Squandered chances cost Oban Saints two precious league points
A barrowload of squandered chances, including a missed penalty-kick, cost Oban Saints two precious Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association Premiership points at Oban High School last Saturday.
A frozen pitch at Glencruitten saw the match switched to the all-weather surface which basked in the low winter sun for the majority of the afternoon ensuring both teams shared in the difficulties of dealing with high balls.
David Beaton gave Saints the lead against the run of play before visitors Port Glasgow deservedly turned the match around before the half-hour.
A much-improved second-half performance saw the home side eventually draw level but fail to capitalise on a host of chances to bag all three points.
The Saints player availability merry-go-round keeps spinning, resulting in four changes from the squad which exited the West of Scotland Amateur Cup seven days earlier.
Out went James Ford, Ben Forbes, Craig Livingstone and Aaron McKay with Oran Bryce, Graham Douglas, Keiron Lopez and Fraser MacFarlane coming in.
Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back three of Shaye Black, Ryan Barclay and Matty Pollock.
Across the five-man midfield were Rhys Millar, Ruaridh Horne, Gavin Forgrieve, Alec McInroy and captain Scott Maitland, with Connor Moore and David Beaton up front.
On the substitutes bench were Oran Bryce, Keiran Griffin, Keiron Lopez, Fraser MacFarlane and goalkeeper Graham Douglas.
Port Glasgow won the toss of referee Donald MacCallum’s coin and elected to have the sun at their backs in the first half which they used to good advantage aiming high balls at centre forward Jamie McKenna at every opportunity.
McKenna and Sean Kelly combined from a throw-in on the left to send Paul Coyle through with Matty Pollock doing well to snuff out the danger.
Port Glasgow central defender Kyle McGuigan skimmed the top of Craig Maitland’s crossbar with a header from an eighth minute Kerrin Dow corner-kick before Matty Pollock again read the danger well making a vital interception to deny Dow after Jamie McKenna had flicked on a Stuart Burns kick from hands.
Referee MacCallum gave the benefit of a tight off-side decision to the visitors when he ruled against David Beaton when he was sent clean through from an Alec McInroy pass.
There was, however, no suggestion of offside when Rhys Millar and Gavin Forgrieve combined for Forgrieve to send Connor Moore away on the left after 15 minutes.
With only the advancing goalkeeper Stuart Burns to beat, Moore picked out strike partner David Beaton in the middle for a simple tap-in.
The visitors drew level after 23 minutes when Sean Kelly held the ball up long enough to play in Jamie McKenna who escaped the attentions of Matty Pollock to fire low across Craig Maitland and find the bottom corner.
Five minutes later the turnaround was complete when Paul Coyle flashed an excellent half-volley from a Kerrin Dow left-wing cross past a static Craig Maitland.
The reverse stung Saints into action with experienced Port Glasgow captain Thomas Wilson having to make an excellent block to deny Rhys Millar before the youngster unfortunately fluffed his lines from two yards out completely missing a David Beaton cross from the right with Scott Maitland beaten to the loose ball by Paul Payne at the expense of a corner-kick which Ryan Barclay headed wide of target.
Also heading wide of target on the stroke of half-time was Connor Moore who did well to reach David Beaton’s cross from the right but glanced his effort beyond Stuart Burns’ right-hand post.
Port Glasgow lost the services of right full-back Paul Payne to a rolled ankle after just two second half minutes with his place being taken by Peter McNeill.
With Saints looking a better proposition after the interval, David Beaton’s 48th minute diagonal ball was taken skilfully into his stride by Rhys Millar but his cutback from the right on the run found no takers in red.
With 51 minutes on the clock, Saints gaffer Ross Maitland sent on Keiran Griffin to replace Alec McInroy in central midfield before Saints were dealt a major blow when a thigh injury forced the withdrawal of David Beaton.
Beaton’s replacement, Fraser MacFarlane, was on the end of Rhys Millar’s 61st minute cutback from the right but put his effort wide of the front post.
The Port Glasgow defence was having a hard time dealing with Connor Moore’s pace, but Moore let them off the hook by blasting a good opening over the crossbar after 65 minutes.
Moore, however, showed considerably more composure in the 69th minute when he collected the ball from Rhys Millar on the right before cutting inside and arrowing a low left-foot drive from 18 yards past Stuart Burns’ left hand and into the bottom corner.
Just 60 seconds later, Moore had the chance to restore Saints’ lead when Thomas Wilson felled Fraser MacFarlane in the Port Glasgow six-yard box as they both stretched to reach a Rhys Millar cutback from the right. Moore’s desire to burst the net resurfaced, however, and his thumping effort from the penalty spot cleared the crossbar by some distance.
Moore’s pace took him in behind the Port Glasgow defence again in the 74th minute, but he couldn’t steer the ball wide of keeper Stuart Burns who spread himself well to divert the ball wide for a corner-kick.
Gavin Forgrieve’s delivery from the right was headed out to the 18-yard line where the lurking Fraser MacFarlane saw his volley charged down.
Saints squandered another excellent chance when Rhys Millar and Connor Moore got in each other’s way trying to reach a Ruaridh Horne through ball allowing Stuart Burns to gather safely at their feet.
The young Saints back three of Shaye Black, Ryan Barclay and Matty Pollock kept the experienced Port Glasgow front line in check throughout the second half keeping goalkeeper Craig Maitland well protected and deserved their slice of good fortune when Kyle McGuigan headed an 85th minute free-kick from the left wide of target.
At the other end, Saints began to run out of steam and were left to rue their missed chances as two league points slipped away.
Ross Maitland’s final change saw Keiron Lopez replace Rhys Millar at right wingback in the 86th minute.
Keiran Griffin fired one last shot inches wide of Stuart Burns’ right-hand post before referee Donald MacCallum, who had a good game, blew for full-time after five added minutes.
Saints continue their Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association Premiership campaign this Saturday, February 15, when they travel to Ochilview to face Stenhousemuir Community.
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