Dumbarton, winners of the 2005 Keyline Cup held at Mossfield Stadium, Oban, on Saturday 16th July

THE 12th Keyline Cup Football Tournament, sponsored by Keyline Building Materials, took place at Mossfield Stadium and Glencruitten Park, Oban, on Saturday 16th July. The games were played in good conditions and before large crowd of spectators and it was Scottish Second Division outfit Dumbarton who lifted the handsome trophy for the first time.
   The Sons who fielded most of their first team squad during the competition looked impressive all day and fully deserved their cup triumph.
   Oban Saints fielded a mixture of youth and experienced players and one of the lessons learned from Saturday was the level of fitness they need to achieve if they are to compete with their professional counterparts, but in saying that the Oban lads turned in some good performances and were complimented on their play by their professional colleagues.
   The first games started at 11 am with the host club taking on Dumbarton at Mossfield, but there was no scoring in this match. Glencruitten hosted the game between new boys to the tournament St Johnstone and Hamilton Accies with the Accies coming out on top with the only goal of the game scored by Mike McCafferty.
   Next game on Mossfield was the all Premier Division clash between Dundee United and Heats, but again this game finished goalless. Oban Saints then took on St Johnstone and the  youngsters from Perth won 3-0 thanks to goals from Kevin Moon, Neil MacCallum and an own goal from Bertie Gemmell. The Oban side had two good chances to take the lead in this game, but they were made to pay for these misses by their First Division opponents.
   Mossfield saw its first goal in the next match when Hamilton Accies Paul MacLeod scored the only goal of the game as they defeated Dundee United 1-0. Hearts and Dumbarton then fought out a 1-1 draw with Dumbarton's John Gemmell scoring at both ends of the pitch.
   Hamilton Accies took on Oban Saints at Mossfield and Accies went ahead from the penalty spot through Scott Turnbridge. Duncan Campbell pulled the local side level with a well taken goal, but Accies were awarded another penalty near the end with Jamie MacArthur making no mistake to give his team a narrow 2-1 win. Dumbarton then took on Dundee United and it was the Sons who who won this encounter 3-0 with an impressive display. Scorers were Iain Russell, Iain Dobbins and Kevin MacDonald.
   St Johnstone versus Hearts was the next game on the agenda and it was the Premier Division side coached by Stevie Frail, who won a close contest with the only goal of the game scored by Des McLaughlin. Hamilton Accies then entertained Dumbarton in a vital top of the table clash and it was the Second Division men who scraped through thanks to an Iain Russell strike.
   Dundee United found themselves 2-0 down against St Johnstone, but with strong words from coach Dave Bowman ringing in their ears the Premier boys fought back to level at 2-2 thanks to goals from John Easton and Graeme Goodwillie. St Johnstone scorers were Neil MacCallum and Steven Doris. The Saints from Oban took on Hearts at Glencruitten and although the local lads played well it was the Edinburgh outfit who came out on top thanks to a penalty from David Armstrong.
   Dumbarton turned in a scintillating display in their next match when they trounced a tiring St Johnstone 6-0 with Iain Russell taking the honours with five goals. Iain Dobbins scored the other goal. Dundee United then defeated Oban Saints 1-0 with the unlucky Joe Lopez putting through his own goal to give United a narrow victory.
   A win for Hamilton in the last game of the day against Hearts would have won them the competition, but the game ended 0-0 which meant the Keyline Challenge Cup was won by Dumbarton by a single point over Accies.
   After the competition all the teams and officials were entertained at a superb reception in Oban Lorne Rugby Club courtesy of Saints sponsors Keyline Building Materials where the winners and runners-up were presented with their medals. Player of the Tournanent, who also received a medal was Chris Reid of Hamilton Accies. The match officials - Donnie Brooks, Jim Pearson, John Scott, Mick McGinley, John Mackie, Alan MacGregor and David Dunlop also received mementos of the occasion.
   Oban Saints secretary David Buchanan, who organises the tournament every year, then handed over the impressive trophy to Dumbarton captain Paul Ronald. David said: 'It was a tremendous day, the weather was reasonable, a good crowd turned up and some of the football was excellent. I think all the teams enjoyed it and have asked to be invited back again next year'.
   David then thanked the club's sponsors, Argyll and Bute Council ground staff, Oban Lorne Rugby Club and a special thanks went to Sandy and Morvan Rokitta for supply a superb meal for the competing teams and officials   

Oban Saints club secretary David Buchanan (right) hands over the Keyline Cup to
 Dumbarton captain Paul Ronald.
 Photo by: Jon Leino

Hamilton Accies finished as runners-up to Dumbarton - one point behind

The young Hearts squad face the camera during the Keyline Cup Tournament

Dundee United, with coach Dave Bowman, back row right.

St Johnstone paid their first visit to the tournament this year and acquitted themselves well.

Amateur club Oban Saints, who host the Keyline Cup Tournament every year.

Hearts try and bend the ball round the St Johnstone wall

 Action from the Hearts v St Johnstone match

The St Johnstone defence block a Dumbarton cross

 Saints striker Dean Smith (gold jersey) gets in a tackle on a Hearts opponent

 Bertie Gemmell tracks a Hearts player during the tournament. The Jambos beat Saints 1-0.

 Action from the Hamilton v Hearts game

Hearts defender David Armstrong slots home the penalty which gave the Jambos a 1-0 win over Saints