Another Disappointing Cup Exit
Saturday 3rd October 2026
Scottish Amateur Football Association
Challenge Cup Competition
2nd Round
Thorniewood United 2 - 1 Oban Saints
Wishaw Sports Centre
Alexander Street
Wishaw
ML2 0HQ
Kick-off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Robert Strachan
Oban Saints alarming failure to finish off opponents when they are on top saw them exit the Scottish Amateur Cup at the second-round stage last Saturday 3rd October. Following their spectacular West of Scotland Cup collapse against Drumchapel Amateurs a familiar story of missed chances and cheaply conceded goals unfolded at Wishaw Sports Centre where Thorniewood United successfully converted two of the few opportunities that came their way to end Saints' interest in the major cup competitions just nine weeks into the new season.
Saints' Gaffer Steven MacLeod was without nine of the squad from the previous outing against Drumchapel Amateurs which seriously disrupted his match day preparations. On the plus side Gavin Forgrieve, Preston Macintyre and Connor Howe all returned to make thier first appearances of the season. Coach Jamie Graham was handed a starting role on the right of the back three with MacLeod contenting himself with a place on the bench. Also in the travelling party, despite being unable to play, was the injured Lewis Campbell.
Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back three of Jamie Graham, Captain Scott Maitland and Drew Murray. The central midfield three of Matthew Kelly, Gavin Forgrieve and James Conington were flanked by wingbacks Rhys Millar and Preston Macintyre with David Beaton and Connor Moore forming the strike partnership up front. Joining Manager Steven MacLeod on the substitutes bench were Donald Campbell, Innes Fraser, Connor Howe and Kuba Ryszka.
Making all the early running Saints forced a string of corner kicks which the home defence dealt with comfortably. From open play, Preston Macintyre's second minute cross from the corner of the eighteen-yard box picked out James Conington for a header which failed to hit the target. Three minutes later Connor Moore was a hairs breadth away from connecting with David Beaton's cross from a similar position.
Beaton won another corner kick on the left in the seventh minute which saw Gavin Forgrieve tee-up Connor Moore for a shot over the Thorniewood crossbar. Kamil Odolak's goal kick gave the home side their first foray into opposition territory and a long ball over the top turned the Saints' back three sending Joshua Ferrie racing through to deftly lift the ball over the advancing Craig Maitland and into the net.
Saints responded positively bringing Odolak into the action with excellent saves to deny James Conington, David Beaton and Connor Moore before Moore was again frustratingly unable to connect with a David Beaton cross from the left.
Matty Kelly also got in on the act miscuing a shot wide of target when played in by Preston Macintyre.
Jamie Graham's enforced return to action was cut short with a twisted knee which saw him replaced by Kuba Ryszka after thirty minutes. Graham's place in defence was taken by James Conington with David Beaton moving wide right and Rhys Millar dropping into central midfield.
When Ryszka was fouled in the centre circle, Matty Kelly's short free kick was carried forward by Skipper Scott Maitland. With no challenge coming Maitland made more ground and from thirty yards unleashed a powerful left foot shot which cannoned off the junction of post and crossbar with Odolak firmly rooted to the spot.
Connor Moore finally connected with a David Beaton cross in the forty-second minute but, after Moore had held off Dillon Bell to place his header beyond Kamil Odolak, the crossbar again came to Thorniewood's rescue.
Moore and Odolak were in direct opposition again two minutes later when Moore ran onto Kuba Ryska's through ball and looked set to level the scoring only to be denied by another fine stop from the Thorniewood keeper.
More frustration followed for Moore when his boot stuck in the newly laid Wishaw Sports Centre artificial surface and Saints lost a second player to a badly twisted knee.
Connor Howe replaced Connor Moore for the start of the second half and was quickly involved firing off a blocked shot from the corner of the eighteen-yard box after a short corner routine from David Beaton and Gavin Forgrieve.
The home side almost hit Saints with a second counterattack in the fifty-second minute however Drew Murray got back in the nick of time with a sensational sliding goal line clearance.
After many failed attempts Saints finally profited from a corner kick when Kuba Ryszka beat Dillon Bell in the air to head David Beaton's delivery from the right firmly past Kamil Odolak and level the scoring.
Saints now looked to add a second goal but were frustrated when Matty Kelly over-ran a promising opening after good work by Preston Macintyre and Kuba Ryszka.
Fresh from his goal saving exploits, Drew Murray was inches away from making a telling contribution at the other end when he headed another pin-point delivery from David Beaton the wrong side of Kamil Odolak's left hand post.
Preston Macintyre did well on his return to action after five weeks out but his race was run after seventy minutes, and he was replaced at left wingback by Donald Campbell.
Thorniewood keeper Odolak made further saves from Gavin Forgrieve, Kuba Ryszka and Drew Murray before a second yellow card, both for slightly late challenges, brought Forgrieve's afternoon to a premature end with five minutes of the regulation ninety remaining.
Being handed the numerical advantage gave the home side all the encouragement they needed to push for a winner and Craig Maitland brought off his first save of the match extending himself fully to his right to claw away a shot which looked set to find the bottom corner.
Steven MacLeod made his final change in the eighty-eighth minute replacing Ryhys Millar with Innes Fraser before disaster struck in the first of the three minutes added by Referee Robert Strachan.
Trying to keep the ball as far up the pitch as possible, Saints lost possesssion and Thorniewood inflicted the final fatal blow on the counterattack. Substitute Aiden McFadden's run from the left into the middle wasn't tracked and he met a cross from the right wing with a perfectly executed cushioned volley into the roof of the net giving Craig Maitland no chance.
There was no way back for the ten men and Mr Strachan's final whistle confirmed a second bitterly disappointing and scarcely believable cup exit in as many games.
This coming Saturday 10th October the D&K Lafferty Contractors, The View Restaurant and MKM Oban Building Supplies sponsored Saints resume their Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association Premiership campaign when they welcome Rossvale Huntershill to Glencruitten.
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