Saints lose out to Scottish Cup finalists
Oban Saints 0 Goldenhill 3
SAFL Premier Division
LAST Saturday at a soggy Glencruitten Scottish Amateur Cup finalists Goldenhill maintained their 100 per cent league record to keep the pressure on Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division leaders St Joseph’s FP with a convincing 3-0 victory over Oban Saints.
Kicking off, attacking the railway end, Saints made a bright start to the first half and came within inches of opening the scoring in the first minute.
Ruaridh Horne made good progress on the right and sent a low cross to the front post where Paul Carmichael nipped in ahead of Marc Morrison and Jack Bennett, and shaved the outside of the post with a first time effort.
A diagonal ball from Shaun MacIver over the head of Steven Dock sent Donald Campbell through on goal, however, after bringing MacIver’s pass down well, the Saints skipper was denied by Goldenhill keeper Scott Rennie who slid out bravely to gather the ball at Campbell’s feet.
The promising start from Saints was undone after just 12 minutes when hesitation at the back gifted possession to James Gallagher on the the left. The Goldenhill striker was given time and space to pick out Damon Gray’s untracked near post run with the tall midfielder’s diving header from four yards giving Graham Douglas no chance.
Saints pieced together a promising move in the 26th minute with Donald Campbell and Paul Carmichael linking up well in the middle of the park to send Jamie Graham off on a run up the left wing. But Graham’s cross from the corner of the 18-yard box was fractionally too high for Shaun MacIver.
There was a lapse in concentration at a 28th minute when James Gallagher corner kick on the right cost Saints dearly. Gallagher picked out the unmarked Ian Stevenson on the corner of the 18-yard box whose dinked cross was headed home at the front post by Goldenhill skipper Scott McGuire to double the visitor’s lead.
The second goal rocked Saints, with Graham Douglas coming to the rescue to parry a James Gallagher shot, and Steven MacLeod making a vital interception to prevent Jonathon Dyer from knocking the loose ball into the unguarded net.
With the visitors now winning the crucial midfield battle, Saints were unable to exert any pressure on the well-organised Goldenhill defence, leaving their own back three by far the busier.
Goldenhill’s Gallagher sent a free-kick from 24 yards high over the junction of post and bar, and saw a dangerous low cross from the left well cut out by Dene Cassells before Referee D’Alessandro blew for half-time.
To try and counter the visitors’ midfield dominance, Saints Gaffer Alex Craik swapped youth for experience, pitching veteran Keith Millar into the action at the expense of youngster Ruaridh Horne.
Saints made an encouraging start to the second half, with Shaun MacIver winning a freekick midway inside the Goldenhill half and 10 yards in from the left touchline. Willie Gemmell produced another dangerous delivery to the far post where Paul Carmichael had cleverly peeled off his marker. With his back to goal, Carmichael produced a flash of inspiration to wheel and hook a powerful shot on target which Scott Rennie equalled with a sensational finger tip save to turn the ball onto his left hand post.
Despite competing better in the second half Saints still carried little by way of an attacking threat and, after that initial save Rennie in the Goldenhill goal enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon.
Making his first start of the season, Cassells carried the ball out from the back in the 69 minute but was dispossessed by Scott McGuire and picked up Saints third caution of the afternoon in attempting to regain possession from the Goldenhill captain.
Undeterred, Cassells joined the attack again 60 seconds later this time, progressing to the final third and feeding Donald Campbell. The Saints skipper was quick to spot the run of Matthew Kelly on the right, unfortunately his pass was just too heavy for Kelly and a promising opening came to nothing.
Saints were caught on their heels from a corner when Gallagher rolled his delivery from the right into the path of Christopher McGrath whose right foot rocket from the 18-yard line flew past Graham Douglas and into the net at the unguarded front post.
Fraser MacFarlane replaced the Jamie Graham on the left of midfield for the closing 15 minutes. MacFarlane’s first involvement was to help set up Paul Carmichael for a shot from the left across the face of goal which flew wide of Scott Rennie’s left hand post.
Saints created another opening on the left in the 82nd minute with Carmichael this time electing to try and find Matthew Kelly with a low cross which was unfortunately hit fractionally too far in front of the midfielder’s supporting run.
Graham Douglas produced an excellent double save in the dying minutes to deny James Gallagher and then Christopher McGrath on the follow up before Mr D’Alessandro blew for full time.
Gaffer Alex Craik will be disappointed with the goals conceded but overall can have few complaints with the final outcome as Goldenhill made it three wins out of three against Saints for the season.
Alex, who is stepping down from his role at the end of the season said: ‘I was pleased with the effort the boys put in. We played some good football against a very good team. However, Goldenhill are a very experienced side. They were clinical in front of goals, whereas we passed up several good chances which you have to take at this level of the game.’
Saints have no fixture this Saturday as an Argyll Select take on the Scottish Amateur Football League Select for the Joe Paterson Memorial Trophy in Tarbert, kicking off at 1pm.
However, the D & K Lafferty-sponsored Oban side head to Scotstoun on Sunday to face Premier Division leaders St Joseph’s FP who must take maximum points from their final home match of the season if they are to hold off the challenge of Goldenhill and retain their league crown.