Eight Ace

Saturday 19th April 2014
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Thorn Athletic AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Johnstone Community Sports Hub
Beith Road
Johnstone
Renfrewshire
PA5 0LR
Kick Off 1.00pm
Referee Mr Gordon Kelso

Last Time Out

On Wednesday 16th April at Glencruitten Saints eased past Argyll rivals Lochgilphead Red Star in the SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy to secure a Quarter Final tie away at Premier Division Two high flyers Jamestown. The match was originally scheduled to be played at the Ropework Park, Lochgilphead on Sunday 23rd March but heavy rain rendered the surface unplayable. In an attempt to preserve the notoriously poor surface at the Ropework for their remaining league fixtures Red Star conceded home advantage and the tie was switched to Oban. The change of venue was not well received by Saints Ultras the White (Hair) Brigade as it deprived them of an eagerly anticipated away trip to Lochgilphead. An Ultras spokesman was however at pains to point out that the seat damage witnessed at Glencruitten on Wednesday night was nothing to do the White (Hair) Brigade and was in no way connected to their protest about the fixture switch!
Saints stuck with the same starting eleven which defeated St Josephs at the weekend with the exception of Roy McLuckie coming in to replace the unavailable Craig MacEwan in midfield. Red Star started the stronger of the two sides winning the midfield battle in the opening exchanges. It took Saints seven minutes to register an attempt on goal when a Ross Maitland header from a Lewis Cameron cross was well saved by the Red Star's Australian keeper Luke Kalache. A Paul Kerr shot followed within a minute which the keeper again saved comfortably. Saints opened the scoring in the ninth minute when a slide rule pass from Paul Kerr picked out Donald Campbell's run in the inside left channel and Donald calmly despatched the first of his three goals on the night. Despite going behind Red Star were still full of energy in midfield and the strong running of centre forward Gregor Peacock continued to ask questions of the Saints defence. Saints doubled their lead in the 17th minute when the Red Star keeper Luke Kalache somehow managed to palm a fairly tame Allan MacKay shot into his own net. Red Star immediately responded with their best effort of the match when a near post corner was well met on the edge of the six yard box by Gregor Peacock whose powerful header flashed inches over the Saints cross bar. Saints started to turn the screws on their Premier Division Two opponents and completely dominated proceedings from there on. Saints were rewarded for their dominance with two goals on the stroke of half time. The first,  a magnificent solo effort from Lewis Cameron who turned the Red Star defence inside out before firing an unstoppable shot low past the keeper's right hand, the second from Ross Maitland after more good work by Lewis Cameron. Referee John Scott brought the first half to a close with Saints 4 - 0 ahead.
The small crowd of spectators who had braved the rain didn't have long to wait for more goal action as Saints went 5 - 0 up in the 51st minute. Lewis Cameron was again the provider this time setting up Donald Campbell for his second of the evening which he forced home from close range after his initial shot had come back off the post. Saints Manager Iain Jackson then made the first of his changes bringing Jamie Graham on for Alex Craik. The move also involved a defensive reshuffle with Dene Cassells moving into midfield and Paul Kerr dropping back into the sweeper role which he performs so well. Donald Campbell completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute with a thumping left foot strike from 25 yards which flew into the top left hand corner.
To the relief of the beleaguered Red Star defence Iain Jackson withdrew tormentor in chief Lewis Cameron on the hour mark. However the relief soon turned to pain when replacement Shaun MacIver bagged his first goal for the club getting on the end of an excellent right wing cross from Roy McLuckie to head Saints 7 - 0 up in the 64th minute. Saints immediately made their final change bringing on Daniel Cameron to replace Colin Carswell in defence.
Saints rounded off the scoring in the 75th minute when young Shaun MacIver met a Ross Maitland left wing cross at the back post to head his second goal of the night. With the light fading and the rain getting heavier Saints continued to probe the Red Star defence without managing to add to their tally. Referee John Scott brought to an end a satisfying nights work for Saints in their bid to avenge last season's agonising Jimmy Marshall Trophy final defeat at the hands of Hillington. Good luck to Red Star for their remaining league fixtures and their quest for a second successive promotion.

