This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us

http://youtu.be/eUJ_ifjKopM

Saturday 31st May 2014
Umbro Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Haldane United AFC
Glencruitten, Oban
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Gary Logan

Saints and Haldane go head to head tomorrow in an incredible climax to the SAFL Premier Division league season. Despite remaining unbeaten in the league all season Saints know that a slip at this final match will see the title go to Premier Division new boys Haldane. The boys from the Inler Park Cabin have enjoyed an excellent debut season in the topflight and come into this final day showdown on a run of seven straight victories having scored 30 goals in the process. This glut of of goals has seen them edge ahead of Saints in the goal scoring charts but Saints frugal defence maintains their goal difference advantage. However goal difference is now irrelevant as a single point will see Saints crowned champions whereas only a win will do for Haldane.

Saints and Haldane met at Inler Park back in August and even at that early stage in the season Haldane gave a preview of their remarkable resilience. Saints were 3 - 0 ahead against ten men with thirty minutes to play but Haldane came storming back to draw 3 - 3. Indeed such was the head of steam built up by Haldane in the closing stages that had the match lasted any longer they would most probably turned the result around completely.

This is sure to be a thriller played on an excellent Glencruitten surface and in front of a substantial crowd of spectators. The stakes are high but these are two good footballing sides who will hopefully give referee Gary Logan an easy afternoon despite the intensity of the fixture. Whatever the outcome the eventual league winners will be fully deserving of their title.

Haldane's Mill Cabin

The Cabin Boys

Some other Cabin boys

#monthesaints

And Then There Were Two

Saturday 24th May 2014
Umbro Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Inverclyde AFC
Glencruitten, Oban
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Kevin McIntyre

Last Time Out

Saints safely negotiated the first of the three hurdles standing between them and Premier League glory with a hard fought victory over fellow title aspirants Finnart at Glasgow Green last Saturday. Going into the fixture Finnart knew that they must take at least a point to keep their fading title hopes alive whereas a victory for Saints would eliminate Finnart from the running. Injury and suspension deprived Saints of the services of Dene Cassells and Craig MacEwan. A trip to sample the delights of Newcastle's Bigg Market also ruled out Colin Carswell and Myles McAuley. Youngsters Shaun MacIver and Gregor Cook were therefore added to the travelling party bringing the total number in the squad to 14.
An evenly contested first half was played out in a constant drizzle with neither team carrying much in the way of an attacking threat. Anything that did get through the resolute defences was comfortably dealt with by the respective goalkeepers and any chance of a breakthrough looked remote. Referee Michael Auld brought the first half to a close with the score tied at 0 - 0.
Finnart started the second half brightly and almost took the lead within two minutes of the restart. Finnart made good progress up the right wing and played a dangerous ball into the box which was dispatched well out of the reach of Saints keeper Daniel Cassells but straight at the chest of Davie McArthur standing on the goal line. The rebound was also smacked on target but this time the Saints keeper turned the ball over the cross bar for a corner kick. Saints Manager Iain Jackson made a rare change to the Saints formation opting for a three man attack which immediately had the Finnart defence under pressure and turned the match in Saints favour. Saints were also winning the midfield battle and began creating chances. Mattie Rippon had a  48th minute goal bound shot deflected wide for a corner. On 63 minutes Davie McArthur was unlucky to see his well timed volley beat the keeper at his near post but hit the side netting. With 66 minutes gone Paul Kerr had a powerful shot from the edge of the box blocked after a good run and cut back from Lewis Cameron. Allan MacKay had a great chance from a Donald Campbell cross in the 70th minute but his back post header went agonisingly wide. A minute later Donald Campbell brought out the save of the match from the Finnart keeper who somehow managed to turn Donald's 25 yard pile driver round the post.
Iain Jackson then made a like for like swap withdrawing Davie McArthur from the action and replacing him in right midfield with Roy McLuckie. In the 76th minute Finnart keeper Daniel Terry made another excellent save this time from Mattie Rippon. A second Saints substitution followed with Allan MacKay being replaced by Shaun MacIver. Saints had dominated almost the entire second half and finally got their reward in the 86th minute. A clever passing move involving Lewis Cameron, Donald Campbell, Mattie Rippon and Shaun MacIver carved open the Finnart defence and found Ross Maitland just inside the Finnart box. Spotting the Finnart keeper off his line the Saints wide man curled the ball over the keeper and into the far corner of the net. The relief in the Saints camp was tangible and Ross was mobbed by his delighted team-mates.
A slightly nervy final four minutes, followed by a further four minutes added on for stoppages ensued but despite the nerves Saints remained in control and denied Finnart any opportunities to equalise.

