Oakley United 2 – 0 Rosyth Recreation

Cusick, 42min
OG, 61min

Rosyth & Crossgates both beaten by
“New Look” Oakley

GAME ONE

After beating Hill O’Beath Hawthorn and Crossgates in their previous games by an emphatic 7 – 1 and 5-0 respectively, Rosyth arrived at Blairwood Park with a 100% winning start to the season both in terms of friendlies and ACA league Cup matches.

The match also saw the return of two of Oakley’s favourite sons Craig “Mori” Morrison and his younger brother Ross “Roscoe”, Craig was out however after receiving a knock versus the Haws and Ross found himself on the bench of an impressive Rosyth team.
Rosyth showed why they are a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League this term as early as the first minute when they broke with pace with a sweeping move, from right to left that resulted in Martin Parkyn making an excellent save low to his right.

Oakley kept the tempo up and never allowed Rosyth to settle on the ball with John Rushford dominating the midfield battle, and setting the standard for the team.
The game needed a goal and Oakley produced it on 42minutes when a clever through ball allowed Brendan CUSICK to beat the offside trap and have a shot at goal only to see his first effort well blocked by the keeper. He was however the quickest to react and his second attempt found the back of the net, must to the delight of the home support.

The second half followed the pattern of the first, with Rosyth holding the ball at the back but failing to pierce the Oakley defence where Manager Willie Newbigging was outstanding despite the fact that he doesn’t want to play but concentrate on managing this season, and hasn’t trained at all.

Brendan Cusick and William Cadbury then won the O’s a penalty on the hour mark that firstly resulted in the Rosyth keeper seeing a straight red before Newbigging saw his spot kick saved by the substitute keeper.

This could’ve been a disaster had Rosyth not pushed the self destruct button three minutes later, a great piece of individual play by Cadbury, left two defenders for dead on the wing before his cross was sliced clear by one Rosyth defender off the back of another and straight into the back of the net with their keeper a spectator on the line.

Rosyth had a number of long range attempts at goal in the remainder of the game but never really troubled Parkyn, and if anything Oakley could’ve won by more.

Crossgates 2 – 3 Oakley United

Morrison, 15mins
Ogg, 35mins Pen
Sinclair 89 mins

GAME TWO

All hands on deck as Injuries, Suspensions and Holidays reduced Oakley to the bare minimum. Struggling to put even eleven men on the park manager Willie Newbigging again had to don the number 4 jersey and call on some injured players to play through the pain barrier in order to complete their ACA program. In addition to that, the coaching team of Derek Murray and Dougie Russell were “the” bench.

Oakley, despite this was the better team on the day and fully deserved their three points but it should’ve been easier as they squandered a hatful of chances.

It was the exciting youngster Lee MORRISON that got the opener on 15 minutes, when he arrived late into a crowded box to drive a powerful left footer into the net from 6 yards out.

Oakley had a number of half chances after some excellent inter-passing mainly between Rushford and Sinclair, but it was Crossgates that scored next on 21mins when young Steven Stewart failed to hold onto a thunderous shot and was unable to retrieve the second ball.

It all changed on 35 minutes when OGG was taken down in the box by the beaten keeper which saw him red carded , with the youngster picking himself up to score from the spot.

The next goal came on 53 minutes when the ball bouncing around the Oakley box from a free kick like a pin ball eventually was headed into the net to once again bring the home side level.

It was all Oakley thereafter with the occasional break away from Crossgates but even then the Oakley back four were more than a match for anything thrown at them. Oakley’s attacks came in waves and predominately down the right, with either Wright or Cusick supplying the cross into the area. With time running out Greig SINCLAIR came to Oakley’s rescue, heading into the corner of the net from a Wright cross on 89 minutes.

Oakley United Versus Kelty Hearts

5th June 2007
REDWOOD CUP - QUARTER FINALS

Penalty Success Versus Local Rivals

Beaten Scottish Cup finalists Kelty Hearts traveled to Blairwood park for their first game since losing to a late extra time winner from Linlithgow Rose , losing out by the odd goal in three.

A number of key players were missing for the Hearts, including Ex-Oakley star Iain Mauchline who joined Kelty recently from Cowdenbeath, but with a pool of over 20 players to pick from Stevie Leighton still fielded a strong eleven.