Referee John Scott gets the match underway

 

Ross Maitland with Saints fourth goal on the stroke of half time

Shaun MacIver makes it 7 - 0 with his first goal for the club

 

Now that we are at the business end of the season the big games just keep on coming for Saints. Last Saturday's away win at league leaders St Josephs FP made it ten league games unbeaten but with convincing midweek wins for Finnart over Busby and Haldane United over St Josephs there is little margin for error for Saints in their pursuit of a second Premier Division title in five years. Games don't come any bigger for Saints than a trip to Johnstone to face Thorn Athletic. The two sides have only been in the same division for four seasons but during that time an intense rivalry has developed with every match between the pair a hard fought affair. Saturday's match will be no different with Thorn's desire to avenge their Scottish Amateur Cup 6th round defeat to Saints sure to add an extra kick to an already spicy mix. Like Saints, extended runs in the Scottish and West of Scotland Cups have left Thorn playing catch-up with their league fixtures with both sides having eight league fixtures to fit in before the end of the season. Thorn are currently in 9th place in the SAFL Premier Division with 12 points from 10 games however if they can replicate the form which saw them reach the 6th round of the Scottish Cup and the Quarter Finals of the West of Scotland Cup a rapid climb up the league table is on the cards.

Thorn Athletic's league fixtures so far:-

17th August 2013 Finnart 4 - 1 Thorn Athletic
21st August 2013 Thorn Athletic 3 - 4 Busby
24th August 2013 Alba Thistle 1 - 0 Thorn Athletic
31st August 2013 Oban Saints 1 - 1 Thorn Athletic
7th September 2013 Busby 0 - 3 Thorn Athletic
14th September 2013 Thorn Athletic 1 - 3 Haldane United
21st September 2013 Inverclyde 2 - 2 Thorn Athletic
5th October 2013 Kilbowie Union 1 - 2 Thorn Athletic
9th November 2013 Thorn Athletic 1 - 1 Castlemilk
16th April 2014 Thorn Athletic 0 - 0 Inverclyde

Oban Saints v Thorn Athletic season by season:-

2009/10
Jimmy Marshall Trophy Quarter Final
Oban Saints 2 - 3 Thorn Athletic

2010/11
SAFL Premier Division
Thorn Athletic 1 - 1 Oban Saints
Jimmy Marshall Trophy First Round
Thorn Athletic 3 - 2 Oban Saints

2011/12
SAFL Premier Division
Thorn Athletic 1 - 1 Oban Saints
Oban Saints 1 - 1 Thorn Athletic
2012/13
SAFL Premier Division
Oban Saints 1 - 2 Thorn Athletic
Thorn Athletic 0 - 1 Oban Saints

2013/14
SAFL Premier Division
Oban Saints 1 - 1 Thorn Athletic
Scottish Amateur Cup 6th Round
Oban Saints 1 - 1 Thorn Athletic
Scottish Amateur Cup 6th Round Replay
Thorn Athletic 2 - 4 Oban Saints

Thorn Athletic, the SAFL years:-

 

2008/09 Premier Division Two Champions (Promoted)

              Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners

2009/10 Premier Division One Champions (Promoted)

              Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners (knocking Saints out in quarter final)

2010/11 Premier Division 3rd

2011/12 Premier Division 3rd

2012/13 Premier Division 8th

 

 

So three meetings already this season with precious little between the sides. With both teams still involved in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy there is also the exciting possibility of a fifth meeting in either the semi final or Final. Another keenly fought encounter in front of what is sure to be a good sized crowd is in prospect on Saturday.

 

 

SAFL Select Squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Scottish Amateur Football League Select will take on their Lothian and Edinburgh counterparts on Sunday 20th April. Saints will be represented by select squad regulars Lewis Cameron, Donald Campbell and Myles McAuley. Saturday's opponents Thorn Athletic will again be represented by their Captain Brian Robertson. Surprisingly the classy central defender is the only Thorn player ever to make a representative squad, an honour which a good few of his team mates must be close to attaining. The match will be played at Northolm Park, Giffnock with a 2pm kick off. 

 

 

 

Thorn Athletic Captain Brian Robertson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#monthesaints