Davie McArthur hits the side netting with a well timed volley

Paul Kerr is a bit miffed to be given offside with this back post run and header

Ross Maitland curls home the winner

Ross Maitland is engulfed by his delighted team mates

And The There Were Two

Thanks to last Saturday's win at Finnart the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division is now a two horse race between Saints and Haldane United. Saints must negotiate a tricky home fixture against relegation threatened Inverclyde before a final day showdown against Haldane United at Glencruitten. On Thursday night Inverclyde slumped to 8th place in the Premier Division table with 16 points from 17 games when they were leap frogged by Thorn Athletic who had recorded a convincing 6 - 1 victory over already relegated Kilbowie Union. Inverclyde can also still be overtaken by Alba Thistle in what is a fascinating finish at both ends of the league table.
Saints have an excellent recent record against Inverclyde, in fact you have to go back to season 2007/08 to find the last time Saints lost to the 'Clyde. However Inverclyde came agonisingly close to rectifying that situation last season. A year ago almost to the day Inverclyde came to Oban in a similarly perilous league position as they are in now and in desperate need of points to maintain their Premier Division status. Saints took an early lead through a Willie Gemmel free kick but Inverclyde rallied and raced into a 3 - 1 lead before late goals from Assen Gaydarzhiev and Keith Millar gave Saints a share of the points. Ultimately the single point gained was enough for Inverclyde to avoid relegation. Whatever happens on Saturday Inverclyde will face an anxious wait for fellow relegation candidates Thorn Athletic and Alba Thistle to complete their fixtures before their fate can be determined.
Saints endured a difficult afternoon on their last home fixture when Busby held them to a 2 - 2 draw after successfully executing an ultra defensive game plan coupled with two excellently finished counter attacks. If the 'Clyde choose to employ similar tactics a nail biting afternoon is in prospect for the Saints faithful.
The two sides will meet again on Wednesday night in the final of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy at McKenna Park, Glasgow. Both sides will have a keen eye on the other fixture being played that night at Inler Park, Balloch where Haldane United entertain Thorn Athletic the outcome of which will be of massive importance at both ends of the table.

The 'Clyde

Saints home record v Inverclyde in the SAFL Premier Division

2007/08
Oban Saints 0 - 1 Inverclyde

2008/09
Oban Saints 1 - 1 Inverclyde

2009/10
Oban Saints 5 - 2 Inverclyde

2010/11
Oban Saints 2 - 1 Inverclyde

2011/12
Oban Saints 4 - 2 Inverclyde

2012/13
Oban Saints 3 - 3 Inverclyde

#monthesaints

Three Steps To Heaven

http://youtu.be/K_oURZCaF1M

Saturday 17th May 2014
Umbro Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Finnart v Oban Saints
Glasgow Green Football Centre
28 Kings Drive
Glasgow
G40 1HB
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Michael Auld

