Saturday 13th September 2014
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Campbeltown Pupils AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Kintyre Park, Limecraigs Road, Campbeltown PA28 6JT
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr James Litster
Last Time Out
Saints lucky white kit made it's first appearance of the season against Eaglesham at Glencruitten last Saturday and brought with it a return to the high tempo football missing from the Saints armoury in recent weeks. Saints took the game to the visitors straight from the kick off with Eaglesham content to sit back and hit Saints on the break. In a goalless first half Saints were frustrated by an inspired performance by Hams keeper Gordon Taylor who produced a string of excellent saves to keep his team in the match. At the other end the Saints rear guard restricted the Hams to just two attempts on target both of which were well saved by keeper Daniel Cassells. Manager Iain Jackson was forced to make a change at half time when Scott Maitland was unable to continue following a knee knock picked up in the closing minutes of the first half. Scott had put in a good performance alongside Paul Kerr and Myles McAuley in the Saints engine room, hopefully he will recover quickly from this injury set-back. Scott's place in the line-up was taken by namesake Ross who took up his accustomed position on the right wing with Roy McLuckie moving infield.
The first half pattern continued in the opening stages of the second half with Lewis Cameron, Roy McLuckie and Craig MacEwan all coming close to breaking the deadlock. Saints eventually made the breakthrough in the 65th minute from a Ross Maitland low near post corner. Stretching to reach the ball at the near post, Saints Skipper Marc MacCallum got the slightest of touches which caused the Hams keeper to spill the ball straight to Craig MacEwan who made no mistake from 4 yards out. The goal for Saints brought about a change in tactics from Eaglesham who began to push forward in search of an equaliser. Despite enjoying their best spell of the match the Hams were unable to create any clear cut chances. Eaglesham's best opportunity of the second half came when Lewis Cameron's attempted bicycle kick clearance on the edge of the Saints box was harshly penalised for dangerous play. The resulting free kick was expertly clipped over the Saints wall forcing Daniel Cassells into an excellent diving save low down at his right hand post. The Hams were now leaving more space at the back for Saints to exploit and Saints came close to increasing their lead firstly when Myles McAuley was thwarted by Gordon Taylor in the Hams goal, then when Lewis Cameron flashed a header wide from a Ross Maitland free kick.
The match ended 1 - 0 to Saints who will be pleased not just to get back to winning ways but also with a far more "Saints-like" performance. Although defeated Eaglesham can take great credit for a spirited performance with their keeper Gordon Taylor earning top marks for an inspired display.
Heavy first half downpour
Scott Maitland lets fly in the 42nd minute
Eaglesham keeper Gordon Taylor makes another fine save
Craig MacEwan nets the only goal of the game
78th minute Eaglesham free kick well saved by Daniel Cassells
Lewis Cameron sends a glancing header narrowly wide from a Ross Maitland free kick
Saints take the Kintyre Trail on Saturday to face Argyll rivals Campbeltown Pupils in what is widely considered to be the biggest of all the Argyll derbies. As derby matches go Pupils v Saints is not exactly local but the 88 or so miles between the two clubs does nothing to diminish their fierce rivalry. The battle for football supremacy in Argyll has raged long and hard since Saints gained admission to the Scottish Amateur Football League in 1976 paving the way for the other Argyll teams. Saints and Pupils have been by far the most successful of the Argyll clubs with both enjoying spells as "top dogs". Saints may have been first to join the SAFL but it was Pupils who were first to fulfill the criteria for admission to the Premier Divison. Similarly it was Pupils who were the first Argyll club to be crowned SAFL Premier Division Champions beating their Oban rivals to this prestigious accolade by 10 years. Since then the balance of power has swung towards Saints with the Oban club now in it's 13th consecutive season in the top flight during which time Pupils have yo-yo'd between the three divisions in the Premier League set-up.
After an absence of five seasons Pupils return to the Premier Division on the back of two consecutive league championships. The foundation for this resurgence has been Pupils' phenomenal home record of just two defeats in three seasons. That particular crown has begun to slip somewhat at the start of this new season with two heavy home reverses against title contenders St Joseph's and Haldane United.
Saints have found goals hard to come by in their three league games so far this season and will hope to capitalise on Pupils' defensive frailties. Joining the lengthening Saints injury list are Dougal Graham, Jamie Graham and Scott Maitland so Manager Iain Jackson will have his resources fully stretched for what is sure to be a full blooded affair for local bragging rights.
Campbeltown Pupils SAFL Premier Division fixtures so far this season:-
16th August 2014 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 6 St Joseph's FP
30th August 2014 Busby 0 - 2 Campbeltown Pupils 2
6th September 2014 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 7 Haldane United
Campbeltown Pupils SAFL Premier Division One Champions 2013-14
Campbeltown Pupils' recent record in the SAFL:-
2013/14 Premier Division One Champions Promoted
2012/13 Premier Division Two Champions Promoted
2011/12 Premier Division Two 4th
2010/11 Premier Division One 9th Relegated
2009/10 Premier Division One 7th
2008/09 Premier Division 10th Relegated
2007/08 Premier Division One 3rd Promoted
2006/07 Premier Division One 5th
Kintyre Park, Campbeltown
On 30th November 2013 an incredible crowd of 550 spectators packed Kintyre Park to witness Pupils' 3 - 1 Scottish Amateur Cup 3rd round victory over near neighbours Carradale. In the foreground, braving the winter chill in short sleeves is Campbeltown's answer to die-hard Saints fan David MacPhee. David's only concession to the on-set of winter is to add a wooly hat and gloves to his usual T-shirt and shorts ensemble!
In other news
The draw for the second round of the Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup was made on Tuesday 9th September at Hampden Park, Glasgow. Saints were drawn away to Wallacetoun Sporting Club of the Ayrshire Amateur Football League Second Division. Saturday's opponents Campbeltown Pupils were drawn at home to Tannahill of the Paisley and District Amateur Football League Division One A. The second round ties are scheduled to be played on Saturday 4th October.
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