Former Pupils Teach Young Saints A Lesson

Saturday 28th September 2024

Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association

Premiership

Greenock High School Former Pupils 4 - 0 Oban Saints

Battery Park

Eldon Street

Greenock

PA16 7QG

Kick-off 3.00pm

Referee Mr Sam Arthur

Oban Saints winning start to the season was brought to a shuddering halt last Saturday at Battery Park, Greenock. Hosts Greenock High School Former Pupils taught their largely young and inexperienced visitors a harsh lesson taking the three points with a dominant performance which was far more convincing than the four-nil final score would suggest.

Deputising for injured Gaffer Ross Maitland, Assistant Manager Iain Jackson took his place on the touchline where he was ably assisted by Coach David Dunlop and Club Secretary David Buchanan.

Injuries, work and other commitments limited Jackson's selection options with six of the squad which had secured West of Scotland Cup progress against Thorniewood United seven days earlier dropping out.

Ben Forbes returned from injury to partner Aidan Jackson in central defence where the pair were given a very difficult afternoon by vastly experienced Greenock striker David Grant whose class shone brightly throughout.

Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back four of Ruaridh Horne, Aidan Jackson, Ben Forbes and Captain Scott Maitland. Alec McInroy, Gavin Forgrieve and Matty Pollock were in midfield while, up front, Connor Moore led the line flanked by Kieron Lopez and Rhys Millar. On the substitutes bench were Shaye Black, Oran Bryce and Paul McFatridge.

Greenock High School Former Pupils versus Oban Saints has been a regular fixture on the amateur football calendar since their time in the Scottish Amateur Football League and, from the first whistle, the hosts were eager to get one over on their old rivals.

Greenock striker David Grant was tormentor in chief of the Saints defence and, after a couple of earlier sighters to get his eye in opened the scoring with his first effort on target after fifteen minutes.

Donald Watt was allowed to come forward unchallenged from midfield and pick out Grant with a cross from the right which Grant duly despatched past Craig Maitland to give the hosts a deserved lead.

The overworked Saints defence were given some respite when Connor Moore was fouled twenty-eight yards from the Greenock goal. Gavin Forgrieve cleverly lifted his twenty-seventh minute free-kick over the Greenock wall where Connor Moore was left unmarked for what should have been an equaliser only for Dylan Norman to somehow get back to clear the ball off the goal-line.

Craig Maitland produced fine saves to deny David Grant and Donald Watt but the pressure was building and the Saints number one was left hopelessly exposed to a fine turn and shot from former Inverclyde midfielder Craig McKinnon which doubled the host's advantage on the stroke of half-time.

Only two minutes of the second forty-five had expired when Greenock stretched their advantage still further. Matty Pollock was dispossessed midway inside the Greenock half with the hosts immediately launching a counter-attack. The influential Ben Eardley sent Ewan McIlkenny away on the right from where the former Dunoon Amateurs man picked-out David Grant in the middle. Grant showed all his class to control, turn and finish with precision into the bottom corner.

Struggling with an ankle injury, Ruaridh Horne was replaced by young Shaye Black with another of Saints crop of young players Alex McInroy making way in central midfield for the return of Paul McFatridge. In Saints final change Oran Bryce replaced Rhys Millar on the left of the front three.

The beleaguered Saints defence battled manfully throughout the second half with goalkeeper Craig Maitland continuing to impress with some fine saves. Saints however couldn't quite manage to keep David Grant quiet and the Greenock striker completed his hat-trick in the eighty-fourth minute after spinning away from Aidan Jackson and slotting low past Craig Maitland.

Maitland saved from Ben Eardley and substitute Ryan Cannon hit the frame of the goal before Referee Sam Arthur, who handled proceedings well in what was his second match of the afternoon, decided he had seen enough and blew for full time. The Referee's whistle brought to an end a match of few positives but hopefully a few useful lessons for the young Saints side.

Saints will be looking for a change in fortunes when they hit the road again this coming Saturday bound for the Kingdom of Fife to face Leven United in the second round of the Scottish Amateur Cup.