Maitland saves Saints’ blushes in penalty shoot-out win

Prior to kick-off, referee Steven Craven and visitors Third Lanark joined Saints in observing a silence of remembrance for former player Hamish Matheson who recently lost his brave battle with cancer. 

In his playing days, Hamish was a stylish and hard-working midfielder and was a member of the Saints 1978-79 Scottish Amateur Football League Division Six winning team.

Work commitments on the Isle of Colonsay kept manager Ross Maitland away, so assistant manager Iain Jackson remained in charge, ably assisted by coaches Archie MacLean, David Dunlop and Peter MacCallum and club secretary David Buchanan.

Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back three of Aidan Jackson, Ruaridh Horne and Drew Murray. Across the five-man midfield were David Beaton, Matty Pollock, Gavin Forgrieve, Keiran Griffin and captain Scott Maitland. Up front were James Conington and Connor Moore. On the substitutes bench were Shaye Black, James Ford, Keiron Lopez, Rhys Millar and Fraser MacFarlane.

The early exchanges produced a moment of controversy when Connor Moore appeared to be clean through on goal when he was brought crashing to the ground by a late tackle from Robbie Sinclair. With only 11 minutes on the clock, this could have been a pivotal moment but referee Steven Craven was content to just caution Sinclair and spare him the long walk back to the changing rooms.

Gavin Forgrieve lifted the resulting free-kick into the Third Lanark’s penalty area where Ruaridh Horne climbed well but couldn’t direct his header on target.

Three minutes later at the other end Aidan Jackson joined Sinclair in referee Craven’s notebook for a late challenge on Isaa Ali 28 yards from goal. Third Lanark’s midfielder Billy Young beat the Saints’ wall with his free-kick but keeper Craig Maitland held the bouncing ball well.

Saints opened the scoring in the 27th minute from a good move on the left. Skipper Scott Maitland sent Connor Moore away and his cutback from just short of the goal line was gathered by strike partner James Conington who held the ball up well before picking  out Keiran Griffin’s run from midfield with the youngster keeping his composure to steer the ball into the net for his first goal for the senior Saints side.

The D&K Lafferty Contractors and MKM Building Supplies sponsored Oban outfit continued to threaten and were rewarded for their efforts on the stroke of half-time. Scott Maitland and James Conington, two of Saints’ best performers on the day, combined well again on the left wing from where Conington teed up Connor Moore for another strike. Moore’s attempt was blocked as was David Beaton’s on the rebound, however, it was a case of third time lucky when Beaton volleyed home the loose ball to give Saints a two-goal lead at the interval.

Saints started the second half with Connor Moore grazing the outside of Declan Jones’ left hand post just two minutes after the restart.

Aidan Jackson’s long throw-in from the right was instrumental in Saints’ third goal, as was Keiran Griffin’s challenge on Ryan Clark which ensured the defender’s attempted clearing header only made it as far as Connor Moore on the corner of the six-yard box.

Moore’s left-foot volley arrowed back across Declan Jones and into the far corner for what should have been the decisive strike.

With Saints seemingly cruising, a mistake from Drew Murray was pounced upon by Isaa Ali giving the visitors the encouragement they needed to mount a final 30-minute comeback.

Assistant manager Iain Jackson shuffled his pack, sending on James Ford, Keiron Lopez and Rhys Millar with James Conington, Keiran Griffin and Matty Pollock making way.

Third Lanark, driven on by the influential Billy Young, were battling hard against the increasingly nervy Saints who had Craig Maitland to thank for an 80th minute save at his left-hand post to deny substitute David Meechan.
James Ford’s trickery on the left won an 86th minute corner-kick off Haadi Bajwa which he took quickly to David Beaton. Beaton’s shot from the corner of the 18-yard box looked bound for the bottom corner until Declan Jones, at full stretch, pulled off a sensational save to keep his side in the match.

The visitors pushed forward again and Billy Young’s driving run was halted by Aidan Jackson at the expense of an 87th minute free-kick. Marc Corlett’s free-kick was headed home unchallenged to set up a grandstand finish.
The Glencruitten faithful gasped as Andrew Marley’s dipping 93rd minute volley came back off Craig Maitland’s right-hand post, but the visitors were not to be denied. As the clock ticked into the sixth added minute, Third Lanark  forced a corner-kick on the left which the Saints’ defence failed to deal with and Marley forced the ball over the line from close range.

The resurgent visitors thoroughly deserved their equaliser and it was the punch drunk Saints who were happiest to hear the referee’s final whistle.

Third Lanark carried their high spirits into the penalty shoot-out with only David Beaton preventing Declan Jones from making it a hat-trick of saves as the visitors took a firm grip on proceedings. 

After Jones’ saves to deny Gavin Forgrieve and Scott Maitland, Saints regained their composure and converted efforts from James Ford and Connor Moore punctuated two fine Craig Maitland saves to take the shoot-out to sudden death.

Six further penalties were traded with Drew Murray, Ruaridh Horne and Rhys Millar on target before Aidan Jackson put Saints 8-7 ahead and returned the pressure to the visitors. 
Craig Maitland then won the third-round tie with a third save low to his right with Grant Black the unlucky man not to convert. 

Saints now take on high-flying Drumchapel United away from home in the fourth round. This game is scheduled for Saturday January 25 2025.

This Saturday, Saints return to Scottish Premier AFA Premiership duties when they travel to Toryglen to face old rivals Kings Park Rangers.