The Friday Night Preview

SAFL Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Thorn Athletic
Saturday 31st August
2pm Kick Off at Glencruitten 2

Saints third league fixture of the season is a home match against Thorn Athletic from Johnstone. The referee for this fixture is Robert Doolan from Greenock. Thorn have struggled so far this season losing all four of their fixtures: 4 - 1 away at Finnart, 4 - 3 at home to Busby and 1 - 0 away to Alba Thistle in the league and 2 - 0 at home in the Centenary Cup to Port Glasgow United of Premier Division 2. Despite this recent poor run of form Thorn have never lost in Oban and always make thing difficult for Saints.

Saints only victory in six attempts against Thorn came at the end of last season at McMaster Park, Johnstone where a Keith Millar goal secured the points for Saints. The one goal winning margin also saved Thorn from relegation by just one goal at the expense of Rolls Royce EK.

A keenly contested match is in store with Thorn desperate to get some points on the board and Saints eager to prove that last week's second half performance against Haldane United was just a blip in an otherwise strong start to the season.

Matty Rippon about to slot home from the spot in the 3 - 3 draw with Haldane United

Thorn Athletic's record in their 5 seasons in the SAFL is as follows:-

2008 - 09 Premier Division Two Champions (Promoted)
2009 - 10 Premier Division One Champions (Promoted)
2010 - 11 Premier Division 3rd
2011 - 12 Premier Division 3rd
2012 - 13 Premier Division 8th

#monthesaints

On The Road Again

On the road again

 

 

Saints take to the road on Saturday for their first away match of the season at newly promoted Haldane United. Kick off at Inler Park, Balloch is at 2pm wit referee Gordon Hay in charge.

 

Haldane have made an impressive start to their first season in the top flight drawing 3 - 3 away at Castlemilk last Saturday and defeating fellow new boys, and last seasons Premier Division One champions, Alba Thistle 5 - 2 in midweek.

 

Saints have met Haldane on only one previous occasion which was in last season's Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final. Second half goals from Dene Cassells and Donald Campbell secured victory for Saints in a tight match at the neutral venue of McKenna Park, Glasgow home of St Anthony's Junior Football Club.

 

 

 

Donald Campbell secures victory for Saints

 

 

 

 

 

Haldane United's record in their 5 seasons in the SAFL is as follows:-

 

2008 - 09 Division 2 Champions (Promoted)

2009 - 10 Division 1A Undefeated Champions (Promoted)



2010 - 11 Premier Division Two 2nd on goal difference (Promoted)

2011 - 12 Premier Division One 3rd

2012 - 13 Premier Division One 2nd (Promoted)

 

Haldane United are a pretty impressive side as their league record shows. This will be a stiff test for Saints who will have to be at the top of their game if they are to take anything from this match.

 

#monthesaints



 





Saints Open In Style

Saturday 17th August 2013 SAFL Premier Division

Oban Saints AFC 4 - 0 Kilbowie Union

After months of careful planning Saints unveiled their much anticipated stadium upgrade at last Saturday's first home match of the new season.

 

 

 

The all new substitutes bench

 

 

The innovative three seat design allows the introduction of a game of musical chairs into the substitutes warm-up routine. Other planned improvements include the introduction of covered dug-outs which sponsors D & K Lafferty Contractors are actively working on.

 

 

 



 

 

 

How the new dug-outs may look.

 

 



 

Saints starting line up for the match was:-

 

Graham Douglas, Dene Cassells, Alex Craik, Marc MacCallum (Captain), Willie Gemmell, Paul Kerr, Donald Campbell, Brian MacKay, Craig MacEwan, Matty Rippon and Allan MacKay.

 

First to try out the fantastic new bench were Sonin Kurishita and new signings Daniel Cameron, Lewis Cameron and Colin Carswell.

 

 

Saints opened in blistering style taking the lead in the first minute when Allan MacKay got on the end of a Paul Kerr cross to score his first goal for Saints since returning from injury at the end of last season. Saints were playing some excellent football which newly promoted Kilbowie Union were unable to cope with. Saints doubled their lead after twelve minutes when Donald Campbell finished off a slick passing move involving Brian and Allan MacKay with a well struck shot past the Kilbowie 'keeper. A feature of Saints play was the strong running from midfield of Brian MacKay which Kilbowie struggled to come to terms with throughout the match.

