Weekend Preview

"It's the weekend preview Mr. Preview" 

Saints were afforded an uexpected midweek rest when their Wednesday evening match against Thorn Athletic was called off at 0930 hours on Wednesday morning due to a waterlogged pitch.

McMaster Park, Johnstone

Saints Manager Iain Jacksonb was in Glasgow on the morning of the match to seal a deal with sportswear giants Speedo to supply Saints kit for next season. On hearing the news from Johnstone he made a quick trip along the M8 to inspect the pitch for himself. Iain was bitterly disappointed at the decision of the ground staff as, in his opinion, the pitch was perfectly playable and would have been ideal for striker Asen Gaydardzhiev to whom he planned to hand a starting role.

 Saints new kit suppliers "Ideal sportswear for the Oban weather."

While the Saints players were sat at home watching the Europa League Final on T.V. title rivals Aikenhead Thistle and Postal United were both involved in crucial league matches. Encouragingly for Saints both slumped to unexpected defeats, Aikenhead losing 4 - 1 at home to Castlemilk AFC and Postal losing 3 - 2 away at Finnart. The blow of dropping two points at home to Rolls Royce EK on Sunday was softened considerably by this news and thoughts turned quickly again to possible final league standings.

After several hours of deliberation and head scratching it is still too early to say where the league title wiil end up but it is clear that the thee remaining contenders Aikenhead, Postal and Saints are all still firmly in the hunt going into this weekend's fixtures.

Saints continue their pursuit of league glory with yet another weekend double header. On Saturday Saints travel to Glasgow to face Castlemilk AFC at the Barlia 3G. Castlemilk, buoyed by their excellent 4 - 1 victory at Aikenhead Thistle and playing their final home fixture of the season, will be looking to go out on a high. The midweek win over Aikenhead lifted  Castlemilk to third in the SAFL Premier Division and had their home form not been so patchy (losing 4 out of 8 home fixtures so far) they may well have been challenging for top spot themselves. Saints will look to extend their very impressive undefeated away record which has seen them win 5 and draw 1 of their 6 away fixtures thus far. This should be a cracking match so if you're thinking of coming along the address is as follows:-

Castlemilk AFC
Barlia 3G
Glenwood Path
Castlemilk
Glasgow
G45 9DL

On Sunday Saints are at home to St. Joseph's. The match will take place at Glencruitten or on the 3G pitch at Oban High School if the grass park at Glencruitten is deemed unplayable. St. Joseph's come to Oban with an impressive away record having lost only 2 of their 7 away games, they are currently 5th in the table and like Castlemilk will be disappointed not to be challenging for the title themselves.

With Aikenhead and Postal both in action on Saturday and in direct opposition on Tuesday night, the bar will be set in terms of number of points required to secure the league title. Until then it's up to saints to keep the pressure on.

Good luck lads.

#monthesaints