Sympathy for the Hearts must’ve been running deep after their Scottish Cup defeat as Oakley were denied a stone wall penalty as early as the first minute when Jacko Baird was upended in the box by the Kelty keeper. The home crowd was doubly incensed when neither the Red card was shown nor the penalty awarded. To add insult to injury, the Kelty keeper had a number of good saves to deny both Lammie and Ewing before Kelty scored twice off the back of some poor Oakley defending.

With the Oakley back four handling the Kelty attack with ease Lammie and Rushford commanding the middle of the park and with Baird, Lister and Ewing were finding space upfront it was only a matter of time before they got back into the match.

A solid strike from Ryan EWING reduced the deficit on 37 minutes when he capitilised on a slip by Kelty veteran Craig Smart, to smash the ball into the net past a host of Kelty defenders.

Half Time; Oakley United 1 – 2 Kelty Hearts

Ryan’s twentieth goal of the season had set the O’s up for a grandstand second half and with the feeling that the equaliser would come, they pushed forward.

During the second half the O’s made three substitutions in order to try and win the game. Injured Lee Morrison was replaced by the “flying” Russell Smart, Ross Morrison by veteran John Allison on the right of midfield and Forfar Athletic target Jimmy Lister who had had a number of long range efforts, being replaced by top scorer Craig Morrison.

As expected the equaliser did come, but from an unlikely source in that of defender Scot BUIST who reacted quickest to a loose ball in the Kelty box.
Russell Smart almost won the game within the regulation 90 minutes twice, when he was firstly denied by a good save from a flicked on header and secondly by the Referee who failed to play the advantage after a Shaun Graham lunge when he ghosted through a static Kelty defence and in on goal.

For the fifth time this season the match went to penalties and for the fourth the O’s were successful. Once again Greig Maitland secured victory when he saved Kelty’s third spot kick after their second had hit the post, to allow Jacko Baird the pleasure of slotting home to win it 4 – 1 on penalties.

KELTY HEARTS 1 - 4 OAKLEY UNITED

Oakley United Versus Lochee United

28th May 2007
WHYTE & MACKAY SUPER LEAGUE EAST

Oakley Finish in Style

As the 2006/07 season comes to a close Oakley must reflect on what can only be described as a successful league campaign.

The Objective for the year was simple; it was to remain in the top flight.

Oakley cannot compete with the likes of Linlithgow, Carnoustie, Bonnyrigg, Camelon, Whitburn etc in regards to investing in the clubs via their various social clubs, but on the park Oakley competed well despite not getting their true rewards.

Going into the last league game of the season, Manager Willie Newbigging was forced to make some dramatic changes as firstly, neither of his two first choice keepers were available, and secondly in that there were a number of players only one yellow card away from a ban with a Cup final on the horizon.

Up stepped young keeper Stephen Stewart and in came John Allison for one of his very few starts of the season so far.

As Newbigging stated pre-match this wasn’t a MUST win game but it WAS a “mustn’t lose by more than five goals” one. A defeat by more than five would’ve meant that Oakley would be relegated and Bo’Ness would survive.

But any concerns were quickly suppressed as Craig MORRISON slotted home his 29th of the season as early as the 15th minute when he outpaced Thomson before driving the ball past Brown in the Lochee goal.
That should’ve been Morrison’s second of the night after the striker had pulled a shot wide in the first minute when it was easier to score.

Lochee were back in the match on 35mins when the big centre half THOMSON was allowed too much time and space in the Oakley area to half-volley past a helpless Stewart.

Half-Time 1-1

Oakley’s Lee Morrison’s run and shot was the first piece of action in the second half with Brown saving easily to his right. But It was Lochee’s first attack of the half that resulted in the third goal of the evening, a great defensive tackle by Newbigging deep in his own half turned defence into attack when he played a delightful ball over the Lochee back four for Ryan EWING to run in and lob the ball into the net.

It was as they say all Oakley, Firstly Duffin’s fine header was cleared off the line before a Russell Smart effort was ruled out for offside after a great move down Oakley’s right involving Ross Morrison and Jacko Baird.

Smart was again denied on the hour by a last ditch tackle by the impressive Polish right back Krobot, before a number of close calls from Rushford, Ewing and Baird.

Buist, Duffin, Morrison (Lee), and Newbigging were sublime at the back nullifying the Lochee attack that never looked liked they could break through, despite the introduction on McMillan and Robertson to bolster the Lochee attack

With the game coming to a close Russell SMART finally got his reward when he got Oakley’s third slotting home from close range after some excellent build up play.
The final whistle blew and Oakley were still in the Super League, a great result to finish off a fine season.