 

 

Saints continued to dominate the first half with quick and accurate passing and it was only a matter of time when more goals would come. On forty minutes Saints centre forward Allan MacKay received the ball in the Kilbowie box, with his back to goal Allan expertly turned his marker and dispatched an unstoppable left foot shot past the despairing dive of the hard worked Kilbowie 'keeper. Straight from the re-start Saints regained possession and another strong run at the heart of the Kilbowie defence from Brian MacKay ended with the Saints midfielder being upended in the penalty box. Matty Rippon took the resulting penalty kick and finished emphatically from the spot to give Saints an unassailable 4 - 0 half time lead.

 

 

Half-time team talk.

 

 

Saints Manager Iain Jackson took full advantage of the healthy first half lead to give all four substitutes a good run out in the second half. Kilbowie gave a far better account of themselves in the second half and came close to scoring on two occasions form corner kicks. Saints, although not at their best, remained reasonably comfortable in the second half and the game finished with no further scoring.

 

This was an excellent performance from Saints which hopefully bodes well for the season ahead. The only down side being a needless booking for dissent for new Captain Marc MacCallum.

 

#monthesaints

 

 

 

 

 

 





 



First Game Back Preview

It's Saints - v - Kilbowie Union, Mr Preview.

 

 

Saints open their Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division campaign on Saturday with a home match against newly promoted Kilbowie Union. Kick off at Glencruitten 2 is at 1pm with referee John Gallacher in charge.

 

Tomorrow's visitors Kilbowie Union were in Oban as recently as last Saturday where they enjoyed a 3 - 1 friendly victory over West of Scotland Amateur Football League Premier Division side Oban Athletic. The result flattered Kilbowie with all 3 of their goals being attributable to individual Athletic errors and had their strikers taken their chances in front of goal Athletic would most probably have won the match.

 

Kilbowie Union find themselves in the SAFL top flight mainly due to Postal United and Aikenhead Thistle leaving the SAFL. Kilbowie's third place finish in last season's Premier Division One behind Champions Alba Thistle and runners up Haldane United would not have been enough to secure promotion without the departure of Postal and Aikenhead. The Kilbowie boys will be desperate to take advantage of this slice of good fortune and make up for a previous disappointing showing in the Premier Division.

 

Kilbowie's only previous experience of the SAFL top flight came in season 2011 - 2012 when they were relegated after finishing second bottom of the league with 10 points from 18 matches. During that season Saints recorded a 7 - 1 home win and a 5 - 1 away win over tomorrow's visitors.

 

Kilbowie Union's record in their 5 years in the SAFL is as follows:-

 

2008 - 09 Premier Division Two 7th

2009 - 10 Premier Division Two 2nd (Promoted)

2010 - 11 Premier Division One 4th (Promoted)

2011 - 12 Premier Division 9th (Relegated)

2012 - 13 Premier Division One 3rd (Promoted) 

 

With a successful pre-season under their belts Saints will be looking to hit the ground running in what promises to be another tight league campaign.

 

The weather looks reasonably favourable for tomorrow's match so come along and support the boys if you can.

 

#monthesaints



Pre-Season Part Two

Part Two of the review of Saints pre-season.

Saturday 3rd August 2013

Oban Saints 2 - 1 Greenock High School Former Pupils

Greenock High School Former Pupils

 

 

 

Old rivals Greenock HSFP, formerly of the SAFL but now plying their trade in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division, returned to Oban to provide another tough pre-season work-out for Saints. The small group of spectators were well entertained as the teams provided an excellent spectacle of passing football on a good Glencruitten playing surface.

 

An evenly balanced first third was just shaded by Saints who created the best of the chances. After hitting the post midway through the second third Brain MacKay finally gave Saints the lead to which their build up play had entitled them with a strong run through the centre of the Greenock defence before calmly slotting the ball past the helpless 'keeper.

 

Saints extended their lead early in the final third with a fine turn and shot into the top corner from Donald Campbell. Despite losing a goal shortly after the re-start Saints remained in control and saw out the remainder of the match comfortably for a well deserved victory over quality opposition.

 

 

Saturday 10th August 2013

 

Oban Saints 3 - 0 Lochgilphead Red Star

 

 



 

 

Lochgilphead Red Star Coronation Cup Winners 2012

 

 



 

Saints completed their pre-season programme with a comfortable 3 - 0 victory over Argyll rivals Lochgilphead Red Star. Saints started strongly against their SAFL Premier Division Two opponents and deservedly went ahead on twenty minutes when Craig MacEwan took advantage of some clever build up play by Allan MacKay to chip the ball over the on-rushing Red Star 'keeper.

