Saturday 25th October 2014
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Alba Thistle AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Thomas D'Alessandro
Last Time Out
Last Saturday at St James Playing Fields Paisley Saints eased past Glenburn Athletic of the Paisley and District Amateur Football League Premier Division to secure their place in the third round of the West of Scotland Cup. It was yet another re-shuffled pack for stand-in Management team David Buchanan and Peter MacCallum to deal with however this latest Saints line-up was ultimately too strong for the hosts to handle. Glenburn had the advantage of the strong wind and the pronounced slope in the first half, despite this Saints were doing most of the early pressing without creating too much by way of clear cut chances. In the 6th minute Dean Smith had a net bound header from a Ross Maitland free kick deflected wide for a corner. Six minutes later Ross Maitland made a good run up the right wing before sending in a low cross to Allan Mackay on the edge of the box. Allan looked well placed to open the scoring but the ball took a wicked bounce before he could control it and the chance was lost. In the 19th minute a flowing Saints move down the left lead to Scott Maitland finding Paul Kerr with a good cross to the back post, unfortunately Paul's flying header flashed inches wide of the post. After 28 minutes Scott Maitland who was having a good game on his return from injury made a driving run through the midfield before being unceremoniously hacked down just outside the Glenburn penalty box. Allan Mackay flighted the resulting free kick over the wall but straight into the arms of Glenburn goalkeeper Martyn Elliot. Saints finally made the breakthrough in the 31st minute when Allan Mackay was on hand to tap in from close range a low Ross Maitland right wing cross. Two minutes later Saints had the ball in the net again but Craig MacEwan's effort was adjudged to be narrowly offside. Glenburn then rallied briefly and enjoyed a decent ten minute spell in which they had Saints pinned back in their own half. The host's best effort of the half came during this spell with a dipping left foot volley from the edge of the Saints box shaving the outside of Daniel Cassells' right hand post. Saints doubled their lead in the 43rd minute when Ross maitland found Dean Smith in the box, Dean skilfully lost his marker before lashing a fierce left foot shot high into the net past the helpless Glenburn keeper. In first half stoppage time Saints put themselves firmly in the driving seat when Allan Mackay finished off another flowing Saints attack down the left wing involving Craig MacEwan, Dean Smith and Scott Maitland.
Possibly thinking the game was already won Saints made a slow start to the second half and were punished for their lethargy in the 57th minute. A long throw from the left touchline evaded Daniel Cassells' attempted punch and was headed in at the back post by Charlie O'Donnell. The goal gave the hosts some encouragement and they continued to threaten from set pieces and, in particular, long throws which they used to good effect. In the 69th minute Saints finally managed to break out of defence to get the killer fourth goal. Dean Smith made a good run into the Glenburn box but was upended by a rash tackle near the goal line. From the resulting penalty kick Allan Mackay sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to complete his hat-trick. Saints then made their first change withdrawing Craig MacEwan who had put in a good shift on the left wing upon his return from injury with David Beaton. In the 75th Scott Maitland found namesake Ross with a deep cross from the left wing, Ross neatly side stepped the Glenburn full back before curling a well placed left foot shot low into the net for Saints fifth goal. Saints made their second and final change in the 80th minute with Dougal Graham coming on to replace Dean Smith. Barely four minutes later Dougal was celebrating Saints sixth goal when he cut in from the left wing to meet an Allan Mackay pass which he threaded through the goalkeepers legs from six yards out. David Beaton's pace and strong running was causing the tiring Glenburn defence problems and the wee man was unfortunate not to get his name on the score sheet. In the 89th minute David collected the ball in his own half and ran through the entire Glenburn rearguard only to see his shot from 18 yards well saved by the Glenburn keeper who despite the scoreline had a good game. Saints put the icing on the cake in 90th minute when Paul Kerr, holding off several challenges along the way, made a driving run through the centre of the Glenburn defence before poking the ball below the keeper to round off the scoring at 7 - 1.
Ross Maitland curls home Saints fifth goal
Dougal Graham nutmegs the goalkeeper for Saints sixth goal
Paul Kerr waltzes through the Glenburn Athletic defence to score Saints seventh and final goal of the match
Separated at birth?
Allan Mackay is unimpressed with the Referee's Father Jack impersonation
Father Jack Apologises
Ch, Ch, Ch, Ch, Changes
With eight different line-ups in as many fixtures Saints have been through more changes than the Thin White Duke himself. The continual enforced changes have seen only Daniel Cassells, Alex Craik, Paul Kerr and Allan Mackay start every match and in two of those goalkeeper Daniel Cassells had to play at centre forward! Key to Saints success last season was a settled squad which they must get back to quickly if they are to emulate their league and cup double winning feats. The probable imminent return of Donald Campbell and skipper Marc MacCallum will bring some welcome stability to the squad ahead of some crucial league and cup fixtures.
Saturday's visitors Alba Thistle are currently bottom of the SAFL Premier Division with one point from their opening four fixtures. That solitary point came against Kings Park Rangers on 30th August, amazingly you have to go back to 13th October 2012 to find Alba's last league draw, a run of 29 league games without a draw. On their only previous visit to Oban Alba proved a tough nut for Saints to crack and the home team were made to battle all the way for their 2 - 0 win courtesy of second half goals from Donald Campbell and Allan Mackay.
With the exception of their match against Kings Park Rangers Alba's opening league fixtures have all been against title challenging sides. In their last league outing they were unfortunate to lose narrowly in the local derby match against league leaders Thorn Athletic. Alba's cup form has been excellent collecting notable scalps in both the Scottish Cup and the West of Scotland Cup. In last Saturday's West of Scotland second round they defeated last season's SAFL Premier Division runners-up Haldane United. The week previous they pulled of a fantastic 4 - 1 away victory against Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier Division high flyers Stewarton United in the second round of the Scottish Amateur Cup. Saints can therefore expect another tough workout against the boys from Paisley this Saturday.
Alba Thistle's league fixtures so far this season:-
16th August 2014 Alba Thistle 0 - 2 Haldane United
23rd August 2014 St Joseph's F.P. 3 - 0 Alba Thistle
30th August 2014 Alba Thistle 1 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
20th September Alba Thistle 2 - 3 Thorn Athletic
Saints previous history against Alba Thistle:-
24th April 2013 Centenary Cup Final Oban Saints 0 - 0 Alba Thistle (Alba win 5 - 4 on penalties)
12th October 2013 SAFL Premier Division Oban Saints 2 - 0 Alba Thistle
29th March 2014 SAFL Premier Division Alba Thistle 4 - 5 Oban Saints
Alba's recent league history:-
2007/08 Paisley & District Division Two Champions (Promoted)
2008/09 Paisley & District Division One Champions
2009/10 Paisley & District Division One Champions (Undefeated)
2010/11 SAFL Division Three Champions
2011/12 SAFL Premier Division Two Champions (Undefeated) (Promoted)
2012/13 SAFL Premier Division One Champions
2013/14 SAFL Premier Division 8th
2013/14 SAFL Premier Division 8th
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