Since The Last Post

Busby

Saints twice came from behind the earn a share of the points against a battling Busby side at Glencruitten last Saturday. This was Busby's last game of the season but any thoughts that they had come to Oban merely for an end of season knees up were quickly dispelled when they took the lead in the third minute of the match. Busby striker Billy McGhee took full advantage of some slack marking in the Saints back line to fire a fierce shot past Saints keeper Daniel Cassells. Saints gradually took control of proceedings from there on but found it extremely difficult to penetrate the massed ranks of the Busby defence. When Saints did manage to break through they were thwarted by either their own misplaced passes or by veteran Busby goalkeeper Danny Moy.
Saints eventually drew level in the 72nd minute when Allan MacKay converted a penalty kick after Donald Campbell had been brought down in the box. Saints ought then to have pushed on for the winner but just three minutes later again gifted Busby striker Billy McGhee an opportunity to score which he immediately seized to restore the visitor's one goal advantage. Wave after wave of Saints attacks then followed culminating in the 88th minute with an equalising goal tapped in at the back post by Allan MacKay after an excellent run and cross by Donald Campbell.
Despite the disappointment of a below par performance and dropping two valuable home points Saints can take some encouragement from the determination shown the keep going right to the end in search of an equalising goal. Busby's resolute defending and clinical finishing contributed greatly to the game and a draw was the least their performance deserved.

 

Unusually Saints kicked off defending the railway line end

Busby keeper Danny Moy was in inspirational form

In a bid to foil Busby's time wasting tactics Saints deployed stalwart supporter Angus MacDonald behind the goals to retrieve the ball when it went out of play. Unfortunately Angus is not the quickest on his feet, in fact it may have been quicker to send somebody to the local Sports Shop to buy a new ball than to wait for Angus to return the match ball to the action! 

Lewis Cameron and Mattie Rippon both fluff their lines

The Referee missed this blatant penalty box shirt pull on Craig MacEwan

Alex Craik shaves the post 

Craig MacEwan heads narrowly past

Allan MacKay makes it 1 - 1

Allan MacKay makes it 2 - 2



Kilbowie Union

On Wednesday 14th May Saints made a third consecutive midweek away trip. On this occasion the venue was the excellent 3G surface at Clydebank High School following a change of venue necessitated by the unplayable state of the grass pitches at John Brown's. Unfortunately the only kick off slot available to hosts Kilbowie Union was 8pm so a late night was guaranteed for the Oban boys.
Prior to kick off at Clydebank Saints title rivals Haldane United had a home fixture at Inler Park against Saints Jimmy Marshall Trophy final opponents Inverclyde and with 15 minutes to play things were looking good for Saints with Inverclyde 3 - 1 ahead. Alas Haldane, not for the first time this season, produced a thrilling late comeback to win the match 5 - 3. Nothing less than a victory would now do if Saints were to maintain their slender two points advantage over Haldane. Spurred on by this news Saints turned in an excellent performance against already relegated bottom club Kilbowie Union racking up seven goals in the process. A second successive brace from top scorer Allan MacKay, one a-piece from Ross Maitland and Donald Campbell and a hat-trick from Lewis Cameron gave Saints a convincing 7 - 1 victory and extended their goal difference advantage over closest rivals Haldane United to 12 goals.

Midweek Hat-trick Hero Lewis Cameron

Three Steps To Heaven

Saints travel to Glasgow Green on Saturday in search of the first of three victories which will guarantee them the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division crown. Opponents Finnart are currently in fourth place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division five points adrift of leaders Saints with 30 points from 15 games. Finnart are still in a position to win the league but must rely on Saints, Haldane United and St Josephs slipping up to achieve this. Victory for Saints in this fixture would deliver a knock out blow to Finnart's title aspirations.
Saints have an excellent record against Finnart however the recent 3 - 0 victory at Glencruitten owed much to stunning individual contributions from Daniel Cassells, Mattie Rippon and Lewis Cameron. Those moments aside there was little to choose between the teams and the score line flattered Saints greatly. Both teams will be desperate to keep their title hopes on track so an extremely close match is anticipated.


