Three valuable points
A much-changed Oban Saints squad featuring five teenagers travelled to Dalziel Park, Motherwell, last Saturday for a Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division encounter with Uddingston Anvil.
The familiar story of injuries, suspensions, work and family commitments forced manager Willie Gemmell to call up three bright prospects from the club’s under 16s to bolster the squad, all of whom made meaningful contributions on the day.
The lack of numbers dictated a starting role in central defence for gaffer Gemmell alongside the ever reliable Steven MacLeod with the experienced pair playing a significant part in a highly prized clean sheet for number one Graham Douglas.
The deadlock was broken in the 26th minute following a stramash in the Uddingston box from a Willie Gemmell free-kick flighted in from the Saints left. Thomas McCrindle won the initial header and after several failed Anvil clearances the ball landed kindly for Kyle Cooper whose goal-bound effort was deflected up and over Anvil keeper David McKegney before finding the top corner of the net.
Kyle Cooper’s turn of pace was a constant threat to the Anvil defence and when Daniel MacCuish, who had a great game in midfield for Saints, sent the speedy striker racing away from Ross Ferguson just after the half hour David McKegney had to make a smart save low to his left to deny Cooper a second goal.
At the other end Graham Douglas had to be sure with his handling in dealing with a bouncing effort from Robert Dimmer with Kieron Markey waiting to pounce on any miss-field.
In the last action of the first half McCrindle again got his head to a Gemmell free-kick this time placing his header on target only to see David McKegney make a good save low to his right to keep the deficit at one going into the interval.
Thankfully the slow second half start which has blighted Saints season so far was not in evidence and the visitors doubled their advantage four minutes after the restart.
From an Anvil corner kick Saints countered with Graham Douglas picking out Daniel MacCuish who in turn fed central midfield partner Thomas McCrindle. The tall youngster’s perfectly weighted ball through the inside left channel opened up the home defence for Kyle Cooper who made no mistake in slotting the ball across McKegney and into the bottom corner.
In the first of the four minutes added by referee Sam Arthur, Kyle Cooper was denied his hat-trick when he crashed a shot off the crossbar with keeper McKegney well beaten.
This coming Saturday Saints host 2019 Scottish Amateur Cup runners-up Eastfield in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division.
Referee Chris Irving takes charge for the 2pm kick-off at Glencruitten.