Saints and Hares Share The Spoils

Saturday 2nd November 2024

Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association

Premiership

Harestanes 1 - 1 Oban Saints

Merkland Recreation Centre

Merkland Place

Kirkintilloch

G66 3SN

Kick-off 2.00pm

Referee Mr Stephen Rae

Oban Saints returned to league business last Saturday afternoon with a trip to the notoriously difficult venue of Merkland, Kirkintilloch. Hosts Harestanes had won all five of their previous home Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association matches and were sitting in second place in the Premiership table behind leaders Steins Thistle, so a difficult afternoon was anticipated for the D&K Lafferty Contractors and MKM Oban Building Supplies sponsored Saints.

Four-time Scottish Amateur Cup winners Harestanes missed a hatful of first half opportunities before eventually taking the lead just after the hour mark. After a lacklustre first forty-five minutes Saints were a far better proposition after the interval and were worthy of their seventy-seventh minute equaliser. Both sides had chances to take all three points but, in the end, had to settle for a share of the spoils.

A consistent line-up continues to elude Saints Gaffer Ross Maitland and his ever-changing match day squad had only Oran Bryce, James Conington, Gavin Forgrieve and Connor Moore as survivors from last season's visit to Kirkintilloch.

Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back four of Cammy Clark, Aidan Jackson, Ruaridh Horne and Captain Scott Maitland. David Beaton, Gavin Forgrieve and Keiran Griffin formed a midfield triumvirate with James Conington leading the line flanked by Connor Moore and Fraser MacFarlane. On the substitutes bench were Shaye Black, Oran Bryce, Alec McInroy and Rhys Millar.

With just three minutes on the clock Craig Maitland made the first of a string of excellent saves in what was to be a busy afternoon for the Saints number one. James Forrest rolled a free-kick short to Greg Burns whose twenty-five yard shot was pushed behind by Maitland low to his right.

At the other end Saints tried to exploit the long throw threat from Aidan Jackson however David Beaton's shot from Cammy Clark's knock-down was wide of target.

After nine minutes Referee Stephen Rae, who had a good game, ignored Saints' appeals for an offside decision and allowed Reece Hamilton to continue his run on the left from where he picked out Aidan Etherson for a left foot shot which flew wide of Craig Maitland's right-hand post.

Maitland was in action again two minutes later pushing behind a James Forrest effort for a corner-kick on the right which Gavin Forgrieve headed away from the danger area. Meanwhile Maitland's opposite number Martin Storey passed his first test of the afternoon safely gathering a fifteenth minute Connor Moore shot.

The Saints defence were again caught appealing for an offside decision which failed to materialise and were somewhat relieved when Mr Rae flashed a yellow card in the direction of Aidan Etherson when he tumbled theatrically in the box under Aidan Jackson's last-ditch challenge.

Greg Burns opened up the Saints defence in the thirty-second minute with a delightful ball through the inside right channel for Reece Hamilton to run onto. Craig Maitland however anticipated the danger and was quickly off his line to narrow the angle and block at the striker's feet.

The home side didn't have things entirely their own way and when Cammy Clark won the ball well wide on the right just inside the Harestanes half he released Connor Moore for a shot which was deflected wide for a corner-kick. From the corner flag David Beaton rolled the ball quickly to Gavin Forgrieve who made a driving run into the box and brought a save from Martin Storey who got down smartly to push away Forgrieve's effort from a tight angle.

Craig Maitland denied James Forrest again with another excellent save low to his left before Hares Skipper Kevin Cawley lifted a twenty-two yard effort high over the crossbar to bring the first half to a goalless end.

Ross Maitland demanded a substantial increase in application from his charges and would have been encouraged at the positive response which saw Connor Moore fractionally behind a teasing low cross from Fraser MacFarlane after just two second-half minutes.

The recently returned to the fold MacFarlane was getting some joy on the Saints right and picked out Moore in the fifty-seventh minute for a close-range effort which came crashing back off Martin Storey's right-hand upright only for James Conington to hit the same post from the rebound.

Saints' good start to the second-half was brought to an abrupt end when Aidan Etherson headed home a Greg Burns cross from the left to give the home side a sixty-first minute lead.

The setback prompted a reshuffle with Cammy Clark and Keiran Griffin making way for Alec McInroy and Rhys Millar. McInroy slotted in alongside David Beaton and Gavin Forgrieve in midfield with Millar joining Fraser MacFarlane and Connor Moore up front. James Conington dropped back to fill the right fullback berth vacated by Clark and form yet another untried Saints back four with Aidan Jackson, Ruaridh Horne and Scott Maitland.

Rhys Millar announced his arrival with a tempting low delivery across the face of goal which David Beaton was inches away from connecting with.

Harestanes were the width of the post away from doubling their advantage after sixty-eight minutes when Greg Burns cut in from the left and smacked a shot off Craig Maitland's right-hand upright with Kevin Cawley sending the rebound wide of the same post.

Connor Moore's strong running forced a seventy-fifth minute corner kick on the left which David Beaton played quickly to Gavin Forgrieve. Fraser MacFarlane took up a good position on the edge of the Hares box to receive Forgrieve's pass and fire off a shot which Martin Storey could only parry into the path of Rhys Millar before recovering well to deny the young Saints striker.

Aidan Etherson's first-half indiscretion proved very costly when a second caution following a foul on Scott Maitland resulted in a red card for the Hares goal scorer. To make matters worse for the home side David Beaton raced up the right wing from Maitland's seventy-seventh minute free-kick and fired a low cross along the six-yard line which Connor Moore poked home at the back post.

Saints were denied a second goal when Martin Storey once again saved from Rhys Millar after the youngster had done well get away from Matthew Baillie. Saints' eagerness to capitalise on their numerical advantage led to them leaving the back door open for substitute Ian McDowell to steal in and place a terrific chance wide of target.

In a frantic finale Hares lost the services of central defender Tyler Tobin to a second yellow card for hauling down Connor Moore. Gavin Forgrieve sent the resulting free-kick over Martin Storey's crossbar before Craig Maitland prevented the nine men from grabbing all three points with another fine save to deny Greg Burns.

This coming Saturday Saints welcome Glenvale Carlton to Glencruitten in a Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association Premiership clash.