Saturday 27th July 2024
Preseason Friendly
Oban Saints 3 - 0 Lochgilphead Red Star
Glencruitten 1
Glencruitten Drive
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EB
Kick-off 12 noon
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster
After a string of cancellations Oban Saints finally managed to play a long awaited preseason friendly at Glencruitten last Saturday. The D&K Lafferty and MKM Building Supplies sponsored Oban side were delighted when local rivals Lochgilphead Red Star answered the S.O.S. call from Saints Secretary David Buchanan to give both sides some much needed match practice ahead of the new season.
Having had to take last season out the return of Lochgilphead Red Star under the Lochgilphead Soccer Centre umbrella is a major boost to amateur football in Argyll with the local rivalry adding a little zest to an entertaining encounter played in warm sunshine before a healthy crowd.
Saints Manager Ross Maitland was on holiday and left team affairs in the capable hands of Assistant Manager Iain Jackson who, despite a number of absentees, was able to name a nineteen-man squad.
Oban Saints Squad
Daniel Beaton
David Beaton
Oran Bryce
Cammy Clark
Graham Douglas
Gavin Forgrieve
Keiran Griffin
Ruaridh Horne
Aidan Jackson
Craig Maitland
Scott Maitland
Rhys Millar
Connor Moore
Drew Murray
Alex MacDonald
Innes MacDonald
Fraser MacFarlane
Aaron Mckay
Matthew Pollock
The new Red Star management team of and Iany Philips and Neil Russell brought with them a blend of youth and experience including Gregor Brown, Stuart MacLean, Leon Murphy and Kyle Selfridge who all made valuable contributions to Saints troubled 2023-24 campaign.
Lochgilphead Red Star Squad
Gregor Brown
Zach Campbell
Ciaran Gibson
Sam Gillespie
Callum Green
Ruaraidh Green
Angus Lewis
Cammy Lewis
Stuart MacLean
Leon Murphy
Neil Russell
Kyle Selfridge
Fraser Talbot
Ben Tustin
Andy Weir
Colin Weir
Saints striker Connor Moore fired wide of target in the fifth minute as both sides failed to trouble the respective goalkeepers with early chances. Stuart MacLean flashed a header from corner kick wide of target for Red Star before Cammy Clark headed over Leon Morrow's crossbar at the other end.
Unfortunately for Clark his involvement in proceedings lasted on fifteen minutes when he rolled his left ankle and hobbled off to be replaced in the back-four by Aidan Jackson. New signing Jackson joined Drew Murray in the middle with Ruaridh Horne, who has re-joined Saints following a successful spell in the West of Scotland League with West Park United, moving to right-back.
As is often the case in the preseason, the ninety minutes was divided into thirty minute thirds and Saints finally brought Leon Morrow into the action just before Referee Jimmy Lister blew for the end of the first third. Aaron Mckay cut in from the right and showed good strength to hold off Gregor Brown's challenge before getting a left foot shot away which the young Red Star keeper held comfortably.
Red Star made a positive start to the second third which they would go on to dominate. Kyle Selfridge tried to catch-out Craig Maitland at his near post from a short corner routine with Maitland having to get down smartly to parry the big fullback's effort.
Angus Lewis continued his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury with a combative performance in central midfield alongside impressive youngster Callum Green and the two combined for another Red Star effort in the thirty-fifth minute which Lewis sent wide of target from twenty-two yards.
Red Star striker Stuart MacLean did almost everything right three minutes later when he raced onto an excellent through ball from Callum Green. MacLean skilfully rounded the advancing Craig Maitland before shooting across goal from a tight angle an inches wide of the far post.
Saints responded with a driving run on the left from David Beaton who tried to pick out Fraser MacFarlane cutting in from the right who was beaten to the ball by Leon Murphy who showed good anticipation to slide out and gather at the edge of his eighteen yard box.
Graham Douglas replaced Craig Maitland in the Saints goal after forty minutes and was soon called into action saving well at his near post to deny Zach Campbell.
Taking advantage of their greater squad depth, Saints rallied for the final third but still didn't look like scoring with an off-target Alex MacDonald header from a David Beaton corner-kick as close as they came before the closing stages.
Straight off the ferry from his holidays on Barra, young Rhys Millar passed up the best opening of the match so far when he could only divert Oran Bryce's eightieth minute cross from the left into the grateful arms of Leon Murphy.
Aaron Mckay's turn and shot from another David Beaton corner-kick soared over the Red Star crossbar before the the deadlock was finally broken with just six minutes remaining on Referee Litster's watch.
Oran Bryce and Rhys Millar combined again and this time Millar kept his composure to send Bryce's cross well out of the Red Star keeper's reach.
Saints added a second in the eighty-ninth minute when the lively Aaron Mckay pounced on a misplaced pass as Red Star tried to play out from the back following a fractionally wide of target Gavin Forgrieve free-kick.
Sixty seconds later Saints exploited more gaps in the tiring Red Star back line to put a somewhat flattering shine on what was a very contest with a third and final goal. Oran Bryce and Rhys Millar linked-up again for Millar to complete his brace at the second attempt after a point blank save from Leon Murphy.
With the start of the Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association league season unexpectedly delayed until 10th August Saints are currently looking for opponents for a friendly on Saturday 3rd August.
Team Captains Scott Maitland and Kyle Selfridge with Referee Jimmy Litster
Stuart MacLean heads wide
Leon Murphy
David Beaton and Fraser Talbot
Aaron Mckay has Gregor Brown, Callum Green and Ciaran Gibson for company as Oran Bryce looks on
Aidan Jackson
Craig Maitland
Drew Murray
Fraser MacFarlane and Kyle Selfridge
Connor Moore tries to squeeze through between Fraser Talbot and Angus Lewis
Ruaridh Horne
Alex MacDonald
Aidan Jackson gets a vital touch to deny Angus Lewis
Drew Murray in pursuit of Neily Russell
Two goal hero Rhys Millar
Iain Jackson
Scott Maitland and Kyle Selfridge examine Jimmy Litster's colourful boot laces
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