Not All Heroes Wear Capes - Some Wear Goalie Gloves

Saturday 21st September 2024

Scottish Amateur Football Association

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round

Oban Saints 3 (3) - 3 (1) Thorniewood United

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick-off 2.00pm

Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

Oban Saints progressed to the second round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup but had to dig deep to do so against very good Thorniewood United side at a sun drenched Glencruitten last Saturday afternoon.

David Beaton put Saints in front with a flashing volley but three goals without reply saw the young visitors race into a deserved lead leaving Saints perilously close to a first round cup exit. The D&K Lafferty and MKM Oban Building Supplies sponsored home side however showed great spirit and determination to draw level with a David Beaton penalty kick and seventy-third minute equaliser from Connor Moore.

Neither side could find a winner in the remainder of the ninety minutes so kicks from the penalty mark were required where Craig Maitland was the Saints hero with three saves to confirm Saints' place in the second round draw.

A serious back injury continues to limit Manager Ross Maitland's involvement so Assistant Manager Iain Jackson took the reins in the glorious Glencruitten sunshine. Showing dedication to the cause above and beyond the call of duty the Gaffer left his hospital bed to make an appearance on the touchline and everybody connected with the club wishes him a speedy recovery.

Ben Forbes was forced to withdraw with a tight hamstring however Assistant Manager Jackson's options were boosted with the return of Connor Moore and Alec McInroy.

Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back four of Craig Livingstone, Aidan Jackson, Drew Murray and Captain Scott Maitland. Ruaridh Horne, Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay were in midfield while, up front, David Beaton led the line flanked by Kieron Lopez and Rhys Millar. On the substitutes bench were Shaye Black, Cammy Clark, Keiran Griffin, Connor Moore, Alec McInroy and Matty Pollock.

Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end looking to extend their one hundred percent start to the season but were soon dealt a major blow with the loss to injury of combative midfielder Aaron McKay. The withdrawal of McKay led to a slight reshuffle with Kieron Lopez dropping back to join Gavin Forgrieve and Ruaridh Horne in midfield and substitute Connor Moore going upfront with David Beaton and Rhys Millar.

The deadlock was broken in spectacular style after seventeen minutes when the Thorniewood defence could only partially clear an Aidan Jackson long throw-in from the Saints left. Connor Moore gathered the ball on the edge of the eighteen yard box and picked out the overlapping run of right fullback Craig Livingstone. Livingstone's deep cross on the run was met by David Beaton whose sweet volley flew past Thorniewood keeper Ross Maxwell to give Saints the lead.

Saints came close to doubling their lead ten minutes later but were denied by Maxwell who did well to claw away a low Scott Maitland cross from the left with Rhys Millar waiting to pounce.

As the half wore on the hard working visitors were gaining the upper hand and deservedly restored parity when Graham Houston struck as Saints failed to clear their lines.

Assistant Manager Iain Jackson demanded an increase in intensity from his charges for the second half however it was the visitors who were next to strike. Connor Moore closed down Harris Gunn to force a corner-kick on the Saints right from where Gavin Forgrieve picked out David Beaton for a flashing header which Ross Maxwell did well to hold. Thorniewood quickly moved the action to the other end where left winger Douglas Alan cut inside Craig Livingstone and slotted low past Craig Maitland to give the visitors a fifty-fifth minute lead.

Alec McInroy replaced Kieron Lopez to bring some fresh legs to the midfield but the visitors kept up their work rate and extended their lead on the hour mark. Harris Gunn was allowed to rise unchallenged at the back post to head home Connor Curran's corner-kick from the left leaving Saints facing a first round cup exit.

Gavin Forgrieve forced his way through the middle of the Thorniewood defence but saw his sixty-second minute shot through a sea of legs bounce harmlessly through to Ross Maxwell.

Maxwell was more seriously tested sixty seconds later with an excellent double save to foil Rhys Millar and then Connor Moore from the rebound.

Millar earned Saints the chance to get back into the match when his sixty-sixth minute driving run into the Thorniewood box was ended, unfairly in the opinion of Referee Jimmy Litster, by Mark Fitzpatrick. David Beaton accepted the challenge and duly found the back of the net from twelve yards.

Saints youngster Rhys Millar was at the centre of the action again narrowly failing to connect with a dangerous Scott Maitland cross from the left.

The pacy Saints front three continued to pose problems for the Thorniewood defence and Skipper Reece McAuley's late lunge on David Beaton presented Gavin Forgrieve with the opportunity to put the ball in the danger area. Forgrieve's delivery from the right was met by Connor Moore who hit Ross Maxwell's right hand post with his initial effort but kept his head to find the bottom corner with the rebound.

After seventy-seven minutes Craig Livingstone made way for Cammy Clark in a straight swap on the right of the back four where Clark joined Aidan Jackson, Drew Murray and Scott Maitland.

In a frantic end to the ninety minutes Gavin Forgrieve and Scott Maitland both made excellent interceptions to stop the danger from Joshua Ferrie while Craig Maitland had to make a smart save to his right to deny Graham Houston. At the other end Rhys Millar shot just over from a Connor Moore cutback before an excellent Ross Maxwell save denied Moore a stoppage time winner.

With neither team able to conjure a winning goal before Mr Litster's fulltime whistle a penalty shoot-out was necessary to determine who would progress to the second round.

Craig Maitland's save from Aiden McFadden's opening penalty kick gave his side the chance to establish an immediate advantage which Gavin Forgrieve grabbed with both hands.

Maitland saved again from Harris Gunn with Cammy Clark stepping up to the plate to double Saints' advantage.

Sonny Brown got Thorniewood off the mark but David Beaton's successfully converted effort meant that Michael Small had to find the net to maintain his side's interest in the competition. Craig Maitland made a third save earning himself the man of the match award and sending Saints through to the next round.

Saints are on the road this coming Saturday when they travel to Battery Park, Greenock to face old friends and rivals Greenock High School Former Pupils on Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association Premiership duty.