Saints Victorious In M&M Trophy Final
- Winning In The Rain
- May 31
- 6 min read
Saturday 30th May 2026
Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association
McAvoy & McIntyre Trophy
Final
Oban Saints 2 - 1 AFC Chryston
Hamish B. Allan Stadium
69 Toryglen Road
Rutherglen
Glasgow
G73 1HZ
Kick-off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Kevin McIntyre
Assistant Referee Mr Will Gracie
Assistant Referee Mr Kane Maxwell
Fourth Official Mr James McNeil
Following their Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association McAvoy and McIntyre Trophy semi-final victory over Knightswood seven days earlier, Oban Saints made an immediate return to the Hamish B. Allan Stadium, home of Rutherglen Glencairn, last Saturday 30th May to face holders AFC Chryston in the final.
Just as they had done in three previous encounters this season with a very good Chryston side, Saints battled every inch of the way to secure victory and with it their first silverware since the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B title in 2020.
After falling behind after just sixty-three seconds, Saints recovered with an equaliser from Preston Macintyre before Chryston keeper Aedan Houston helped a Connor Moore strike into his own net to give Saints the lead on the stroke of half-time. Chryston gave it all they had in the second period but couldn't break down a resolute Saints side who defended manfully to bring home the trophy.
Saints' Gaffer Steven MacLeod was able to name a seventeen-man squad for the penultimate match of a long season however he was forced into a reshuffle of his starting eleven when David Beaton reported with food poisoning. Beaton was deemed fit enough to take a place on the substitutes bench alongside Connor Beattie, Donald Campbell, Innes Fraser, Matthew Pollock and goalkeeper and Assistant Manager Graham Douglas. Rhys Millar, meanwhile, was promoted to the starting line-up.
Saints lined up with Craig Maitland in goal behind a back three of Ryan Barclay, Captain Scott Maitland and Myles McAuley. The central midfield three of Preston Macintyre, Aaron Moore and Gavin Forgrieve were flanked by wingbacks Aaron McKay and Rhys Millar with Kuba Ryszka and Connor Moore forming the strike partnership up front. Joining Manager Steven MacLeod in a packed technical area were coaches Archie MacLean, Peter MacCallum and David Dunlop and Secretary David Buchanan.
Saints kicked off attacking the railway line end of the well-prepared grass surface at the Hamish B. Allan Stadium but could have scarcely made a worse start. After Craig Maitland had saved bravely at the feet of Chryston Skipper Ronan McLaughlin, the North Lanarkshire men struck in the second minute when a shot from the edge of the Saints' box from Andrew Beveridge took a massive deflection sending the ball spinning beyond the despairing dive of Craig Maitland.
The early goal rocked Saints back on their heels and Chryston proceeded to dominate the early stages. The extra width in the playing surface didn't deter Chryston's long throw-in expert Jason Stevenson who picked out the head of James O'Connor for a looping tenth minute header which dropped comfortably into the arms of Craig Maitland.
Saints eventually got going when strong running on the right from Kuba Ryszka forced a thirteenth-minute corner kick. Gavin Forgrieve's delivery was helped on at the front post by Aaron Moore to Rhys Millar whose back post volley was well saved by Chryston keeper Aedan Houston.
Young striker Ryszka won another corner kick after fifteen minutes which sparked a flurry of three corner kicks in quick succession before Aedan Houston eventually calmed things down with a clean catch from Gavin Forgrieve's delivery from the left.
Chryston came roaring back and should have doubled their advantage after twenty-one minutes when Darren McGhee cushioned a glorious chance wide of Craig Maitland's right-hand post from a cross from the right from Andrew Beveridge.
The trophy holders followed this up with a curling Joseph Fraser effort wide of the postage stamp corner. From Craig Maitland's goal kick Ryan Barclay sent Kuba Ryszka racing through the inside right channel. Ryszka picked out the up-in-support Gavin Forgrieve in the middle whose shot was well saved by Aedan Houston. Saints threatened again sixty seconds later with a Connor Moore shot from the left which flew wide of the far post.
Saints were rewarded for their endeavours in the twenty-ninth minute when Preston Macintyre battled with Ronan McLaughlin twenty-four yards from goal to get a shot away which dipped onto the six-yard line and bounced over the left hand of Aedan Houston and into the net.
