Winning In The Rain: 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.