Latest news with #MarkO'Hara
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tens of thousands raised for charity by former non-league stars
MORE than 70 former non-league players from yesteryear will battle it out in a charitable round of golf this weekend. It is the fourth year running that teams captained by ex-Banbury United man Mark O'Hara and former Oxford City player Steve Jenkins will go head-to-head. This year's golf day will take place at Oxford Golf Club on Sunday, with 36 players on each side. Among them include former Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Leicester City midfielder Garry Parker, plus ex-Oxford United and Witney United striker Jamie Cook and former Coventry City midfielder Martin Singleton. READ ALSO: The latest Aunt Sally results from Oxford league O'Hara, who is currently losing 2-1 after the first three years, said: 'Years ago, we would kick lumps out of each other, but we've stayed good mates and not one year has anyone not turned up. 'Players of my era didn't miss a game of football. We'd play Tuesday and Saturday, and the Sunday league used to be massive, and we'd just get on with it. 'We'd kick lumps out of each other. It used to be very competitive in the 80s and 90s.' The annual golf day has raised more than £23,000 for Cancer Research UK, with an additional £6,000 collected this year, including a £4,000 donation from event sponsors Hartwell Automative Group. O'Hara said: 'Everybody is there for the competition side of it as well, and it's very competitive. Last year, Jenks didn't speak to me for six holes. 'It's a friendly rivalry and we all go out together after. We'll go down the Cowley Road or into Jericho, and there are a few who'll come for the night out after. This year, we'll have the bank holiday the next day to recover though.' The golf starts at 1pm with evening out to follow at approximately 7pm, when all ex-players will be welcome. To donate, please visit:
The National
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
St Mirren 1 Aberdeen 0: Mandron strike keeps Euro hopes alive
The striker, who signed a new contract this week, controlled Mark O'Hara cross on his chest and rifled home the game's only goal after an hour. Aberdeen started well and Jeppe Okkels had a goal ruled out by VAR, but they faded in the second half as they fell to a first defeat in nine games. St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson made just one change from the side which drew with Rangers last weekend, with Oisin Smyth replacing Caolan Boyd-Munce in midfield. Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin made two alterations to the team which beat Hibs last time out, with Pape Gueye and Richard Jensen dropping out to be replaced by Nicky Devlin and Okkels. It was the Dons who started quicker and Ante Palaversa had the first chance after five minutes as he met Leighton Clarkson's deep corner with a header at the far post, but his effort was blocked. Clarkson then went close two minutes later, firing into the side netting from the edge of the area after St Mirren failed to properly clear another corner. Aberdeen thought they had taken the lead midway through the half when Okkels acrobatically volleyed in Clarkson's cross at the far post. However, the cross had deflected off the arm of Kevin Nisbet and referee Ross Hardie decided to disallow the goal after being sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR. The reprieve appeared to shake the slow-starting Saints into life and Jonah Ayunga curled just wide from 20 yards in the 30th minute as they eventually had their first chance of note. The next opportunity came a minute later as the ball dropped to Mark O'Hara, who fired in a low effort from eight yards that was well saved by Dimitar Mitov. St Mirren were inches away from taking the lead just before half-time as Ryan Alebiosu's low cross was deflected just wide by Aberdeen defender Alfie Dorrington. Saints got their noses in front just before the hour mark as Mandron showed superb composure to control O'Hara's outswinging free-kick on his chest before volleying low past Mitov with his left foot. Substitute Jamie McGrath came close to an equaliser in the 69th minute when his goal-bound inswinging cross had to be clawed away by Saints goalkeeper Zach Hemming. Aberdeen ended the game with four strikers on the pitch as Gueye, Oday Dabbagh and Fletcher Boyd joined Nisbet as they searched for the leveller in the closing stages. However, despite a number of late balls into the box, the Dons could not create any clear-cut chances as they slipped towards a first loss since February. St Mirren could have extended their lead deep into stoppage time as substitute James Scott saw his goalbound shot blocked, but a single goal was enough for Robinson's side. The win moved them to within five points of fifth-placed Dundee United in the last remaining European spot.