TAYPORT 1 - 5 OAKLEY UNITED
Kenneth 76, Lister 45, Ewing 45, Smart 48, Newbigging 52(Pen), C Morrison 86.

Oakley United Versus Tayport

21st April 2007
WHYTE & MACKAY SUPER LEAGUE EAST

Oakley Inflict Tayport's
Biggest Ever Home Defeat

Oakley United finally went nap at the weekend as they inflicted on Tayport their biggest ever defeat at Cannipart.

For a number of weeks now the O’s have been guilty of creating a number of chances in every game but not converting many, so there was a feeling around the United dressing room that someone, sometime soon was going to get a good roasting but nobody believed that it would be last seasons Super League Champions Tayport.

On the back of two wins versus Linlithgow and Bathgate and a draw versus Camelon, Tayport were in a positive frame of mind but they were second best all afternoon. With the exception of Ronnie Kenneth’s 76th minute strike , midweek penalty save hero Maitland had very little to do.

The first thirty minutes was all Oakley with the highlight being a Russell Smart chip being tipped over by Fitzpatrick after he was put through by Scott Lammie.

It took Tayport til the 31st minute to put an effort in on goal, with a Bryan Duell header going just wide. A minute later a great Lister run half the length of the park set up a chance for Ewing whose effort flashed just over. The same player(Ewing) saw a flicked header go just wide from a Newbigging free kick before Lister again came close when his looped header went just over landing on the roof of the net.

The referee signaled two additional minutes to his assistant and that sparked off a stunning end to the first half, an intricate move down Oakley’s left involving Russell Smart, Jimmy Lister and Lee Morrison resulted in LISTER leaping above both Wemyss & Duell to head past the desperate hand of Fitzpatrick for the opener.

Within seconds of the restart Oakley won back the ball, Ross Morrison played a “Beckham” like ball( His words) through to Ewing who rounded Fitzpatrick before finding the bottom corner to put the O’s in two up.

Half Time Tayport 0 – 2 Oakley United

The second half started as well for the O’s as the first had finished. A free kick was awarded to Oakley just inside their own half which was driven across field by Newbigging only for Russell SMART to show tremendous skill controlling the ball on the drop before advancing a few yards before lashing the ball past the helpless keeper.

Lammie and Smart both came close again before Fitzpatrick was red carded for bringing the sublime Smart crashing to the ground as he again set about terrorizing the Tayport back four with another mazy run. Up stepped player manager Willie NEWBIGGING who smashed the ball high into the Tayport net.

With the game won, Oakley made their three substitutions giving both the Strikers Ewing & Lister, as well as home defenders Wemyss and Duell a well deserved break. Ronnie KENNETH pulled one back for Tayport on 76mins as Oakley allowed Tayport more possession in midfield which resulted in Kenneth being given too much space in the box.

Oakley finished off in style, when the impressive Smart dribbled his way through the defence before crashing a shot off the post only to see Craig MORRISON collect the rebound, put the keeper on his butt before stroking the ball into an empty net for an important win in the O’s battle for survival in the Super League.

TAYPORT 1 - 5 OAKLEY UNITED
Kenneth 76, Lister 45, Ewing 45, Smart 48, Newbigging 52(Pen), C Morrison 86.

Oakley United Versus Lochore Welfare

18th April 2007
KINGDOM KEGS CUP - QUARTER FINAL

Heroes and Villain

The Kingdom Kegs Cup is in its third year as a competition and in that time it has almost belonged to Oakley United, winning the inaugural event against tonight’s opponents Lochore 1-0, before losing out by the odd goal in nine in last seasons final to St Andrews United.

This season already Oakley now find themselves in the semi-finals but only after stuttering past a plucky Lochore outfit that really didn’t put any great pressure on the home defence.

Oakley’s continued problem of the past few weeks was again evident in the first half hour, both in terms of bad discipline and not converting their chances as Craig, Ross and Lee Morrison all came close before Scott Lammie was red carded for the second time in four games for dissent on 24 minutes, being yellow carded twice in less than a minute.

It was Lochore however that looked as if it was them that were a man short as Oakley continued to control the game and create the majority of the chances but having said that it was Lochore that took the lead, Richard Workman’s poor back pass put Lochore’s Farley through one on one with Maitland and despite the keepers best efforts FARLEY stroked the ball into the net for a surprising lead.

A lead that was short lived, with half time quickly approaching up-stepped Oakley’s Captain Roger DUFFIN, winning a tackle on the half way line before driving past two defenders and shooting past a beaten Crowe low to the keepers right.

