Saints Left To Rue Missed Chances
- Winning In The Rain
- Jul 27
- 5 min read
Saturday 26th July 2025
Preseason Friendly
Oban Saints 3 - 5 Rhu
Glencruitten 1
Glencruitten Drive
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EB
Kick-off 1.00pm
Referee Mr Pat O'Donnell
Following the cancellation of the previous week's scheduled encounter with Westerlands, Oban Saints continued their build-up to the new Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association season with a friendly last Saturday afternoon against Rhu of the Caledonian League First Division.
With sixteen players unavailable for many and varied reasons, in addition to naming themselves on the substitutes bench, Saints' Co-managers Steven MacLeod and Graham Douglas called upon the services of former Manager Willie Gemmell at centre-half and Saints 2010's starlet Joe Hill. Rumours that other former Managers Alex Craik and Iain Jackson were also in contention for starting roles proved to be unfounded.
Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back four of Keiron Lopez, Matty Pollock, Willie Gemmell and Donald Campbell. David Beaton and Matty Kelly joined Captain Gavin Forgrieve in midfield while, up front, Connor Moore was flanked by Kuba Ryszka and Connor Beattie, Co-Managers Graham Douglas and Steven MacLeod were joined on the substitutes bench by fifteen-year-old Joe Hill.
The D&K Lafferty Contractors and MKM Oban Building Supplies sponsored home side got off to a flying start opening the scoring in the fourth minute. Connor Beattie and Connor Moore linked up well on the left to send David Beaton in behind the Rhu back four for a neat low finish into the bottom corner.
Rhu goalkeeper Craig Gemmell was forced into action fingertipping a twenty-four-yard Connor Beattie effort over his crossbar for a twelfth minute corner-kick. David Beaton's delivery from the corner flag found its way through to Beattie for a hooked effort narrowly wide of Craig Gemmell's left-hand upright.
David Beaton came close to replicating Paul Gascoigne's Euro 96 ball-juggling exploits for England against Scotland but was foiled at the last gasp by Dylan Caldow's timely interception. The ball fell kindly for Donald Campbell, up in support from his left fullback role, however the youngster's shot on his weaker right side was wide off target.
The visitors lost the services of Calum Fowlis to a hamstring injury and his replacement, Robert Caldwell, made an immediate impact beating Keiron Lopez on the left before firing over a twenty-sixth minute cross which completely deceived Craig Maitland in the Saints' goal and ended up in the back of the net.
Saints regained the lead two minutes later from a David Beaton corner-kick on the left. Connor Moore climbed highest in the six-yard box but saw his goal-bound header palmed away by Craig Gemmell. Luck however deserted the Rhu number one when the ball landed perfectly into the stride of Connor Beattie who steered an unerring finish through a sea of legs into the bottom corner.
Saints were moving the ball about well but failed to build on their lead and were pegged back again after thirty-two minutes. Another Robert Caldwell delivery from the left was turned behind by Craig Maitland for a corner-kick on the right. Saints had nobody attacking the delivery to the back post which was returned across the face of goal and headed home at the near post by David Holburn.
Craig Gemmell continued to be the busier of the two goalkeepers standing up well at his near post to block a Connor Moore shot before flying spectacularly to his left to push away a curling Connor Beattie effort from twenty-two yards.
Moore tormented the Rhu defence again on the Saints right and Matty Kelly was unlucky to arrive in the Rhu box fractionally ahead of Moore's intelligent cutback from just short of the goal-line.
Five minutes into the second-half Referee Pat O'Donnell became the centre of attention with two decisions at opposite ends of the pitch which severely irked the visitors. A long ball over the top of the Saints' defence was latched onto by Jordan Wylie who lashed an excellent finish into the top corner only for Mr O'Donnell to rule out the "goal" for a tight but correct offside decision. With Rhu still complaining bitterly about the decision, Saints swept to the other end where Connor Moore was nudged over inside the eighteen-yard box with just enough contact for the vastly experienced official to point to the penalty spot. This only served to heighten visitor's sense of injustice and it took the Referee a minute or two calm things down. With order restored Connor Moore kept his composure and slammed home from twelve yards to put Saints back in front for the third time.
Having seen his earlier effort ruled out, Jordan Wylie was again denied on the hour mark this time by an excellent flying save from Craig Maitland.
Veteran Willie Gemmell had the opportunity to add to his long list of set-piece goals when Donald Campbell was fouled twenty-eight yards from goal. Gemmell curled his effort around the Rhu defensive wall but not far enough out of reach for namesake Craig who was able to push the ball around the post for a corner-kick.
Former Gaffer Gemmell tried his luck again in the seventieth minute from an almost identical position but, once again. the Rhu keeper, despite requiring two attempts to hold onto the ball, was equal to the task.
Craig Gemmell was more assured in his handling three minutes later safely holding a net bound Connor Moore shot low to his left.
Saints were pegged back for a third time when they failed to deal with a seventy-third minute cross from the left which was headed in at the back post by Jordan Wylie.
Craig Gemmell made a comfortable save to deny Saints' Skipper for the day, Gavin Forgrieve, after a good jinking run from the club Vice Captain but it was wasteful finishing which would ultimately see the home side finish empty handed. Connor Moore, David Beaton and Matty Pollock all blasted presentable chances off target while Craig Gemmell was able to deal with anything on target.
Twice in as many minutes the visitors hit Saints on the counterattack with Robert Caldwell completing his brace and substitute Liam Bygrave rounding off the scoring in the eighty-ninth minute to see Rhu take the Argyll bragging rights back to the county's border with Dunbartonshire.
This coming Tuesday evening Saint's new Gaffers Steven MacLeod and Graham Douglas take their charges to Lochaber High School to face Fort William in the penultimate friendly before their first taste of competitive action. The new management team are already experiencing the player non-availability issues that have plagued the club in recent seasons but are confident of being able to name a strong squad for the trip to face the North Caledonian League hopefuls.
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