Saints Sign Off With A Win

Saturday 9th March 2024

Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association

Premiership

Oban Saints 4 - 2 Gartcosh United

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick-off 2.00pm

Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

It may only be early March, but Oban Saints early exits from the cup competitions saw them play their final home fixture of the season at Glencruitten last Saturday. Despite the extremely disappointing end to a season which had begun with much promise, Saints can at least console themselves that they sent their loyal supporters home with broad smiles on their faces.

In stark contrast to Saints cup form opponents Gartcosh United reached the last sixteen of the Scottish Amateur Cup and have a West of Scotland Amateur Cup semi-final to look forward to which saw them arrive in Oban in confident mood.

However, a gutsy performance from the D&K Lafferty and MKM Building Supplies sponsored Saints saw them withstand an aerial bombardment from the visitors to score two goals in each half which were sandwiched by counters from the visitors.

With Saints’ personnel issues continuing Manager Ross Maitland’s rallying call for a large turnout was well received and, despite the seemingly inevitable three late call-offs, a strong fifteen-man squad reported for duty.

Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back four of Craig Livingstone, Steven MacLeod, Ben Forbes and Drew Murray. Aaron McKay, Paul McFatridge and Captain David Beaton formed the midfield engine room with Connor Moore, James Muir and Stuart McLean up front. On the substitutes bench were Craig Aitken, Oran Bryce, James Ford and Keiron Lopez.

The home side started brightly forcing three corner kicks inside the opening five minutes. Deputising for the unavailable Scottish Amateur International keeper Stuart Wilson, Scott Henderson in the Gartcosh goal dealt confidently with James Muir’s first two deliveries. The big keeper, a veteran of many trips to Oban with former club East Kilbride, however required the assistance of his right-hand post to deny Stuart McLean a first ever goal for the club when the Lochgilphead based striker’s fifth minute header came back off the woodwork.

The man with more comebacks than Sinatra, Steven MacLeod, was in inspirational form in central defence alongside the equally solid Ben Forbes and made the first of many important interceptions to clear Gavin Mackie’s eighth minute free-kick and launch a Saints counterattack which saw Captain David Beaton link with Connor Moore before sending an effort from sixteen yards over Scott Henderson’s crossbar.

Recently drafted into the Scottish Amateur International setup Gartcosh Skipper Jordan Murphy’s trademark long throw-ins posed a constant threat to the Saints defence with Ben Forbes slicing an attempted clearance behind for an eleventh minute corner-kick giving dead-ball specialist Gavin Mackie the chance to show his threat with a dipping delivery to the front post which Saints scrambled clear. The action raged to the other end where Paul McFatridge came off second best in a clash with Jordan Murphy which saw the big midfielder require treatment for a nasty head knock.

The game restarted with a David Beaton free-kick into the Gartcosh box which Ben Forbes got his head to but couldn’t direct goalwards.

Saints were dealt a further injury blow after nineteen minutes when Craig Livingstone’s troublesome groin injury forced him to leave the action with Keiron Lopez getting the nod from the Gaffer take up the vacated right fullback berth.

David Beaton was relishing his role as Skipper and unlocked the Gartcosh defence in the twenty-fourth minute for the opening goal. Connor Moore timed his run perfectly to meet Beaton’s through ball and kept his composure to slot the ball past the advancing Scott Henderson.

Saints continued to defend stoutly with fullbacks Keiron Lopez and Drew Murray playing their part in keeping Craig Maitland well protected in the Saints goal. When the Saints rearguard was breached, they were relieved to see central defender Ethan O’Neil head Gavin Mackie’s twenty-eighth minute corner kick over the crossbar.

The visitors drew level on the half-hour mark when Saints couldn’t fully clear the danger from yet another Jordan Murphy long throw-in with the ‘Cosh Skipper crossing from the left and picking out Ethan O’Neil in the box who this time found the target with his header.

Parity lasted just four minutes when James Muir pounced on a slip by Gartcosh keeper Scott Henderson who, when faced with the choice of hauling Muir down or allowing him to run through on goal elected to stay on the field leaving the Saints youngster to roll the ball into the unguarded net.

The ‘Cosh went in search of another equaliser and had Saints pinned back in their own half for the closing stages of the first half but with only an off-target header from striker Kyle Dempsey to show for their efforts.

The visitors started the second half strongly and won a free-kick in a dangerous area when Paul McFatridge brought down Dylan Kerr twenty-two yards from goal. Kyle Dempsey and Gavin Mackie both hovered over the ball with Dempsey eventually taking responsibility for the free-kick which sailed harmlessly over the Saints crossbar. That proved to be Dempsey’s final contribution to the cause, and he was replaced by PJ McAvoy.

Craig Maitland, who was outstanding in his last outing, continued his run of good form punching away another Jordan Murphy long throw-in with Paul McFatridge quickly sending the ball forward for James Muir who made good ground on the left but had his attempt to pick out Stuart McLean in the middle well cut out by Colin Galbraith.

Not quite in the same league as opposite number Murphy, Saints left fullback Drew Murray’s fifty-sixth minute long throw-in from the left was however helped-on by Stuart McLean to David Beaton whose effort from the edge of the Gartcosh box was charged down by Kyle McLauchlan.

Saints doubled their advantage in the fifty-ninth minute when Paul McFatridge threaded a well weighted ball through the middle for the run of James Muir who won the battle of wits with Scott Henderson to complete his brace.

Paul McFartridge’s combative style met with Referee Jimmy Litster’s disapproval on the hour mark and afforded Gavin Mackie another opportunity with the dead-ball. McFatridge however positioned himself well to head away Mackie’s delivery into the box.

Despite the majority of the visitor’s threat coming from set-pieces their second goal came from open play with the impressive Gavin Mackie skilfully lobbing Craig Maitland in the sixty-seventh minute.

Stuart McLean, who had worked tirelessly up front was replaced for the closing fifteen minutes by James Ford who was making a welcome return after injury.

Saints restored their two-goal lead in the seventy-eighth minute when the midfield triumvirate of Aaron McKay, Paul McFatridge and David Beaton battled hard on the halfway line to win back possession and work the ball forward to Connor Moore. Moore held the ball up well before laying-off to Aaron McKay who made light of the sore foot which had plagued him all afternoon to smack a half-volley from fifteen yards past the despairing left hand of Scott Henderson.

The visitors immediately set about trying to reduce the deficit again but found the Saints defence in no mood to capitulate with Steven MacLeod again making vital interceptions to keep the ‘Cosh at bay.

With the pressure building Craig Maitland made an excellent save from Gavin Mackie at the expense of a corner-kick on the right from where Mackie found the head of PJ McAvoy only for the substitute striker to pass up a good opportunity with a header over the crossbar.

Saints Manager Ross Maitland made his final changes for the closing minutes sending on Craig Aitken and Oran Bryce to replace Connor Moore and James Muir up front.

Referee Jimmy Litster, who handled proceedings with minimal fuss, brought proceedings to an end after three additional minutes with the final result elevating Saints to the dizzy heights of third place in the Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association Premiership table.

Saints have no fixture this coming Saturday and currently await a date for their final away fixture of the Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association Premiership season which will be a rematch with Gartcosh United.