Cabin Fever

Allan MacKay scores from the penalty spot to send Saints through against Glasgow Harp

 

 

Saturday 14th December 2013

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

Oban Saints AFC - v - Haldane United AFC

Glencruitten 2, Oban

Kick off 2pm

Referee Mr Gordon Hay

 

Last Saturday at Glencruitten Saints turned in an excellent performance against top Caledonian Premier League side Glasgow Harp to progress to the fourth round of the Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup. A goal a piece for this season's joint top goal scorers Craig MacEwan and Allan MacKay gave Saints a thoroughly deserved victory against the strongly fancied Bishopbriggs side who the season before last had reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Amateur Cup. This was a major scalp for Saints who must now await the outcome of the Jordanhill Campus versus Giffnock North third round tie before learning whom they must face in round four.

 

 

 

Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup

 

 

On Tuesday 10th December Saints were drawn away from home against Dennistoun Vale AFC in the fifth round of the Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup. This tie is due to be played on 11th January 2014. Dennistoun Vale are flying high in the Strathclyde Saturday Morning League and will provide another stern test of Saints Scottish Cup ambitions.

 

In other cup news Saints have been drawn away from home in the second round of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy against Argyll rivals Lochgilphead Red Star. A date has yet to be set for this fixture but it is already eagerly anticipated by players and supports of both sides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haldane United 2013 - 14 Squad

 

 

Saints return to league business this weekend with a tricky home match against Haldane United. Haldane have made a very impressive start to life in the SAFL top flight and are currently fifth in the Premier Division with eleven points from six games. An away defeat at St Joseph's has been the only black mark in a difficult run of fixtures which has seen them play all of the likely title contenders. 

 

Haldane United's SAFL Premier Division record so far:-

 

17th August Castlemilk 3 - 3 Haldane United

21st August Haldane United 5 - 2 Alba Thistle

24th August Haldane United 3 - 3 Oban Saints

31st August Finnart 1 - 2 Haldane United

14th September Thorn Athletic 1 - 3 Haldane United

5th October St Joseph's 3 - 0 Haldane United

 

Haldane are also still going strong in the Scottish Amateur Cup and have a massive fifth round tie to look forward to when they welcome last season's beaten finalists Colville Park to Inler Park. Saints took Colville Park to a replay in the seventh round of  last season's Scottish Cup before being losing out by three goals to one at Glencruitten against their more illustrious opponents. Haldane will hope to go one better than Saints and will carry the best wishes of all SAFL teams when they take on one of the biggest names in Scottish Amateur football.

 

 

Mattie Rippon about to slot Saints into a 3 - 0 lead at Inler Park in August

 



The Saints players will need no reminding of their only previous league encounter with Haldane United when they surrendered a three goal lead in thirty crazy second half minutes against ten men. Indeed had the match lasted any longer Saints would have probably lost all three points such was the momentum built up by Haldane in the closing stages. That match was played as recently as August of this year but Saints have already lost the services of Brian MacKay and Willie Gemmell from their starting line up that day. Both have subsequently decided to leave the Saints to go travelling. One in Australia and the other in the Scottish Highlands! 

 

Saturday's match presents Saints with an opportunity not only to atone for that slip-up but to leapfrog Finnart at the top of the league. A win for Haldane would bring them to within one point of Saints with a game in hand. An exciting match is therefore in prospect so come along and watch if you can.

 

 

 

 

Haldane United's excellent new facilities

 

 

Haldane have recently unveiled their new club house close to their home ground Inler Park. "The Cabin" as it's known is a wonderful new facility and is likely to be the envy of most of the teams that visit. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Manager's Office where a post match refreshment can be taken

 

 

 

 

 

 

The official opening ceremony!

