Saturday 7th September 2024
Scottish Amateur Football Association
Challenge Cup First Round
Clydebank 0 - 6 Oban Saints
Clydebank High School
46 Janetta Street
Clydebank
G81 3EJ
Referee Mr Colin Pensom
A second hat-trick in two weeks from young Rhys Millar helped Oban Saints progress to the second round of the Scottish Amateur Cup with a convincing 6-0 win over Greater Glasgow AFL side Clydebank Amateurs played on an excellent 4G surface at Clydebank High School last Saturday.
Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back four of Craig Livingstone, Aidan Jackson, Ben Forbes and captain Scott Maitland. Ruaridh Horne, Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay were in midfield while, up front, David Beaton led the line flanked by Connor Moore and Rhys Millar. On the substitutes bench were the experienced Drew Murray, James Conington and Paul McFatridge along with youngsters Keiran Griffin and Alec McInroy.
The game was evenly contested for the first 30 minutes with the highlight being a great save from Saints' netminder Craig Maitland from a Danny McManus piledriver.
The visiting midfield of Ruaridh Horne, Gavin Forgrieve and Aaron McKay were gradually gaining control and Saints took the lead after good play from Aaron McKay and Connor Moore released David Beaton to slot the ball past Bankies' keeper Shaun Bell.
The Saints' sidelines thought their favourites should have had a penalty when Rhys Millar seemed to be upended in the box by Scott Quigley but referee Colin Pensom, who had a good game, waved play on.
However, youngster Millar didn't have long to wait to get on the scoresheet when he cleverly lobbed the ball from an acute angle over the keeper and into the net after being set up by David Beaton.
The D&K Lafferty Contractors and MKM Building Supplies sponsored Oban side should have increased their lead in the 37th minute when David Beaton dispossessed keeper Shaun Bell in the box but the Saints' striker rushed two attempts which the keeper did well to save in the end.
The pressure was beginning to tell on the home defence and Saints increased their lead when man of the match Scott Maitland sent a great ball through for Connor Moore to fire the ball home to make the score 3-0.
Right on the half time whistle Clydebank claimed that the ball had crossed the Saints' goal line after a challenge on Craig Maitland by Gary Rodgers but referee Pensom correctly awarded a free kick for a foul on the Saints' keeper.
Ben Forbes got a calf knock early in the second half and was replaced by the returning Drew Murray at the centre of the Saints defence. Not long after this gaffer Ross Maitland took off Aidan Jackson and Craig Livingstone, both who had excellent games at the back for Saints, introducing Paul McFatridge to play alongside Drew Murray and James Conington to take over the right back berth.
The visitors increased their lead in the 65th minute when Connor Moore and David Beaton combined to set up Rhys Millar who made no mistake, slotting the ball past the stranded keeper.
With the game done and dusted, gaffer Maitland took off David Beaton and Ruaridh Horne replacing them with another two schoolboys Alex MacInroy and Keiran Griffin with Keiran firing just wide of the post with a good effort.
Rhys Millar completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute when he got on the end of an Aaron McKay pass before slotting the ball past the keeper at his near post.
The hosts lost the services of experienced left back Andy Kidd with a shoulder injury after a tangle in the box with Alex McInroy which on another day might have been given as a penalty against the Clydebank defender.
Credit to the home side, they never gave up but Saints were in control now and Connor Moore should have scored in the 81st minute but knocked his effort past the post when it looked easier to score.
However the hard working front man wasn't to be denied and he netted his second goal of the afternoon when he was put through by Aaron McKay before rounding the keeper to slot the ball home and make the final score 6-0.
Manager Ross Maitland was delighted with the result and performance of his team. He said: ''It took us a wee while to settle into the game but once we did we played some really good possession football, making the Bankies work hard to keep up with us. We've got a good mix of experience and youth in the squad and if the game allows I always try and give the boys on the bench as much game time as I can.
''We're getting good numbers at training every week which is great as it gives us the opportunity to work on fitness, shape and set pieces. Anybody who thinks they could do a job for the team is more that welcome to come along to the Oban High School 3G pitch on a Wednesday night from 7 till 9pm''
Saints return to league duty on Saturday when they take on Stenhousemuir Community. The game will be held at Glen 2 or the Oban Community pitch with a 2pm kick-off. Referee in charge is Kevin McIntyre.
The following Saturday Thorniewood United are the opposition at Glen 2 in the first round of the West of Scotland Cup.
Man of the Match Scott Maitland
Connor Moore
David Beaton
Hat-trick Hero Rhys Millar
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