The Oban Times

Saints come up short in West of Scotland Cup quarter final

-

Oban Saints’ hopes of a return visit to New Douglas Park, Hamilton, for a West of Scotland Amateur Cup semi-final appearance were dashed at Oban High School last Saturday.

Old foes Shortlees, from Kilmarnock, edged a typically tight encounter with talisman Keir Knapp providing the flash of inspiratio­n in first half stoppage time which ultimately separated the sides.

The recent spell of foul weather forced a switch of venue from Glencruitt­en to the 3G surface at Oban High School and 2018 Scottish Amateur Cup winners Shortlees kicked off attacking the school end.

Clear cut chances were at a

Oban Saints’ Dene Cassells and Richard Mullen of Shortlees in action on Saturday.

premium in the early stages, with both defences offering good protection to the respective goalkeeper­s.

The visitors were reduced to ten men in the 29th when Marc Walker Cammy Hill with an ball elbow.

Walker protested minute felled off the

his

innocence but the referee sent the Shortlees striker packing with a straight red card.

Ninety seconds into first half stoppage time, the visitors broke the deadlock. Shortlees’ Keir Knapp cut in from the left and angled a right foot cross between goalkeeper and defenders. Joseph Gold made a good run from his midfield berth and held off Dene Cassells to get the slightest of touches to help Knapp’s ball beyond Graham Douglas and into the net.

Saints made a promising start to the second half with a Cammy Hill shot over the crossbar before Gavin Forgrieve drew a fine save from Shortlees keeper Garry Murdoch who got down well to push Forgrieve’s effort from 25 yards behind for a corner. Forgrieve’s delivery from the corner flag was headed out to the edge of the box by Gordon

Minor, but only as far as Matty Kelly whose snatched volley bounced harmlessly wide.

The home side continued to press for the equaliser but found the miserly Shortlees defence an impossible nut to crack.

The ten men of Shortlees were successful­ly running down the clock and Gavin Forgrieve’s frustratio­ns boiled over in unapprecia­ted comments to the referee who showed the young Saints midfielder a straight red card.

The club thanks the faithful home support who turned out in huge numbers.

The league campaign resumes this Saturday with the visit of 2019 Scottish Amateur Cup runners-up Eastfield.

The game will either be at Glencruitt­en or the 3G pitch at Oban High School.

Oban Saints: Last Sunday’s results: Under 13s lost 5-2 to Bailleston Thistle. Scott Campbell and Donald Campbell scored for Oban Saints.

The Under 15s defeated Bothwell Blue Star 5-2. Saints' goal scorers were Rhys Millar, 3, Kai McKechnie and Lewis McKay.

This Sunday's fixtures: Notre Dame v Under 13s; Under 15s v Cranhill; Under 16s, to be confirmed.

Lochnell Football Club:

Park Sports Project 4, Lochnell Under 14s 2. Scoring for Lochnell were Matthew Sloss and Innes Fraser.

This Sunday, Lochnell Under 14s have a home game against Celtic FC Girls Academy.

 ?? ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom