Messrs Wise, Morecambe and Preview catch up with the latest Saints news
Saturday 12th October 2013
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Alba Thistle AFC
Glencruitten, Oban, Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Gordon Kelso
Dalmilling AFC
Saints find themselves, somewhat unexpectedly, on league duty again this week while most of their contemporary's are on West of Scotland Cup business. Saints had been drawn at home to Dalmilling of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association, but the Ayrshire club, currently sitting mid table in the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Fourth Division, clearly didn't fancy the trip to Oban and declined to fulfil the fixture.
Saints therefore progress to the 3rd round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup without having kicked a ball in anger.
Saturday's league visitors are Alba Thistle who are making their first ever trip to Oban. The Paisley side are in their debut season in the Scottish Amateur Premier Division having enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence in their relatively brief history.
Alba's recent league history:-
2007/08 Paisley & District Division Two Champions (Promoted)
2008/09 Paisley & District Division One Champions
2009/10 Paisley & District Division One Champions (Undefeated)
2010/11 SAFL Division Three Champions
2011/12 SAFL Premier Division Two Champions (Undefeated) (Promoted)
2012/13 SAFL Premier Division One Champions
A pretty impressive run of league championship victories I'm sure you'll agree. Thanks to @Official_ColinW for the information on season 2010/11 which I could find no record of!
In addition to their league championship wins Alba are also the current holders of the SAFL Centenary Cup which they won courtesy of a 5 - 4 penalty shoot-out victory over Saints. The shoot-out followed a 0 - 0 draw over 90 minutes at Millburn Park, Vale of Leven.
Despite the heroics of Daniel Cassells in the Saints goal Alba won the penalty shoot-out 5 - 4
Despite their excellent showing in previous seasons Alba have struggled to adapt to life in the top flight losing three of their opening five fixtures leaving them second from bottom of the league with six points.
Alba's league season so far:-
17th August Alba Thistle 1 - 2 St Joseph's
21st August Haldane United 5 - 2 Alba Thistle
24th August Alba Thistle 1 - 0 Thorn Athletic
31st August Alba Thistle 3 - 1 Kilbowie Union
14th September Busby 3 - 1 Alba Thistle
Alba have also failed in their defence of the Centenary Cup losing 4 - 2 away at Shawlands FP. They are however still in the West of Scotland cup beating Blairdardie United 4 - 1 to progress to the third round.
Another Soupreme pass from Tomato, Basil and Crème Fraiche fan Paul Kerr
Saints, meanwhile, remain unbeaten and their start of three wins and three draws puts them in second place in the SAFL Premier Division one point behind early pace setters Finnart. An interesting match is in prospect with second top scorers Saints pitting their wits against the league's second most frugal defence. The opportunity for Saints to avenge last season's Centenary Cup Final defeat will also add spice to the occasion.
With last weeks confident prediction of a high scoring match at Inverclyde falling well short of the mark I'll leave the forecasting to the experts from now on.
#monthesaints
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