Saints reach Jimmy Marshall Cup final
OBAN Saints made their fourth consecutive Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final appearance last Wednesday night at bogey ground Millburn Park, Alexandria.
Saints had never before won a match at the home of Vale of Leven Juniors but, despite an inauspicious start to the evening, finally managed to break that long standing jinx against Premier Division One promotion chasers Motherwell Thistle.
A road traffic accident at the Halfway House, near Dunbeg, resulting in the closure of the A85, almost put paid to Saints’ hopes of reaching Alexandria in time to play the match.
However, a perilous diversion along the verges of the almost totally gridlocked Connel back road eventually got the Saints minibus back on track albeit slightly later than planned with only a 15-minute delay to kick off required.
Saints kicked off with the low sun behind them and were quick to try to exploit the wide open spaces of the large playing surface. The front three of Ross Maitland, Dean Smith and Craig MacEwan were looking lively and combined to devastating effect in the fourth minute opening up the Thistle defence for Ross Maitland to curl a shot from 16 yards into the bottom corner past Paul Aiton’s despairing left hand.
Misplaced passes and cheaply conceded possession on the bumpy surface dissipated Saints’ early domination allowing Thistle to come more into the match.
A simple ball over the top from Thistle play maker William McMaster caught out the Saints defence in the 23rd minute. McMaster’s lofted ball in the inside left channel was anticipated by Ombeni Ruhanduka who ran in behind David McArthur and Craig Campbell and drew a good save from Thomas McCulloch at his near post.
A good spell of Saints pressure just before the half hour almost led to Maitland doubling his tally.
A Cruyff turn from MacEwan took out two defenders and opened up space for a pass across the face of goal to Maitland who looked certain to score.
Unfortunately for Maitland, the ball took a wicked bounce and Paul Aiton was able to scramble across his goal-line and smother the ball at the forward’s feet.
Saints had a 32nd minute penalty appeal turned down by referee Jim Rose from a long Willie Gemmell throw from the left. Gemmell aimed for the head of Campbell but the ball appeared to come off the hand of Stuart Hunter. However Mr Rose ruled that Campbell had fouled Hunter and awarded a free kick in Thistle’s favour.
After a slow start the second half came to life in the 54th minute with a double let- off for Saints. McCulloch lost the flight of a William McMaster free kick from the left in the low sunlight allowing Rhys Haggarty to send a looping header back over McCulloch’s head towards the unguarded net.
Fortunately for Saints the ball hit the crossbar but came out to Ruhanduka who, from four yards out, also managed to hit the bar with McCulloch eventually able to pluck the ball from the air.
The Oban side finally increasd their lead when Maitland flighted a free kick to the back post which MacEwan headed down and back across goal to Gemmell, who resisted the temptation to go for power and instead passed the ball into the net from seven yards.
That proved to be Gemmell’s last involvement as manager Alex Craik called Donald Campbell from the substitutes bench to replace him.
Saints looked to exploit another set-piece opportunity in the 66th minute after Dean Smith had been brought down just inside the Thistle half. Myles McAuley launched the free kick to the edge of the Thistle box with Smith winning a good flick on to Scott Maitland whose left foot shot was blocked for a corner kick. Ross Maitland sent another excellent delivery onto the six-yard line which was powered into the net by Dene Cassells to make the scoe 3- 0.
Manager Craik made a double substitution taking off Smith and Ross Maitland, who made way for Allan Mackay and Keith Millar in a move which signalled a switch to a 4- 4-2 formation.
A little bit of the gloss was taken off an otherwise successful night’s work when McAuley limped off with an ankle injury in the 80th minute with his place being taken by Jamie Graham.
Saints comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure a Jimmy Marshall Trophy final appearance against St Joseph’s FP and end a punishing schedule of Wednesday night fixtures on a high note.
The final will be played at Millburn Park, Alexandria on Friday May 27.