Saturday 4th February 2023
Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League
Division Three
Oban Saints GG 5 - 2 Giffnock Soccer Centre Amateurs Reds
Oban Community Sports Field 3G
Soroba Road
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4JB
Kick-off 3pm
Referee Mr David Stirling
Oban Saints GG recorded back-to-back league wins for the first time this season with a 5 - 2 victory over Giffnock Soccer Centre Amateurs Reds at Oban High School last Saturday afternoon. The Saints second string followed up the previous week's win over Bearsden with a convincing performance against promotion chasing Giffnock to consolidate their position slap bang in the middle of the thirteen team Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League Division Three table.
Oran Bryce gave Saints the perfect start opening the scoring after just forty eight seconds with Robert Johnstone, Thomas McCrindle, Ollie Sharp and Lewis Buchanan also getting in on the goalscoring act.
Saints lined up with Murdo MacKenzie in goal behind a youthful back four of Lewis Campbell, Szymon Chmielecki, Captain Alan Buchanan and Ryan Hill. Across the five man midfield were Robert Johnstone, Thomas McCrindle, Martin Bonar, Craig Livingstone and Oran Bryce with Ollie Sharp in attack. On the substitutes bench were Lewis Buchanan, Kieran Hendry, Ross Mackay, Cammy MacMillan and Matty Pollock.
The Saints Management team of Donald Black and Robbie Johnstone could not have asked for a better start to the match when Oran Bryce made a good run to the edge of the Giffock box to collect a Martin Bonar pass. Bryce turned away from the advancing keeper and rolled the ball into the unguarded net much to the delight of the loyal band of Saints GG supporters which had turned out in good numbers to cheer on their favourites on another wet and windy Saturday afternoon.
Saints continued their positive start drawing an excellent double save from the Giffnock goalkeeper in the eighth minute. Robert Johnstone made a driving run into the box from the right before firing off a shot which the keeper parried into the path of Ollie Sharp who saw his effort clawed away after a quick recovery by the keeper.
The Giffnock net minder however blotted his copybook just sixty seconds later when a came four yards out of his penalty area to bring down Martin Bonar denying the big central midfielder a goal scoring opportunity. Referee David Stirling issued the keeper with his marching orders reducing Giffnock to ten men with eighty one minutes still to play.
Thomas McCrindle failed to hit the target with the free-kick but Saints had just a further nine minutes to wait before increasing their lead. Ollie Sharp's lay-off from a Martin Bonar pass sent Robert Johnstone through on the right again and this time Johnstone made no mistake drilling the ball under the keeper and into the bottom corner.
Saints were forced into an early change when Symon Chmielecki limped off to be replaced in central defence by Mackay. Further second half changes would follow with Lewis Buchanan, Kieran Hendry, Cammy MacMillan and Matty Pollock all being given game time.
Saints took full advantage of their numerical advantage and netted three second half goals through Thomas McCrindle, Ollie Sharp and Lewis Buchanan going five goals up before letting the visitors back into the game in the closing stages.
Full credit to Giffnock who had travelled with just twelve players and, after enduring eighty one minutes with ten men, stuck to their task to notch two thoroughly deserved consolation goals.
Joining the spectators were Greater Glasgow Premier Amateur Football League committee stalwarts George Butler, Iain Marshall and Lindsay Wallace who appeared to enjoy their day out in the Oban rain.
Saints GG are on their travels this coming Saturday with a difficult trip to Cumbernauld to face league leaders Condorrat.
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