Finnart's league season so far:-

17th August 2013 Finnart 4 - 1 Thorn Athletic
24th August 2013 Inverclyde 2 - 6 Finnart
31st August 2013 Finnart 1 - 2 Haldane United
21st September 2013 Kilbowie Union 1 - 3 Finnart
28th September 2013 Finnart 3 - 3 St Joseph's FP
5th October 2013 Castlemilk 2 - 6 Finnart
26th October 2013 Finnart 3 - 1 Inverclyde
9th November 2013 Finnart 4 - 4 Kilbowie Union
1st February 2014 Finnart 1 - 1 Castlemilk
15th March 2014 Alba Thistle 2 - 4 Finnart
29th March 2014 Busby 1 - 3 Finnart
16th April 2014 Finnart 3 - 1 Busby
19th April 2014 Haldane United 4 - 1 Finnart
26th April 2014 Oban Saints 3 - 0 Finnart
3rd May 2014 Thorn Athletic 1 - 2 Finnart


Finnart's SAFL record:-

2010/11
Premier Division Two Champions (Promoted)

2011/12
Premier Division One Champions (Promoted)
Centenary Cup Runners Up to Postal United

2012/13
Premier Division 7th


Saints and Finnart head to head:-

3rd November 2012
SAFL Premier Division
Oban Saints 4 - 1 Finnart

11th May 2013
SAFL Premier Division
Finnart 0 - 1 Oban Saints

26th April 2014
SAFL Premier Division
Oban Saints 3 - 0 Finnart

Finnart hail from Bridgeton in Glasgow

One of Bridgeton's famous sons

Bridgeton's landmark Victorian cast-iron "Brig'ton Umbrella" situated at Bridgeton Cross is incorporated in Finnart's club badge

Remaining Fixtures

The fixture list is now down to the last three matches for each of the four title contenders (except St Josephs who have two games left). Following this Saturday's match at Finnart Saints have home fixtures against Inverclyde on Saturday 24th May and Haldane United on Saturday 31st May. The match against Haldane is clearly a possible "winner takes all" final day showdown, however Inverclyde's role in all of this cannot be overstated. The 'Clyde need points to guarantee their Premier Division survival and only have games against Haldane United and Saints from which to get them. Therefore, to use a well worn cliche, every game will be like a cup final with thrills and spills and twists and turns assured.



#monthesaints

The Boys Are Back In Town

http://youtu.be/SGZqDzb__bw

 

 

 

Saturday 10th May 2014

Umbro Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

Oban Saints AFC v Busby AFC

Glencruitten 2, Oban

Kick off 2pm

Referee Mr Stuart Agnew

 

Since the last post

 

Saints have played three consecutive away matches since the last post on Winning In The Rain winning all three to keep alive their hopes of a league and cup double.

 

Wednesday 30th April

SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy Quarter Final

Jamestown 1 - 2 Oban Saints

 

Two Craig MacEwan goals secured Saints passage into the semi finals on a difficult playing surface at Argyle Parks, Alexandria. Daniel Cassells, Saints penalty save hero of the previous Saturday, was unavailable therefore another delve into the seemingly inexhaustible store of Saints goalkeepers was required. On this occasion it was Tim Woodcock who stepped into the breach at short notice and the former Saints no. 1 performed his duties admirably. Saints endured a couple of early scares before taking the lead in the 38th minute when Craig MacEwan met a Ross Maitland corner with a trade mark back post header which flew into the top left hand corner of the Jamestown goal. Saints doubled their lead on 68 minutes when Craig MacEwan diverted a Paul Kerr past the helpless Jamestown keeper. Saints squandered several good chances to kill the match and were made to sweat when the home side pulled one back with just two minutes remaining. A long range free kick took a wicked bounce just in front of Tim Woodcock and sailed over his despairing dive into the net. Jamestown threw everything into attack in search of an equaliser which left large gaps at the back for Saints to exploit. The Saints defence held firm and again several gilt edged chances were missed to make the game safe. Sighs of relief from the Oban contingent greeted referee Jimmy Litster's final whistle. Definitely not Saints best performance of the season but a decent result against a hard working and determined Jamestown team is not to be sniffed at.