 

 

 

#monthesaints 







Harping On A Bit

 

The Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup

 

 

Saturday 7th December 2013

Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup Third Round

Oban Saints AFC -v- Glasgow Harp AFC

Glencruitten 2, Oban. Kick Off 1.30pm

Referee - Mr James Litster

 

 

Oban's premier night spot the "Loch"

 

 

Last Saturday at Glencruitten Saints extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to seventeen matches with a convincing 6 - 0 win over Ellon Amateurs in the Foster's Scottish Cup fourth round. The Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Division One (East) side were slightly under strength for this tie and after sampling the delights of some of Oban's top night spots the night before the match may have been under the weather, or perhaps even still under the influence. Saints however were in unforgiving mood and turned in an excellent performance which could have been even more emphatic had this season's top scorer so far Allan MacKay had his shooting boots on.

 

 

 

 

 

This Saturday Saints face the toughest test of the season so far when they entertain Glasgow Harp of the Caledonian Premier League in the West of Scotland Cup. Glasgow Harp are based in Bishopbriggs and have an impressive haul of sixteen league and cup successes since 1995, the most recent of which was the Douglas Smith League Cup in October of this year. In addition to their trophy collection Glasgow Harp also have an admirable record in the "majors" having reached the semi-finals of the West of Scotland cup in 2002 and the quarter-finals in 2003 and semi-finals in 2012 of the Scottish Amateur Cup. 

 

 

 

Glasgow Harp celebrate victory over Cambusbarron Rovers in the Douglas Smith League Cup Final 2013 played at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld

 

Glasgow Harp in the Douglas Smith League Cup 2013:-

 

24th August Glasgow Harp 5 - 1 Cambria

31st August Dumbarton Academy FP 0 -4 Glasgow Harp

7th September Glasgow Harp 2 - 1 Milton

21st September Glasgow University 0 -1 Glasgow Harp

2nd October Cambusbarron Rovers 0 - 2 Glasgow Harp

 

Glasgow Harp are currently in sixth place in the Caledonian Premier League with 11 points from seven games played.

 

Glasgow Harp's league season so far:-

 

10th August Dumbarton Academy FP 0 - 1 Glasgow Harp

13th August Glasgow Harp 2 - 0 Cambria

17th August Cambusbarron Rovers 1 - 4 Glasgow Harp

21st August Giffnock North 2 - 1 Glasgow Harp

28th August Glasgow Harp 2 - 2 St. Mungo's

12th October Glasgow Harp 1 - 2 Milton

2nd November Doune Castle 2 - 2 Glasgow Harp

 

Glasgow Harp are also going strong in this season's Scottish Cup:-

 

Round Two 26th October Cumbernauld Rovers 0 - 10 Glasgow Harp

Round Three 9th November Glasgow Harp 3 - 1 Cambusbarron Rovers (sick of the sight of Harp?)

Round Four 30th November Glasgow Harp 3 - 0 Auchterarder Primrose 

 

Glasgow Harp reached the third round of the West of Scotland cup by beating Kelvin 3 - 0 at Bishopbriggs. Saints have yet to play in this competition this season having had no tie in round one a walkover in round two when Dalmilling of the Ayrshire Amateur Football League declined to fulfil the second round fixture.

 

Saturday's match promises to be a cracker between two formidable sides capable of excellent football. The match will be played to a finish with extra time and penalty shoot out if required. The winners will face either Giffnock North of the Caledonian League or Glentyan of the Paisley and District League in the fourth round. The tie is arguably the pick of the third round and should provide a welcome distraction from the delights of Christmas shopping. I certainly know where I'd rather be whatever the weather!

 

 

Winning In The Rain!

 

 

 

On Sunday 1st December Saints provided four players for the Scottish Amateur Football League Select which took on the Scottish Amateur International team at Colville Park Country Club. The SAFL Select turned in an impressive performance in a 5 - 1 defeat which flattered their international opponents.

 

 

 

SAFL Select:Donald Campbell (back left), Myles McAulay (back 4th from left), Marc MacCallum (front 4th from left) and Lewis Cameron (front 5th from left)

 

 

 

Donald Campbell in an unfamiliar right midfield role

 

 

 

 



 

 

Saints Secretary David Buchanan looks on

 

 

 

Finally,

 

 

One of my first ever drinking experiences. How it didn't put me off drink for life is a mystery.



 

 

#monthesaints