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