 

After taking the lead Saints took the foot off the gas a little and let Red Star back into the match. Red Star were paying some neat football at this time but failed to trouble Saints goalkeeper Graham Douglas.

 

Saints quickly regained the initiative after the half time break and dominated proceedings throughout the second half. A thumping long range shot from Donald Campbell and a neat Matty Rippon finish rounding off an excellent driving run from Donald Campbell were enough to seal another comfortable victory for Saints.

 

 

Saints scorers in pre-season (including D & K Cup)

 

 

Donald Campbell 4

Brian MacKay 3

Willie Gemmell 1

Paul Kerr 1

Sonin Kurishita 1

Craig MacEwan 1

Ross Maitland 1

Matty Rippon 1

 

 

 

 

Donald Campbell

Saints top scorer in pre-season

 

 

 

With a successful pre-season under their belts Saints return to league action on Saturday 17th August with a home match against Kilbowie Union. Preview to follow if time permits.

 

#monthesaints

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Pre-Season Part One

The new season is just a few days away so here's part one of the round-up of Saints pre-season fixtures:-


Saturday 20th July 2013

Oban Saints AFC 4 - 0 Westerlands AFC

Another satisfied customer for Brian Cassells!

On a day better suited to knotted handkerchiefs and ice cream cones than football Saints and Westerlands served up an entertaining friendly match for the small crowd who had braved the un-Oban-like weather conditions.

Injuries and holidays limited Manager Iain Jackson's selection options to a squad of sixteen but also ensured that everyone received plenty game time. As is often the case in pre-season friendlies the 90 minutes were divided into thirds rather than halves. Continuing the good form shown in the D & K Cup Saints were quickly into their stride against their Caledonian League Premier Division opponents. Well taken goals from Donald Campbell and Brian MacKay had Saints 2 - 0 up inside 20 minutes. More was to follow on 23 minutes when an excellent passing move involving Donald Campbell and Brian MacKay released Ross Maitland in the box who tucked away a neat finish past the Westerlands 'keeper.

Saints went further ahead early in the second third when Paul Kerr curled a shot from the edge of the box into the postage stamp corner. The intense heat was now starting to take it's toll on the players and the pace of the game dropped considerably allowing Westerland to come back into the match. Westerlands finished the second third strongly forcing two excellent saves from Saints 'keeper Graham Douglas. Graham has been in excellent form since taking over from the injured Daniel Cassells at the end of last season and Saints are extremely fortunate to be able to call on his services.

The final third was played without further scoring and with little incident until the closing minutes. Westerlands appealed for a penalty for what appeared to be a perfectly clean tackle in the box by Saints central defender Marc MacCallum. Referee John Scott who had handled the match well correctly dismissed the Westerland appeals. Perhaps harbouring a sense of injustice at the dismissed penalty claim, and taking exception to a badly timed tackle by Colin Carswell, Westerlands defender Liam MacIntyre aimed at a kick at the recent Saints recruit which threatened to bring tempers to the boil. Referee Scott quickly defused the situation and brought the game to a halt without taking action against either player.

This was a stiff test for Saints against formidable opponents. Westerlands are a quality side reaching the semi finals of Scottish Amateur Cup last season and finishing second in the Caledonian League Premier Division by one point to champions Giffnock North.

Credit is also due to referee John Scott who not only handled this game excellently but did so immediately after officiating at Oban Athletic's 4 - 1 victory over Westerlands second XI. When asked what had kept him going all afternoon John admitted to consuming two bananas between the two fixtures but refused to comment on the rumoured four pints of lager in the Rugby Club.


Wednesday 24th July 2013

Saints lost the services of Club Captain and Scottish Amateur Football League Hall of Fame inductee Keith Millar when he left the club to join Highland League club Fort William.

Keith Millar

Keith's replacement as Club Captain is Marc MacCallum. Marc was arguably Saints best player last season and his appointment as Captain is well deserved.

New Club Captain Marc MacCallum

 

 

 

Saturday 27th July 2013

Oban Saints 1 - 1 Milton AFC

A Sonin Kurishita header from a Donald Campbell free kick earned Saints a draw against Milton of the Caledonian League Premier Division. Saints had the chance to win the match when Allan MacKay won a penalty after being brought down in the box. Allan took the kick himself but unfortunately his effort was well saved by the Milton goal keeper.

Sonin Kurishita

Part Two will follow soon.

#monthesaints