STV News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Mikael Mandron goal earns St Mirren narrow win over Aberdeen
St Mirren kept their European hopes alive as Mikael Mandron's composed finish earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Aberdeen at the SMISA Stadium. The striker, who signed a new contract this week, controlled Mark O'Hara cross on his chest and rifled home the game's only goal after an hour. Aberdeen started well and Jeppe Okkels had a goal ruled out by VAR, but they faded in the second half as they fell to a first defeat in nine games. St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson made just one change from the side which drew with Rangers last weekend, with Oisin Smyth replacing Caolan Boyd-Munce in midfield. Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin made two alterations to the team which beat Hibs last time out, with Pape Gueye and Richard Jensen dropping out to be replaced by Nicky Devlin and Okkels. It was the Dons who started quicker and Ante Palaversa had the first chance after five minutes as he met Leighton Clarkson's deep corner with a header at the far post, but his effort was blocked. Clarkson then went close two minutes later, firing into the side netting from the edge of the area after St Mirren failed to properly clear another corner. Aberdeen thought they had taken the lead midway through the half when Okkels acrobatically volleyed in Clarkson's cross at the far post. However, the cross had deflected off the arm of Kevin Nisbet and referee Ross Hardie decided to disallow the goal after being sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR. The reprieve appeared to shake the slow-starting Saints into life and Jonah Ayunga curled just wide from 20 yards in the 30th minute as they eventually had their first chance of note. The next opportunity came a minute later as the ball dropped to Mark O'Hara, who fired in a low effort from eight yards that was well saved by Dimitar Mitov. St Mirren were inches away from taking the lead just before half-time as Ryan Alebiosu's low cross was deflected just wide by Aberdeen defender Alfie Dorrington. Saints got their noses in front just before the hour mark as Mandron showed superb composure to control O'Hara's outswinging free-kick on his chest before volleying low past Mitov with his left foot. Substitute Jamie McGrath came close to an equaliser in the 69th minute when his goal-bound inswinging cross had to be clawed away by Saints goalkeeper Zach Hemming. Aberdeen ended the game with four strikers on the pitch as Gueye, Oday Dabbagh and Fletcher Boyd joined Nisbet as they searched for the leveller in the closing stages. However, despite a number of late balls into the box, the Dons could not create any clear-cut chances as they slipped towards a first loss since February. St Mirren could have extended their lead deep into stoppage time as substitute James Scott saw his goalbound shot blocked, but a single goal was enough for Robinson's side. The win moved them to within five points of fifth-placed Dundee United in the last remaining European spot. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Leader Live
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Mikael Mandron goal earns St Mirren narrow win over Aberdeen
The striker, who signed a new contract this week, controlled Mark O'Hara cross on his chest and rifled home the game's only goal after an hour. Aberdeen started well and Jeppe Okkels had a goal ruled out by VAR, but they faded in the second half as they fell to a first defeat in nine games. St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson made just one change from the side which drew with Rangers last weekend, with Oisin Smyth replacing Caolan Boyd-Munce in midfield. Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin made two alterations to the team which beat Hibs last time out, with Pape Gueye and Richard Jensen dropping out to be replaced by Nicky Devlin and Okkels. It was the Dons who started quicker and Ante Palaversa had the first chance after five minutes as he met Leighton Clarkson's deep corner with a header at the far post, but his effort was blocked. Clarkson then went close two minutes later, firing into the side netting from the edge of the area after St Mirren failed to properly clear another corner. Aberdeen thought they had taken the lead midway through the half when Okkels acrobatically volleyed in Clarkson's cross at the far post. However, the cross had deflected off the arm of Kevin Nisbet and referee Ross Hardie decided to disallow the goal after being sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR. The reprieve appeared to shake the slow-starting Saints into life and Jonah Ayunga curled just wide from 20 yards in the 30th minute as they eventually had their first chance of note. The next opportunity came a minute later as the ball dropped to Mark O'Hara, who fired in a low effort from eight yards that was well saved by Dimitar Mitov. St Mirren were inches away from taking the lead just before half-time as Ryan Alebiosu's low cross was deflected just wide by Aberdeen defender Alfie Dorrington. Saints got their noses in front just before the hour mark as Mandron showed superb composure to control O'Hara's outswinging free-kick on his chest before volleying low past Mitov with his left foot. Substitute Jamie McGrath came close to an equaliser in the 69th minute when his goal-bound inswinging cross had to be clawed away by Saints goalkeeper Zach Hemming. Aberdeen ended the game with four strikers on the pitch as Gueye, Oday Dabbagh and Fletcher Boyd joined Nisbet as they searched for the leveller in the closing stages. However, despite a number of late balls into the box, the Dons could not create any clear-cut chances as they slipped towards a first loss since February. St Mirren could have extended their lead deep into stoppage time as substitute James Scott saw his goalbound shot blocked, but a single goal was enough for Robinson's side. The win moved them to within five points of fifth-placed Dundee United in the last remaining European spot.
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Mark O'Hara says St Mirren ruing missed opportunity to beat Rangers again
Mark O'Hara believes the fact that St Mirren players were disappointed with only a point against Rangers shows how far the club have come. The 2-2 draw in Paisley on Saturday saw the Buddies twice come from behind to earn a Premiership point. However, O'Hara — whose equaliser cancelled out Cyriel Dessers' opener before Nico Raskin made it 2-1 which Conor McMenamin levelled — admits the performance of his side and the chances created means the draw felt like a missed opportunity. The 30-year-old Saints captain insisted: 'I think, this season, we've just been getting stronger and stronger — and the whole squad is obviously back to full fitness now. 'There's no injuries and everyone is really pushing each other. The performance against Rangers shows how far the club have come. We obviously wanted a win against them — that was our target — but again we've shown once again that we're a good side. 'The feeling after the game is that we were definitely disappointed because we could have won that — but it was a really positive performance. 'We've shown this season — and even over the last season — that we can beat anyone on our day and we have come a long way but we're wanting more now.' Saints have taken seven points from four clashes against Rangers this season — which included wins at both the SMiSA and Ibrox — which is one of the best points returns in recent times against the Light Blues. Stephen Robinson's men now sit eight points behind fifth-placed Dundee United, who lost 5-0 to runaway champions Celtic at Tannadice. With 12 points still to play for, O'Hara insists the Paisley men have the Tangerines in their sights. He added: 'Yeah, it's got to be the target, I think there's no pressure on us which is different than previous seasons post-split. We enjoy a challenge, we enjoy causing an upset and we have done that a number of times in the last few years. 'So, I don't think anyone would give us a chance [of overtaking Dundee United in the table] and it would be nice to prove people wrong and do that.' The return of McMenamin could be key to achieving that goal and O'Hara admits he's delighted to see the Northern Ireland international back. The Saints skipper commented: 'He's been unlucky with injuries but I think you can see last week and this week's quality when it comes on and scores the equaliser. 'He's going to be an asset in the last couple of games and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him again next season.' Don't miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – you can sign up to our free daily newsletter here