Just sixty seconds later Saints passed up a chance to double their tally after Aaron Moore had been fouled on the halfway line. After bouncing about in the Chryston penalty area Scott Maitland's free kick eventually broke to Kuba Ryszka on the six-yard line who stabbed the ball agonisingly wide of Aedan Houston's left-hand post.
Saints came close again from another Scott Maitland free kick with Aaron Moore climbing well to make a solid connection at the back post but planting his header wide of target.
Saints kept the pressure on and only and excellent fingertip save from Aedan Houston denied Rhys Millar a spectacular overhead kick goal.
With the first forty-five minutes expired and time added on for stoppages being played Saints struck for a second, and ultimately decisive, time. Ryan Waugh bravely blocked a thumping drive from Connor Moore with the ball spinning out of play on the Saints' left. Rhys Millar beat Brendan Johnson in the air to flick-on Myles McAuley's throw-in to Connor Moore on the six-yard line whose left foot shot had enough venom to cause Aedan Houston to eventually drop the ball over his own goal line.
Chryston made a strong start to the second half and, when Preston Macintyre chopped down Dylan McLaughlin in the forty-eighth minute older sibling Ronan was inches away from finding the target with a dipping free kick from the corner of the Saints' eighteen-yard box.
The Chryston Skipper tried his luck again from a short corner on the left with his shot from a tight angle only just clearing the crossbar.
Despite being pinned back Saints posed a considerable threat on the counterattack with Kuba Ryszka firing wide after robbing Jason Stevenson on the halfway line. The young striker had scored twice in the semi-final and, just before the hour mark, came tantalisingly close to adding a cup final goal to his tally. Aaron Moore intercepted a Chryston throw-in and sent Connor Moore away on the Saints' left. Moore found strike partner Ryszka in the Chryston box who looked set to score after a delightful turn but was thwarted by the quick reactions of Aedan Houston who did very well to get down quickly and smother the ball at Ryszka's feet.
Ryszka's tightening hamstring forced him off with David Beaton getting the nod to replace him. Saints continued to soak up the Chryston pressure who again had to rely on their goalkeeper for another vital save to deny Rhys Millar in the sixty-ninth minute.
With fifteen minutes remaining Aaron McKay, who had run himself into the ground, was replaced by Donald Campbell. this was followed four minutes later by Saints' final change which saw Preston Macintyre make way for Connor Beattie.
With Skipper Scott Maitland leading by example Saints continued to defend doggedly from front to back and gave their opponents only the occasional sight of goal. The closest Chryston were to come was in the first of the five added minutes when substitute Declan O'Donnell climbed highest at the back post to head a Ronan McLaughlin corner kick inches wide of target.
There was still time for one last Saints attempt to ease the tension among the travelling support but the Chryston keeper once again prevailed clawing away another Connor Moore effort before Referee Kevin McIntyre, who along with his assistants handled proceedings very well, blew the fulltime whistle.
The trophy presentation was carried out by Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association President George Dingwall and Secretary Chris Wilson. Mr Dingwall firstly presented Connor Moore with the man of the match award before presenting match officials Kevin McIntyre, Will Gracie, Kane Maxwell and James McNeil with their medals. Captain of the gallant losers, Ronan McLaughlin, then led his team up to receive their runners-up medals before the Saints' players received their winners' medals. Finally, Mr Dingwall invited Saints' Captain Scott Maitland to come forward and receive the handsome McAvoy and McIntyre Trophy.
Lifting his first item of silverware as Saints' Captain, Maitland cheerfully displayed the cup to the delighted band of Saints' supporters who had made the long journey from Oban to cheer on their favourites. Oban Saints extend their grateful thanks to their fans for their valued support and also to the Oban No. 1 Celtic Supporters Club who kindly provided their minibus.
There will be silverware at stake again for Saints' next and final fixture of the season when the D&K Lafferty Contractors and MKM Oban Building Supplies sponsored men go head-to-head with title favourites FC Pather for the Scottish Premier Amateur Football Association Premier Division crown. A date has yet to be set for the eagerly anticipated season finale.
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