 

 

 

Tim Woodcock concentrates on the action as some pitch watering goes on in the back ground

 

 

 

Saturday 3rd May 2014

SAFL Premier Division

Castlemilk 1 - 5 Oban Saints

 

Saints took full advantage of Castlemilk's injuries and suspensions crisis to record a convincing win giving their goal difference boost into the bargain. Mattie Rippon opened the scoring for Saints firing home a 36th minute penalty after Donald Campbell had been brought down in the box. Donald doubled the lead two minutes later getting on the end of an unselfish Lewis Cameron cut back to net from close range. Saints killed the game with two more quick fire goals at the start of the second half, again it was Donald Campbell and Mattie Rippon on target. Donald sealed the points for Saints with a clever dinked finish over goalkeeper when put through by Roy McLuckie. Despite being on the receiving end for most of the game the "Milk" kept plugging away and got their reward in the final minute when Dene Cassells was adjudged to have pulled back a Castlemilk forward in the box. The resulting penalty was slammed home by Shawn Murray but this did little to take the shine off a good Saints performance.

 

 

Wednesday 7th May 2014

SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy Semi-Final

McKenna Park, Glasgow

Thorn Athletic 2 - 2 Oban Saints

Saints win 5 - 4 on penalties

 

Yes you read that correctly. Saints finally banished their penalty shoot out hoodoo to scrape through to a second consecutive Jimmy Marshall Trophy final appearance. Saints were delighted to welcome back skipper Marc MacCallum after a long injury lay off but that delight was soon to turn to despair when Dene Cassells suffered a serious leg injury in the tenth minute of the match and had to be taken to hospital. News later emerged that Dene had suffered a broken leg and the hopes of everyone at the club are with him for a full and swift recovery.

Things went from bad to worse for Saints when Thorn raced into a two goal lead but fortunately tome was still on the side of the Oban team. Goals from Paul Kerr and Mattie Rippon drew Saints level but despite the endeavours of both sets of players neither team could find a winner and a penalty shoot out ensued. Saints converted all five of their penalties with Allan MacKay, Mattie Rippon, Donald Campbell, Craig MacEwan and David McArthur all finding the target. Unfortunately somebody has to lose a penalty shoot out and Saints can empathise with the crestfallen Thorn Athletic players who had given so much in search of win. Saints will play Inverclyde in the final on a date yet to be decided.

 

 

 

Always in the wars!

Dene Cassells leaves the field bound for hospital in last season's Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final.

Haste ye back Dene.

 

 

 

 

 

The Boys Are Back In Town

 

After three games on the road Saints return to Glencruitten for another crucial match in the league campaign. Satrday's visitors are currently 5th in the SAFL Premier Division with 23 points from 17 matches. This is Busby's final match of the season and with Premier Division football already assured for next season they are guaranteed a stress free final away trip of the season. Win, lose or draw the Busby boys are sure to enjoy a day out in the highlands. No such luxuries for the home side with Haldane United, Finnart and St Josephs FP all still firmly in the hunt for the league championship Saints can afford no slip ups in the run-in. It's sure to be an exciting match one way or another and hopefully a decent home crowd will be in attendance to give the Saints boys the support their endeavours deserve.

 

 

 

 

 

Past meetings:-

 

2007/08 Premier Division

Oban Saints 2 - 3 Busby 3

Busby 2 - 3 Oban Saints 3

 

2008/09 Jimmy Marshall Trophy 2nd round

Busby 0 - 2 Oban Saints

 

2012/13 Centenary Cup Quarter Final

Busby 0 - 1 Oban Saints

 

2013/14 Premier Division

Busby 2 - 9 Oban Saints

 

 

 

 

 

Busby AFC

 

 

 

Busby's recent league finishes:-

 

2006/07 Premier Division One Champions (Promoted)

2007/08 Premier Division 9th (Relegated)

2008/09 Premier Division One 5th

2009/10 Premier Division One 3rd

2010/11 Premier Division One 7th

2011/12 Premier Division One 4th

2012/13 Premier Division One 4th (Promoted)

In Other News

Winning In The Rain celebrated it's first anniversary this week. A big thank you to everyone who has taken the time and trouble to read and share these pages in the past year. Your support is greatly appreciated.

 

 

#monthesaints