Four out of 10 for out-of-sorts Saints
A disastrous 18-minute spell at the end of the second half saw Oban Saints throw away a two-goal lead to hand visitors Fallin the three points at Glencruitten last Saturday.
Goals from Kyle Cooper, Dene Cassells, Cammy Hill and Daniel MacCuish had the home side 4 - 2 ahead going in to the closing stages of the encounter, however, the visitors staged a stunning comeback in torrential rain to bag four late goals and edge out the out-ofsorts Saints.
Saints opened the scoring after just four minutes with their first strike on goal. Scott Maitland, Daniel MacCuish and Lewis Cameron combined well on the left before Cameron found Kyle Cooper on the edge of the Fallin box. And Cooper’s early right foot shot caught out Central Scottish Amateur Football League Select goalkeeper Michael Watson.
After a Stuart Henderson corner kick had been knocked out of the box, the clearly offside Andrew McGown was picked out by Alastair Brown’s pass through the advancing Saints defence. Referee Chris Costello failed to spot the offside and the big central defender gladly slotted the ball past Graham Douglas.
Willie Gemmell allowed his incredulity at the referee’s decision to boil over and Mr Costello brandished the red card to the Saints gaffer. Coaches Ross Maitland and Peter MacCallum and secretary David Buchanan took the reins and were forced into a half-time change when Kyle Cooper’s troublesome groin injury flared up again. David Beaton was the replacement, taking up a wide right position with James Ford moving to centre forward.
Saints kept the pressure on through Scott Maitland and Daniel MacCuish, who was felled in the box giving referee Costello a straight forward decision to award a penalty kick. Dene Cassells stepped up and buried the spot kick to put Saints back in front.
Saints’ good start to the second period continued when Cammy Hill scored Saints’ third goal.
The home side made their second and final change of the afternoon on the hour mark sending on Myles McAuley to replace Gavin Forgrieve.
Saints were still adjusting to the personnel change when the visitors pulled one back 60 seconds later with a wonder strike from Stuart Henderson. But from a dead ball, Lewis Cameron picked out Daniel MacCuish on the edge of the box who made space for a low shot which fizzed past Michael Watson to reinstate Saints’ two goal advantage.
A moment to forget from Saints number one Graham Douglas gifted Fallin the goal which kick-started their comeback. Douglas completely misjudged the flight of an Andrew McGown cross field pass looking for Stuart Henderson. With the Saints keeper stranded at the corner of his box the ball took a wicked bounce towards goal and was ushered into the unguarded net by Henderson.
An inspired substitution from the Fallin management team saw replacement Andrew Mochan score with his first touch, racing in at the back post to poke home a cutback from fellow substitute Kyle Imrie after less than 60 seconds on the field.
The Saints defence finally succumbed to Stephen Donaghy’s long throw threat in the 84th minute. Donaghy’s throw from the left into the Saints six-yard box was headed down by Cammy Hill, but Kyle Imrie was first to the second ball and hooked a close range effort in at the front post to give the visitors the lead for the first time in the match.
Another Saints attack was closed down midway inside the Fallin half with the ball being quickly sent forward for Stephen Donaghy to chase. Donaghy picked out Kyle Imrie at the back post for the substitute to complete his brace and round off a disappointing afternoon for Saints and their loyal support.
Saints face another big premier division test this Saturday when they travel to face 2019/20 League Division One Champions Castlemilk Dynamo. The game will take place at Barlia Sports Centre 3G with a 2pm kick-off.