Saints’ penalty shootout heartache
Fourteen months later than scheduled, Oban Saints finally got their hands turn on the to Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division page 39 1B trophy last Saturday afternoon at Dalziel Park, Motherwell.
But there was to be no double celebration as, after 120 minutes of football could not separate the sectional winners, Division 1A Champions Castlemilk Dynamo
emerged victorious from the penalty shoot-out to clinch the Division One trophy.
Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end and came within a whisker of opening the scoring inside the first minute. Ruaridh Horne’s ball up the line sent David Beaton away on the right wing from where he sent over an inviting cross, only for skipper Craig MacEwan to steer his attempted finish wide of target with just 13 seconds on the clock.
Recovering from this early scare, Dynamo took control of the early exchanges but found the Saints back three of Kerr Newbigging, Steven MacLeod and Dene Cassells in uncompromising mood.
Referee Scott Pearce had the benefit of assistants Pat O’Donnell and Dougie Gunning, a luxury not often afforded to referees at this level, and Mr O’Donnell made the first of a number of important calls on the half hour mark flagging Dynamo’s striker Gavin Macleod offside when clean through on goal.
The second half began in similar sty to the first, only this time the early chance fell to Castlemilk. Still inside the first minute, the ball was rolled up to Gavin Macleod who did well to hold off the challenge of Dene Cassells and find the unmarked Joseph Lang who gleefully tucked the ball under Graham Douglas to open the scoring.
The Saints response to going behind was positive and Lewis Cameron threaded a delightful ball through the inside left channel for Craig MacEwan in the 49th minute. Thomas Hollis came off his line and did well to stop MacEwan getting round him. Ruaridh Horne was first to the loose ball and steered his right-foot effort past the stranded Hollis only to see William Hewitt make a last gasp clearance off the goal line for a corner kick.
Assistant referee Pat O’Donnell made a big call in the 54th minute when Craig MacEwan was sent sprawling inside the Castlemilk box.
Referee Pearce didn’t have a good enough view to make the call, however, Mr O’Donnell was better placed and immediately signalled for the infringement. Lewis Cameron held his nerve and sent Thomas Hollis the wrong way from the penalty spot to level the scoring.
David Beaton’s afternoon came to a premature end when he pulled up with what looked to be a strained hamstring giving Cammy Hill a 79th-minute appearance.
Despite the best efforts of both sides there was to be no winning goal in regulation or extra time.
Castlemilk’s Sam Smith got the penalties under way with a cool finish rolled into the bottom corner. Steven MacLeod levelled things for Saints before yet another intervention from assistant referee Pat O’Donnell snatched the advantage away from Saints. Graham Douglas stood up well to stop Connaire Dawson’s effort, however, the assistant ruled Douglas had strayed off his line and ordered a re-take which Dawson successfully converted.
The first breakthrough came when Thomas Hollis guessed correctly to stop Lewis Cameron’s effort with Mark Blakey capitalising with the next kick to stretch the Dynamo advantage. Cammy Hill failed to hit the target with Saints’ third attempt on Wimbledon finals weekend making it ‘championship point’ to Dynamo. Gregg Twaddle held his nerve to smash his penalty high past Graham Douglas’s left hand to clinch the League Division One Championship for Castlemilk Dynamo.
Although losing out in the end, coach Ross Maitland was delighted with the performance of his team. He said: ‘It took us a while to get going against a well-drilled Castlemilk outfit that has played a lot more games than us since some of the Covid restrictions were lifted, but once we got going it turned out to be a close game.
‘The lads put in a hardworking performance in a game we could have won. Things are looking promising for our sojourn in the Premier Division next season.’
Saints continue with their pre-season programme with a friendly against Cambuslang on Saturday July 17. Kick-off 2pm at Glen 2.