Derby win for Saints
A second half hat-trick from Cammy Hill and first half strikes from Matty Kelly, Craig MacEwan and Lewis Cameron sealed victory for Oban Saints against Dunoon Amateurs in a friendly encounter last Saturday.
A brace from Dunoon’s Evan Meyar-McDonagh completed the scoring in an entertaining Argyll derby played in warm sunshine at a once again spectator-free Glencruitten.
Saints welcomed back Lewis Cameron, James Ford and Scott Maitland to the squad from the previous week’s win against South Lochaber Thistle. Donald Campbell and Kerr Newbigging were unavailable while captain Dene Cassells remained sidelined.
Delivery Dunoon’s James Strapp was quickly across to put the ball behind for a 10th minute corner kick. Lewis Cameron placed his delivery perfectly on the head of Matty Kelly who had found space in the six-yard box to nod Saints into the lead.
Despite the friendly tag, all Argyll derbies are keenly contested and Mr Litster worked hard to earn his match fee keeping tempers on both sides under control.
Saints doubled their advantage in the 34th minute from a Lewis Cameron free-kick on the left after Ross Montgomery had bundled over David Beaton. Cameron spotted Craig MacEwan’s run towards the front post and skipper for the day MacEwan flicked Cameron’s delivery past Jamie
Robertson’s right hand into the bottom corner.
David Beaton had the chance to add to his hat-trick heroics of the previous week after a good run and cutback on the right from Ruaridh Horne, however, the diminutive winger’s shot from the corner of the 18-yard box curled wide of target.
Beaton was in the thick of the action again in the 42nd minute, racing into the box on the end of a Lewis Cameron through ball where his progress was halted by a sliding challenge by Allan Laughlan. The central defender’s lunge knocked the ball out wide but not before going through the Saints wide man giving Mr Litster no option but to point to the penalty spot.
With two assists already under his belt, Lewis Cameron added his name to the scoreand sheet with a calmly despatched penalty kick to send Saints into the half-time interval three goals to the good.
Saints gaffer Willie Gemmell made two changes for the start of the second 45 minutes sending on James Ford and Cammy Hill to replace David Beaton and Aaron McKay.
Great cross
The second half was only two minutes old when Saints added to their tally. A great cross from Ruaridh Horne picked out Cammy Hill’s near post run for the big striker to clip the ball from close range past the helpless Dunoon keeper.
Craig MacEwan thought he had doubled his own personal tally in the 54th minute when he headed a James Ford right wing cross into the net off the underside of the crossbar, only for Mr Litster to rule out his effort for a Cammy Hill push on James Strapp.
Youngster Gavin Forgrieve joined the action as a replacement for Central Scottish Amateur Football League Select man Matty Kelly.
Two quick-fire goals 60 seconds either side of the hour mark from speedy striker Evan Meyar-McDonagh saw Dunoon roaring back into the game.
Firstly the Saints defence was left appealing for an offside call which didn’t come leaving Meyar-McDonagh to round the stranded Graham Douglas and tuck the ball into the unguarded net. Then, in the 61st minute, another straight ball through the middle from Brendan McIlkenny caught out the Saints back four, again with the Dunoon striker producing an excellent curling
Matty Kelly outjumps the Dunoon defence to head home Lewis Cameron’s corner kick to open the scoring.
Inset: Cammy Hill celebrates after scoring his hat-trick.
Final changes Willie Gemmell made his final changes with 15 minutes remaining, replacing Ruaridh Horne and Myles McAuley with Jamie Graham and Scott Johnston.
Player/coach Graham played a vital role in Saints sixth and final goal, closing down and dispossessing Brendan McIlkenny ten yards inside the Dunoon half before laying the ball off to Lewis Cameron. Scottish Amateur international Cameron capped a splendid display with yet another assist threading in Hill to round the keeper and clip home from a tight angle.
After five added minutes referee Litster, who handled proceedings well throughout, brought to an end a good workout for the teams giving both sets of players more valuable game time ahead of the resumption of competitive action.