Greater Glasgow team remain division’s only undefeated side
Ferguslie Star 2
Oban Saints GG 2
GGAFL Division Three
A re-arranged Scottish Amateur Cup third round tie for Oban Saints scheduled Central Scottish Amateur Football League Cinema Cup opponents St Patricks FP handed the Division 1B league leaders an unexpected day off last Saturday.
The first team's free Saturday allowed Saints' Greater Glasgow Premier side to call on the services of teenagers Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay to bolster their numbers for the visit to Ferguslie Sports Centre to face Division Three promotion rivals Ferguslie Star.
Unlikely goal hero Kenneth Black opened the scoring for Saints in the first half, with Martin Bonar adding a second on the hour. Unfortunately, a below par Saints were pegged back twice and were left hanging on against an impressive Star to claim a share of the points and maintain their position as the division's only undefeated side.
In a good opening spell from Saints, Dean Smith twice tested Star keeper Raymond Brown before Rory Dowd sent a decent effort just wide of the target. Dowd, whose appearances so far this season have been limited, continued to impress sending in a teasing 16th-minute cross which Raymond Brown did well to take off the toes of Aaron McKay.
Dean Smith, who put in a typically energetic shift up front, won a 24th-minute corner kick which Gavin Forgrieve swung over from the right. The home defence struggled to clear the danger and Aaron McKay delivered a telling cross from the corner of the 18-yard box in behind the advancing Star defence. Saints captain Kenneth Black timed his run well to remain onside and showed good composure to cushion a volley into the roof of the net and give his side the lead.
Ferguslie Star's David Cunningham failed to recover from a head knock sustained in an accidental clash with Martin Bonar
and was replaced in the 27th minute by Leon Morrow, who would go on to produce a man of the match performance for the home side.
After a quiet start, the home side were slowly beginning to pose more of threat to the Saints defence.
An Aaron McKay cross from the right was cut out on the corner of the Star box from where the home side launched a swift counter attack. Morrow again picked out Graeme Fraser racing through the inside right channel who this time went for goal himself and found the net.
Saints made a double change for the start of the second half sending on Aiden Campbell and Keith Millar to replace Nathan Allan and David Smith.
Saints regained the lead on the hour when Dean Smith raced through on the end of a Gavin Forgrieve pass. Smith was pushed wide by Sean Morrison but still managed to pick out the supporting run of Martin Bonar whose nose for a goal edged him ahead of Richie Macavoy to poke the ball home from two yards.
Falling behind again provoked a positive reaction from the home side who came close through Martin Stewart, Jack Deeney and Ross Hamilton before Hamilton deservedly found a way past Murdo MacKenzie. A good turn on the edge of the Star box by Rory Dowd set up Gavin Forgrieve for a shot which cleared Raymond Brown’s crossbar before Dowd was replaced by Fraser MacFarlane for the closing 20 minutes.
Andrew Love earned a 75th minute caution after he hauled down Dean Smith in the centre circle as the Saints striker looked set to burst through the middle. That proved to be Love’s last significant contribution as he was removed from the proceedings to be replaced by Dylan Caldwell.
The home side completed the final five minutes with 10 men after Graeme Fraser’s reaction to an Aaron McKay challenge earned the Star wide man a straight red card. McKay saw yellow for his part in the incident.
Saints couldn’t capitalise on their numerical advantage, forcing just one more save from Raymond Brown who pushed a Gavin Forgrieve shot over his crossbar before referee Smith, who had a good game, signalled the end of the match and Saints’ 100 per cent league record.
The Greater Glasgow Premier League side are on the road again this Saturday with a trip to Dumbarton to face Westcliff, while the first team resume their Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B campaign at John Brown’s Pitches against Clydebank.