Half Time 1-1

Lochore came out of the blocks well at the start of the second half and forced a great one handed save from Maitland, who had to drive full length to his right to push the ball clear.

Both Roger Duffin, a revelation in his midfield role and stalwart John Rushford, both had good chances before the O’s pushed Lochore back with a series of five consecutive corners in a ten minute spell towards the end.All to no avail however and the game ended one apiece.

So as with all local Cup matches this year the game went straight to Penalties. For Oakley this was the fourth time already this season and for the fourth time Oakley won through, with Greig Maitland again the hero saving two of Lochore’s four spot kicks enabling the O’s to win the game 4-2. (Newbigging, Ewing, Buist and Baird being the successful takers for the O’s.)
Oakley’s victory now means that they will be away in the Semi-final to either Bankfoot or Glenrothes.

Oakley United 1 – 1 Lochore Welfare
Duffin 45
Farley 39

Oakley United Versus Hill O’Beath Hawthorn

14th April 2007
WHYTE & MACKAY SUPER LEAGUE EAST

Oakley Rue Missed Chances

Once again it is a case of what might have been! Not for the first time Hill O’Beath emerge triumphant over the O’s despite being the poorer team on the day, but silly mistakes cost United dear and they left Keirs Park with nothing.

The writing was on the wall as early as the first minute when after a mix up between Duffin and Maitland, Beath striker Reynolds was presented with a guilt edged opportunity, which he squandered after lobbing well over the bar when it looked easier to score.

Craig Morrison almost scored at the other end seconds later but Haws stalwart Graham got down well to his near post to smother, after the striker had hung Anderson out to dry before cutting in from the right wing to unleash a fiery left footer. Oakley took the lead on six minutes with an absolute corker. Good work down the left from youngster Lee Morrison set up Scott LAMMIE who thundered it past a routed Graham from 30 yards.

The game flowed from end to end with Beveridge and C Morrison both having chances before THOMSON leveled with a screamer of his own on 19 minutes. Ryan Ewing could have made it two one on 36mins when he cleverly beat two “Haws” defenders after a through ball from Rushford only to snatch at the shot and sky it well wide. The “Haws” went in at the break ahead after BEVERIDGE converted a penalty on 40mins after Craig Morrison was adjudged to have taken Courts down whilst trying to clear the ball from a corner.

Half Time: Hill O’Beath 2 – 1 Oakley United

Oakley were the better team in the second half and a number of chances fell their way early doors , firstly Lister was a little too strong with a lob from the edge of the box before the same player had an effort well saved by Graham, when he went for placement rather than power after finding himself some space in a crowded area.

Luck was definitely with the home team on 65 mins, when with Graham well beaten a Lee Morrison strike rattled back off the post after a piercing run and shot only for the ensuing rebound to be scrambled clear by the un gamely Ross for another Oakley corner.

Scott Lammie again came close on a number of occasions when firstly he only managed to poke a spilt Jacko Baird shot into Graham’s side netting before seeing his diving header fly straight into the arms of the Haws keeper. With United pushing forward the Haws almost snatched an undeserved third right on the whistle. With two strikers bearing down on Maitland in the United goal, Roger Duffin cleared after a tremendous piece of defending after tracking back half the field .

Final Score: Hill O’Beath Hawthorn 2 – 1 Oakley United
Thomson 19 Lammie 6
Beveridge 40 Pen

Oakley United Versus Luncarty

31st March 2007
MALACO CUP - QUARTER FINAL

Oakley United Team; Maitland, Buist, L Morrison, Newbigging, Duffin, Lammie, Rushford, Smart, Baird, C Morrison Ewing. Subs Not used; Parkyn, Allison, Stewart, Potter

Blackburn United versus Oakley United

24th March 2007
FIFE & LOTHIAN CUP 3rd Round

Oakley United Team; Parkyn, Buist, Newbigging, Duffin, L Morrison,
Lammie, Rushford, Smart, Allison(R Morrison 54), Ewing, Baird (Lister 67)
Subs not used; Stewart, Workman, Maitland.
Blackburn United; Hunter, Mangan, Mitchell, R Brown, Brogan (Whiteford 87), Fowler, C Donnelly, A Brown(Spence 52), Roy, P Donnelly, McCradie.
Bench; Brash, Cogle, M Ramage, Wilson, Williamson

Oakley United versus Bathgate Thistle

17th March 2007
WHYTE & MACKAY SUPER LEAGUE EAST