipped in a cross to Paul Carmichael whose header landed just in front of Allan Buchanan, who volleyed the ball first time into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1- 0.
Ten minutes later, Mark Robertson left the Crookston left back with a feeling of deja vu as he skipped past him yet again and crossed in a ball that Allan Buchanan headed home to net his second goal of the game.
Ten-man Athletic started to attack in waves with Paul Carmichael coming close to scoring twice.
However, Crookston almost got themselves back in to the game when their striker skipped past the Oban defence and only had the keeper, Graham Douglas, to beat.
The Athletic netminder was quick to close him down and deflected the shot past the post.
The game started to get a bit heated and the numbers were evened up as Crookston got a man sent off for abusive language towards the referee.
Shortly after, Alan Buchanan was brought down in the box and Athletic were awarded a penalty.
Alan completed his hat-trick after slotting the ball into the bottom corner to make it 3- 0.
The Oban side almost made it four - playmaker Mark Robertson, was getting ready to celebrate after his shot beat the Crookston keeper, but a defender was on hand to clear the ball off the line with a diving header.
There was no further scoring opportunites with Athletic running out comfortable 3- 0 winners.
As the Oban Times went to press Athletic were back in action on Wednesday night when they look to gain revenge over Carradale, this time in a league match which will be played in Lochgilphead.