One over the eight as Saints march on in Scottish Cup
Oban Saints made it seven wins on the bounce with a 9-1 demolition of Perthshire Amateur Football League Division One high fliers St Johns at Glencruitten last Saturday.
The win sees Saints comfortably through to Tuesday afternoon’s Scottish Amateur Cup third round draw.
Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell were frustrated to learn on the eve of the match of yet another indoor football injury set-back, this time for Matt Rippon. The versatile midfielder joins Paul Carmichael, Matthew Kelly, Myles McAuley and Shaun MacIver on the long term absentees list.
The visitors, who number former Oban Saints players Jimmy McPhee and the late Stephen Scott among their former stars, kicked off attacking the Mossfield end where they had an early chance for striker Michael Cook snuffed out by Saints skipper Dene Cassells. It took just three minutes for Saints to open the scoring with Craig MacEwan and Lewis Cameron linking up well on the left from where Cameron picked out James Ford in the middle for a side foot finish into the bottom corner past the left hand of St Johns keeper Ryan Stewart.
The big keeper came out on top five minutes later making an excellent save high to his left to turn away a thumping 20-yard drive from Ford after the in-form wide man had turned effortlessly away from St Johns skipper Harry Fertacz.
Fertacz’s central defensive colleague Craig Rattray was the unlucky scorer of the first of two own goals which helped Saints on their way to a commanding first half lead.
Ruaridh Horne’s driving run and dangerous cross into the box in the 16th minute was rewarded when Ryan Stewart failed to hold Horne’s cross at the near post, dropping the ball onto the head of Rattray who could do nothing to prevent the ball ending up in the back of the net.
Central Scottish Amateur Football League referee Raymond Patterson, who had an excellent game, correctly ruled Donald Campbell offside in the 23rd minute as the Saints co-manager attempted to get on the end of a Lewis Cameron pass.
Campbell’s managerial partner Willie Gemmell climbed well in midfield to head the St Johns free-kick down to Daniel Croarkin who quickly fed James Ford for another driving run at the visitor’s defence. Ford continued his run after laying the ball off to Donald Campbell and took Campbell’s return pass in his stride to slam past Ryan Stewart for his second goal of the afternoon.
Good pressing from Craig MacEwan and Daniel Croarkin forced Stephen Mann into a hurried pass back in the 27th minute which Donald Campbell read well to find himself one-on-one with Ryan Stewart. Campbell used all his experience to calmly lift the ball over the advancing keeper and into the empty net to put Saints four goals ahead.
The Saints defence had the visitors attack under control, however, a 31st minute Dene Cassells foul on Michael Cook gave St Johns skipper Harry Fertacz a chance to register an attempt on target. The big central defender succeeded in lifting his 28-yard effort over the Saints wall but without the power required to seriously test Saints keeper Graham Douglas who made a comfortable save.
With the visitors enjoying their best spell of the first half, a Willie Gemmell headed clearance from a long throw-in gave St Johns their first corner kick in the 35th minute.
Mark McNiven’s dangerous delivery from the right was headed behind at the back post by Steven MacLeod under pressure from Harvey Mackie.
Michael Cook’s second corner from the St Johns left was hooked to the edge of the box by Daniel Croarkin after Andrew Smith had won a knock down on the six-yard line. Harry Fertacz was lurking 22-yards from goal but sent his dipping volley high and wide of target.
A vital Craig Rattray block on the six-yard line prevented Lewis Cameron from finding the top corner after a sweeping 39th minute move on the Saints left.
The D & K Laffertysponsored Oban side were not to be denied a fifth goal, however, and opened up the St Johns defence once again 60 seconds later. With Scott Maitland up in support, Lewis Cameron looked to pick out the left-back’s run into the box, however, a deflection off Stephen Mann sent the
ball looping into the postage stamp corner for a second own goal of the afternoon.
Craig MacEwan was a post width away from adding a sixth before the interval, striking the inside of Ryan Stewart’s left hand upright with a curling effort after a delightful turn in the box to step away from Owen Hepburn. The well beaten St Johns keeper was relieved to see the ball come back off the upright and into his grateful arms before referee Patterson blew for half-time.
Perhaps understandably, given their five goal cushion, Saints were slow out the blocks for the second half but shook off their early lethargy with a break up the right after Scott Carle had fired a 28yard free-kick well off target.
From the goal-kick, Steven MacLeod sent Ruaridh Horne racing up the right wing with the youngster cutting inside onto his left foot and curling a delightful effort which looked set to sneak in at the foot of the far post until Ryan Stewart, at full stretch, got fingertips to it to turn behind for a corner kick.
Saints continued to knock on the door with Donald Campbell having a net bound effort blocked and Lewis Cameron curling just wide of target after another sweeping move on the left.
Ryan Stewart pulled off another excellent save to push a 57th minute Lewis Cameron shot behind for a corner kick. Cameron’s delivery from the corner flag was met by a spectacular overhead kick from Willie Gemmell on the penalty spot which bounced inches wide of the stranded St Johns keeper’s left hand post.
The Oban side made three changes on the hour, withdrawing Steven MacLeod, Willie Gemmell and Daniel Croarkin to be replaced by Dougal Graham, Jamie Graham and Kerr Newbigging.
The Saints defence were still adjusting to the changes when a fluffed 62nd minute clearance from the left allowed Michael Cook to square for Mark McNiven to fire home from close range.
It took Saints just three minutes to restore their five goal cushion with James Ford, Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan involved in the build-up to Lewis Cameron’s dinked finish from seven yards over Ryan Stewart and into the bottom corner.
The beleaguered St Johns defence were glad to see the back of James Ford when he trotted off for a well-earned rest immediately after the sixth goal. However, his replacement Fraser MacFarlane was quickly into the action with Ryan Stewart coming quickly off his line to save at the winger’s feet.
MacFarlane didn’t have too much longer to wait before making his mark on proceedings, beating Scott Carle at the back post to turn home Craig MacEwan’s cross from the left after a delightful diagonal ball from Kerr Newbigging.
Straight from the restart Saints were on the attack again with Harry Fertacz picking up the game’s only yellow card for hauling down Craig MacEwan 25-yards from goal. MacEwan and Scott Maitland both hovered over the free-kick but it was MacEwan with the strike which Ryan Stewart got both hands to but couldn’t prevent from finding the net for Saints eighth goal.
Despite being second best throughout, the visitors refused to throw in the towel and Saints required a perfectly timed sliding interception from Jamie Graham to deny Michael Cook a second goal for St Johns in the 75th minute.
Craig MacEwan lifted a decent effort over the crossbar in the 77th minute after a good run and cut-back from Fraser MacFarlane.
Lewis Cameron kept his nose just in front of James Ford at the top of this season’s goal scoring charts expertly taking down an 82nd minute Dougal Graham cross from the left before turning away from Craig Rattray and lashing the ball into the net for what would prove to be the final goal of the match.
Dougal Graham continued to offer much going forward on the left and was inches away from finding the net with a flashing low drive across the keeper five minutes from time.
Referee Patterson allowed three additional minutes during which St Johns right back Owen Hepburn fired a low cross into the box which Stephen Mann, sliding in at the near post, knocked wide of target. This was to be Hepburn’s last involvement as he limped off to be replaced for the closing seconds by Barry Furey.
Saturday’s victory sees Saints go into the hat for Tuesday’s third round draw at the headquarters of tournament sponsors RJM Sports.
Next up for Saints is a trip to Seedhill, Paisley, to face Alba Thistle in a Premier Division match. Kick-off is 2pm with referee Jim Walker in charge.