Saturday 25th February 2023
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division
Harestanes 3 - 0 Oban Saints
Merkland Recreation Centre
Merkland Place
Kirkintilloch
G66 3SN
Kick-off 1.00pm
Referee Mr Douglas Gunning
An ever lengthening list of injuries, suspensions, holidays, work and other commitments saw a severely depleted Oban Saints travel to Kirkintilloch last Saturday afternoon with just eleven players plus Manager Ross Maitland as their only reserve. Donald Campbell once again made the long trip from his work in England with Jack Wright and Connor Howe also coming in at short notice to boost the meagre numbers.
Hosts Harestanes were faced with similar personnel problems and listed four new signings in their fourteen man squad which was too strong for the makeshift Saints and ran out comfortable winners.
Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Ruaridh Horne, Myles McAuley, James Conington and Captain Scott Maitland. Across the four man midfield were Jack Wright, Cammy Clark, Ross Campbell and Connor Howe with Rory Dowd tucked in behind central striker Donald Campbell. Ross Maitland was the sole occupant of the substitutes bench.
The home side had the benefit of the strong wind in the first half and had Saints pinned back in the early stages. John Goodwin shot wide of target in the fourth minute before Kevin Cawley brought a good save from Graham Douglas low to his left. The Saints number one however couldn't hold the Hares Skipper's effort and the loose ball broke to Sean McGoniglay who saw his effort from the corner of the six yard box cleared off the line by James Conington.
It took Saints twenty minutes to make their first meaningful foray into Hares territory with Jack Wright's perseverance on the right forcing John Thompson into conceding a corner kick. Connor Howe's delivery was headed down by James Conington and hooked goalward by Myles McAuley whose improvised effort was clawed away by Hares keeper David McKegney.
The improved spell from Saints continued with a good move from left to right involving Scott Maitland, Donald Campbell and Ross Campbell. The young midfielder sent Jack Wright driving into the Hares box however his attempt to play in Donald Campbell was fractionally too heavy for the veteran striker.
The hosts lost the services of Sean McGoniglay after twenty five minutes replacing him with another newly signed youngster Tyrece McDonnel who would go on to have a significant influence on proceedings.
Referee Dougie Gunning, who had a good game, gave a tight offside decision against Scott Maitland in the thirty fifth minute which Hares keeper David McKegney didn't hang about to debate with the frustrated Saints Skipper. McKegney launched a swift counter attack which saw Tyrece McDonnel jink his way into the Saints box and force another smart save from Graham Douglas.
The hosts broke the deadlock five minutes before the interval breaking quickly again after Saints had lost possession from a free-kick just outside the Hares box. McDonnel's quick feet took him into the Saints box once again where his progress was halted by a trip from Connor Howe. Mr Gunning correctly pointed to the penalty spot from where Hares Skipper Kevin Cawley beat Graham Douglas high to his left.
Saints Gaffer Ross Maitland made some tactical adjustments at the interval dropping Jack Wright back into defence alongside Myles McAuley and James Conington and pushing fullbacks Ruaridh Horne and Scott Maitland forward to bolster the ineffectual midfield. The new back line was opened up just two minutes into the second half when Jamie Neeson intercepted a misplaced pass intended for Scott Maitland in his new advanced position on the left. Neeson released Tyrece McDonnel who beat James Conington and squared to Christopher Owen for a low shot just wide of target.
Saints began to find some joy on the left through Scott Maitland and Donald Campbell. The Skipper shot narrowly wide of target in the forty eighth minute before Campbell forced a corner kick from where Connor Howe found Rory Dowd for a shot from ten yards which John Thompson did well to block at close range.
Maitland and Campbell linked well again in the fifty seventh minute with John Goodwin standing up well to make a good headed block from Campbell's shot. Saints however kept the pressure on with Campbell again denied this time by Alan Inch whose sliding interception on the eighteen yard line took the sting out of the Saints striker's shot sending it looping harmlessly into David McKegney's arms.
The hosts ended Saints encouraging start to the second period with two goals in a five minute spell just after the hour mark. Celtic youth product Tyrece McDonnel danced along the touchline after Saints conceded possession from a throw-in deep inside their own half. With a cutback for centre forward Ian McDowell looking the most likely option McDonnel squeezed the ball between Graham Douglas and his near post and double the Hares advantage.
Harestanes punished Saints defensive frailties again in the sixty sixth minute when Ian McDowell exploited another failure to clear lines with a lobbed finish over a stranded Graham Douglas for the hosts third goal.
Straight from the restart Saints forced a corner kick on the left from where Connor Howe found Rory Dowd for a header just over David McKegney's crossbar.
Back at the other end Saints continued to flirt with danger and Graham Douglas was at full stretch low to his right to safely gather a seventy fifth minute Ian McDowell free-kick from twenty eight yards after Scott Maitland had bundled over Tyrece McDonnel.
Two minutes later McDonnel let the Saints defence off the hook when he cleared the crossbar with an attempted lob after a James Conington back pass bobbled awkwardly away from Graham Douglas and into the path of the Harestanes youngster.
Saints Gaffer Ross Maitland afforded himself a brief runout replacing Ruaridh Horne on the right for the final five minutes plus stoppage time.
To their credit the well beaten Saints refused to give up their pursuit of a consolation goal however veteran goalkeeper David McKegney was in no mood to surrender his clean sheet and made two excellent saves from Rory Dowd set-pieces before Referee Gunning sounded his final whistle.
Saints will have to pick themselves up quickly for this coming Saturday's visit of bang in form Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division leaders Lesmahagow.
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