UB United 3
Oban Saints 1
West of Scotland Cup – fourth round
It was an early start for Oban Saints’ final fixture of 2023 at Stepford Football Centre last Saturday.
The unusually early 11.30am kick-off saw the Saints bus depart at 7.30am, however there was nothing bright eyed and bushy tailed about the team’s performance and another disappointing cup exit duly ensued.
In a match where the strong wind would play an important part, it was hosts UB United of the Saturday Morning Amateur Football Association Premier Division who coped better with the conditions to establish a wind assisted first half lead in a devastating 10-minute spell, which they doggedly defended in the second 45 to eventually run
out comfortable winners.
UB take their name from the now closed United Biscuits factory in Tollcross where the team originated, but it was Saints who were dunked with the hosts progressing to the last 16 of the West of Scotland Cup where they will face five-time winners Bannockburn.
There was one crumb of comfort for Saints manager Ross Maitland when his seemingly never-ending selection headaches were eased slightly by the return of Lewis Cameron whose talents have been sorely missed during his spell in the world of shinty.
Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back four of Fredrik Marthinsen, Steven MacLeod, Drew Murray and captain Scott Maitland. Gavin Forgrieve, Paul McFatridge and Aaron Mckay formed the midfield engine room with James Ford, Connor Moore and James Muir up front. On the substitutes bench were Lewis Cameron, James Conington, Craig Livingstone and Keiron Lopez.
UB United skipper Nathan Fell won the toss of referee Gary Kirkwood’s coin and elected to play with the strong wind in the first half, however it was Saints who were first to threaten when Paul McFatridge and Connor Moore combined to set up James Ford for a second minute shot narrowly wide of target.
Nathan Fell was proving to be a handful for the Saints defence and his 10th minute wriggling run along the byeline saw the UB skipper rattle Craig Maitland’s right hand upright. Grateful for this let-off, Saints immediately broke to the other end where Connor Moore drew a good save from UB keeper Brian Paton.
The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute when Saints were left appealing in vain for a free-kick midway inside the UB half. The hosts didn’t wait about to debate the decision and Darren Kinnon’s deep right-wing cross was expertly chested down by Nathan Fell and dispatched past the hopelessly exposed Craig Maitland.
Saints were quickly back on level terms when Darren Barnwell sent Paul McFatridge sprawling inside the UB 18-yard box. James Ford maintained his 100 per cent record from the penalty spot to restore parity in the 31st minute.
Just two minutes later the Kinnon and Fell combination struck again with another devastating counter-attack on the right. Scott Maitland’s foray forward into the UB box was crowded out by the weight of numbers and the hosts quickly moved the ball up the right for Kinnon to deliver another pin-point cross for Nathan Fell. The UB skipper once again beat Fredrik Marthinsen too easily and rolled the ball home to
complete his brace.
The host’s match winning 10-minute spell was complete when Craig Maitland could only parry Dexter Morrison’s stinging 25-yard free-kick. Maitland could have expected more assistance from his defence who were slow to react allowing Stephen Dallas to reach the loose ball first and beat Maitland at his near post.
Saints went into the second half with high hopes that the wind advantage would see them turn things around however a mixture of wayward finishing and solid UB defending ensured there would be no further scoring.
Aaron Mckay tested Brian Paton from 22 yards in the 48th minute and the UB keeper, a veteran of many encounters with Saints during his long association with Finnart, was equal to the task with a clean catch. Mckay tried his luck again three minutes later, this time missing the postage stamp corner by a matter of inches.
Paul McFatridge made way for Lewis Cameron in the 55th minute and the change almost bore fruit immediately when the substitute’s driving run from his first touch ended with a low shot shaving the outside of Brian Paton’s right-hand post.
Ross Maitland made his second change on the hour mark replacing James Muir on the right of the front three with Keiron Lopez.
Saints kept pressing and Brian Paton held a curling James Ford effort from the corner of the 18-yard box before Connor Moore twice failed to hit the target from promising openings.
Moore was through again in the 75th minute and UB central defender Dexter Morrison’s dissent after his trip on the speedy Saints striker had earned him a yellow card eventually saw referee Gary Kirkwood reach for his red card. From the resulting free-kick Brian Paton reached up to push Lewis Cameron’s dipping effort over his crossbar.
Seeking to exploit their numerical advantage Saints pushed skipper Scott Maitland further forward and the move almost paid off when his glancing header was saved at point blank range by the quick reactions of the UB keeper.
Ross Maitland sent on James Conington and Craig Livingstone to replace Aaron Mckay and Fredrik Marthinsen but the changes did nothing to improve his team’s fortunes and the game continued to slip away from Saints.
In time added on Gavin Forgrieve narrowly failed to mark his 21st birthday with a rare goal when his effort from 25 yards dipped inches over the crossbar. Lewis Cameron shortly followed suit from the left edge of the 18-yard box after a quickly taken corner-kick.
The host’s attempts to run down the clock saw Mr Kirkwood add 10 minutes at the end of the 90 however he could have added a further 90 minutes and Saints would have been unlikely to score the goals necessary to turn the match around.
Manager Ross Maitland was bitterly disappointed after the game.
He said: “We’ve been playing well recently, but we just never turned up today. The boys tried hard enough, but UB seemed to want it more than we did. They are a very hard-working, experienced side who defended really well in the second half when we put them under pressure and they always looked dangerous on the break.”
Amateur football now enters the Christmas and New Year break, returning on Saturday 6 January, and all at Oban Saints send their best wishes for the festive season to everyone in the amateur football