Saturday 27th May 2023
Central Scottish Amateur Football League
Premier Division
Gartcosh United 2 - 1 Oban Saints
Eastgate
Gartcosh
Glasgow
G69 8AT
Kick-off 2.00pm
Referee Mr. Robbie Fraser
Oban Saints brought the curtain down on their 2022/23 season with a narrow defeat last Saturday on the much revered grass surface at Eastgate, home of Gartcosh United. Saints had the great honour of being the final visitors to one of the top pitches in Scottish amateur football as, sadly, the field just off the M73 motorway is to be developed as the site of the new Gartcosh Primary School. The Cosh will temporarily relocate to Broadwood while a new pitch is constructed in the grounds of Gartcosh Works Social Club which, when completed, will provide a facility the envy of most other teams in the country.
Saints season-long story of lack of available numbers continued forcing Gaffer Ross Maitland to hand a first team debut to Craig Livingstone who marked his promotion from the second team with a solid performance in defence. Injury victim Ruaridh Horne made an unscheduled early return to boost the numbers as did long term absentee Scott Johnston.
Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Craig Livingstone, Myles McAuley, Ben Forbes and Captain Scott Maitland. Martin Bonar and Gavin Forgrieve occupied the holding midfield roles with Rory Dowd tucked in behind a front three of Ross Campbell, David Beaton and James Ford. Joining Manager Ross Maitland on the substitutes bench were Ruaridh Horne, Scott Johnston, Drew Murray and Jack Wright.
The hosts had the benefit of the strong wind in the first half however their main threat came from long throw-ins from Jordan Murphy and Jack Trainer whose endeavours on the right of defence earned him the Cosh man of the match award.
The Saints defence with Myles McAuyley and Ben Forbes at it's heart coped reasonably well with the Cosh aerial threat from the long throws restricting the hosts to off target efforts from Zak More, Colin Galbraith, Alan McCrum and Kyle Dempsey.
At the other end Saints were finding openings hard to come by against the well drilled home back line. Gavin Forgrieve however found space on the edge of box in the twenty third minute and, resisting the urge to shoot, slipped in central striker David Beaton. Former Scotland amateur international Stuart Wilson in the Cosh goal saw the danger early and came racing off his line to smother the ball at Beaton's feet.
The hosts took the lead ten minutes before the interval capitalising on a misplaced Saints pass in midfield. A ball over the top sent William Sawyers in behind Myles McAuley and the big striker picked out Kyle McLachlan with a cutback for a shot into the bottom corner past Graham Douglas' right hand.
From the re-start Saints built well on the left wing with Rory Dowd, James Ford and Scott Maitland combining to tee-up Martin Bonar for a left foot shot which the big midfielder dragged across the face of goal and well wide off target.
There was a hint of controversy about the host's second goal with Saints appealing loudly for a foul throw which Referee Robbie Fraser was happy to let go. Cosh Skipper Jordan Murphy didn't join the debate into his throw and collected the return ball before striding purposefully into the Saints box where he was sent crashing to the turf by Ross Campbell. There was no questioning Mr Fraser's decision this time and William Sawyers successfully despatched the resulting penalty kick high to Graham Douglas' right.
On the stroke of half-time James Ford cut in from the left wing and fired off a shot which had the sting taken out of it by a partial block on it's way into the gloves of Stuart Wilson.
Saints Manager Ross Maitland withdrew Ross Campbell and Ben Forbes for the start of the second half replacing them with Ruaridh Horne and Drew Murray. There was also a change to a 3-5-2 formation with Myles McAuley being flanked by Craig Livingstone and Drew Murray in the three and Ruaridh Horne and Scott Maitland the wingbacks.
Saints made an encouraging start to the second half with James Ford and Scott Maitland combing well on the left. Maitland's forty sixth minute cross to the back post was returned across the face of goal by Ruaridh Horne but with no takers in the middle.
James Ford fired wide of target in the forty seventh minute before finding the target five minutes later only to be denied by a fine block by Stuart Wilson. The Cosh number one was quickly back on his feet to deny David Beaton on the rebound completing an excellent double save with a flying dive to his right to push Beaton's effort behind for a corner kick.
Wilson was in the thick of the action again in the seventieth minute after a driving James Ford run had been ended unceremoniously by Nick Stewart thirty two yards from goal. Ford's free-kick bounced awkwardly in front of Wilson who could only parry to ball into the path of the on-rushing Martin Bonar. Wilson crashed into Bonar with neither appearing to get a touch on the ball however Mr Fraser saw no infringement and waved away the Saints appeals for a penalty kick.
For the closing stages Craig Livingstone and James Ford made way for Scott Johnston and Jack Wright respectively. The hosts also made changes with Thomas Fegan, son of former Saints goalkeeper John "Ching" Fegan and club Chairman David Quate making appearances.
Saints kept pressing forward in search of a way back into the game and with nine minutes remaining got the break they so desperately needed when a lapse in concentration from Alan McCrum gifted possession to Martin Bonar who picked out David Beaton for a low finish past the hopelessly exposed Stuart Wilson.
Four minutes later Beaton was inches away from snatching an equaliser beating Wilson and Jack Trainer to Ruaridh Horne's cutback from the right to bundle the ball agonisingly just the wrong side of the post.
With seconds remaining a terrific finish from David Quate was ruled out for offside denying the Chairman the honour of scoring the last goal on the Eastgate turf however he did earn the distinction of picking up the final yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Drew Murray before Referee Fraser brought the Eastgate era to an end with the sound of his final whistle.
Going into the much needed close season break the Saints players and management would like to express their sincere gratitude to club sponsors D&K Lafferty Contractors, MKM (Oban) Building Supplies and Aulay's Bar for their continued support. Grateful thanks are also extended to club's supporters for their loyalty throughout an ultimately disappointing season.
Manager Ross Maitland and Secretary David Buchanan are busily working on the club's pre-season schedule and have already confirmed the return after a three year hiatus of the Oban Saints pre-season tournament which will once again be sponsored by D&K Lafferty Contractors. The tournament will take place at Mossfield and Glencruitten on Saturday 8th July where the hosts will be joined by teams from Hamilton Academical, Alloa Athletic, Kilmarnock and Livingston with other participants still to be confirmed.
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