Saints Out Of Step
Saturday 12th September 2026
Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association
Premiership
Cambuslang Football Academy 3 - 1 Oban Saints
Stepford Football Centre
1459 Edinburgh Road
Glasgow
G33 4EG
Kick-off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Stephen Rae
A spectacular second half collapse at Stepford Football Centre last Saturday afternoon saw a very much out of step Oban Saints meekly surrender their 100% start to the Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association Premiership campaign. After taking the lead after just 140 seconds Saints failed miserably to capitalise on their first-half dominance and were far too easily picked off by hosts Cambuslang Football Academy Milan in an error strewn second half.
David Beaton's early strike, coupled with a strong wind advantage should have seen Saints on their way to building an unassailable first-half lead however a combination of poor finishing and courageous goal keeping saw Saints reach the interval with just the slenderest of leads. Even the dismissal of Cambuslang central midfielder Brogan Watson and the retirement through injury of goalkeeper Thomas Hunter failed to help the shot shy Saints over the line and two goals in as many minutes saw the hosts turn the match completely on its head.
A sensational eighty-eighth minute breakaway goal put the icing on the cake for Cambuslang and while debate will rage whether it was profligate finishing or charitable defending which cost Saints the most it cannot be denied that having overcome such adversity, the hosts thoroughly deserved their victory.
Work commitments saw Myles McAuley and Drew Murray drop out from the previous week's starting eleven however the biggest blow to Saints' Gaffer Steven MacLeod's preparations was the withdrawal through injury of inspirational Skipper Scott Maitland who missed his first game for almost thirteen months.
Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back three of Matty Pollock, James Conington and Craig MacMillan. The central midfield three of David Beaton, Will Graham and Matthew Kelly were flanked by wingbacks Craig Livingstone and Lewis Campbell with Rhys Millar and Connor Moore forming the strike partnership up front. On the youthful substitutes bench were Connor Beattie, Donald Campbell, Archie Lewis and Ruari MacLeod.
Saints had the benefit of the strong wind blowing West to East along Edinburgh Road in the first half and made the perfect start when David Beaton pounced on a loose ball in the Cambuslang eighteen-yard box to give Saints the lead after just one hundred and forty seconds.
Cambuslang central defender Declyn Healy made the first of a number of important interceptions to deny Connor Moore after five minutes before the Saints' top marksman tee'd up Lewis Campbell for a shot which flew wide of net minder Thomas Hunter's left had post.
Hunter was brought into the action in the tenth minute and passed the test with flying colours. Will Graham, who impressed again in central midfield, cut in from the left and sent a curling effort towards the postage stamp corner only for Hunter to spring acrobatically to his left to fingertip Graham's shot over the crossbar.
The early chances kept coming for Saints and another glorious opportunity was spurned when Connor Moore sent a low effort the wrong side of the post with goalkeeper Hunter well beaten.
Saints' number one Craig Maitland made his first contribution with a solid twenty-first minute stop to his right to push away a James Dempster shot after the big Cambuslang striker was afforded space and time to measure a shot from twenty-two yards.
Thomas Hunter bravely stood his ground to push away David Beaton's inswinging twenty-fifth minute corner kick with Matty Pollock bearing down on him. The collision however added to the growing list of knocks for the Cambuslang keeper who required treatment from both physios before being able to continue.
Now back on his feet, Hunter sprinted quickly off his goal line to reach Matty Pollock's through ball ahead of Connor Moore and fortune favoured the stranded keeper when David Beaton's first-time effort from the clearance struck to foot of the goal post.
Saints continued to create chances, but poor finishing combined with brave goal keeping and some well-timed last-ditch interceptions ensured the lead remained at one goal. Unable to add to the scoring, Saints were however handed a numerical advantage for the second half when Cambuslang midfielder Brogan Watson picked up two yellow cards in quick succession in first half stoppage time.
Saints looked to continue on the front foot, but when Will Graham's free kick was easily held by Thomas Hunter, the home side demonstrated their ability to use the conditions to their advantage by immediately winning a corner kick from Hunter's wide assisted clearance.
The Cambuslang keeper produced another excellent save to deny David Beaton after a short corner kick routine with Will Graham but extending himself well to tip away Beaton's delivery from the resulting corner kick. That, however proved to be Hunter's final contribution with Manager Ryan Kerr coming on take his place between the goal posts.
The change of goalkeeper did nothing to improve Saints' fortunes in front of goal with any effort that did manage to find the target going straight into the gloves of the Cambuslang Gaffer.
Enough of a threat on its own, Ryan McMillan's long throw-ins caused even more problems with the wind behind them and when Declyn Healy helped on McMillan's seventy-first minute throw at the front post, Aaron McFadyen piled in at the back post to head the hosts level.
The reverse prompted a personel change from Saints' Gaffer Steven MacLeod who replaced Craig Livingstone with young Ruari MacLeod however Cambuslang gave Saints no time to adjust and Cameron Scott was allowed to race unchallenged up the left wing and square for Aiden Traynor to knock home and complete the dramatic turnaround.
The shell-shocked Saints had to rely on a point blank save from Craig Maitland before regaining some degree of composure to resume their continuingly fruitless attempts on goal.
Referee Stephen Rae, who had a good game, dismissed what appeared to be valid Saints' appeals for an eighty-fourth minute foul on Will Graham just inside the Saints' half. Cambuslang however didn't wait about to debate the decision and sprayed the ball quickly out to the left for Cameron Scott who fired a terrific shot into the postage stamp corner to put the outcome beyond any doubt.
Gaffer Steven MacLeod utilised the remainder of his options from the bench replacing Lewis Campbell, Rhys Millar and Matthew Pollock with Donald Campbell, Connor Beattie and Archie Lewis but the remaining minutes were played out without significant incident leaving Saints to lick their wounds on the long road home.
This coming Saturday 19th September the D&K Lafferty Contractors, The View and MKM Oban Building Supplies sponsored Saints commence their West of Scotland Amateur Cup campaign with the visit to Glencruitten of Drumchapel Amateurs. This is a massive test for Saints who will have to pick themselves up very quickly if they are to have any hope of progressing against the two-time former cup winners and reigning Caledonian League Premier Division Champions. Under current Scottish Amateur Football Association rules, the match must be played to a finish with a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner if the two sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes.
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