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)
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.
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
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