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Saturday 1st November 2014
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
3rd Round
Oban Saints AFC v Giffnock North AAC AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Peter Laing
Last Time Out
Last Saturday's Scottish Amateur Football League fixture against Alba Thistle was called off on Friday afternoon after a week of heavy rain with even more forecast to come rendered Glencruitten unplayable.
Scenes from Lochavullin Car Park earlier this week
This Saturday Saints welcome 2012/13 Caledonian Premier Division Champions Giffnock North to Glencruitten in the third round of the Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup. Giffnock North currently sit second top of the twelve team Caledonian Premier Division with seven points from three games played. "The North" look to be in good form having suffered only one defeat in all competitions so far this season. That solitary defeat came in the first round of the West of Scotland Cup where last season's beaten finalists were surprisingly edged out by Kilbride Villa of Strathclyde Saturday Morning League Division One. Since that defeat the North have embarked on a run of three consecutive victories including a 7 - 1 away win against Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B Chryston in the Scottish Amateur Cup second round, and a convincing 4 - 0 away league win against current leaders Bearsden.
Giffnock North AAC AFC
Saints and Giffnock North met last season in the fourth round of the West of Scotland Cup. Here's how the result of that match was reported on this blog:-
Saints crashed out of the West of Scotland Cup at Northolm, Giffnock last Saturday when their penalty shoot-out hoodoo struck again. During the ninety minutes plus thirty minutes extra time Saints acquitted themselves well against last season's Caledonian League Premier Division Champions displaying plenty of "bouncebackability" following the previous weekend's Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Eastfield. Saints fell behind midway through the first half when Myles McAuley miss-hit an attempted clearance from a Giffnock North free kick into his own net. A headed goal by Captain Marc MacCallum from a Craig MacEwan corner and a fantastic solo effort from Lewis Cameron gave Saints a well deserved lead. Alas the lead was short lived and Scottish Amateur International midfielder Gary Dickson drew the North level with twenty eight minutes of the ninety still to play.
Despite giving their all for what remained of the match, including extra time, neither team could find the net again and penalty kicks were required to decide the winner. Saints penalty shoot-out misery continued where it left off at the end of last season where the Centenary Cup and Jimmy Marshall Trophy finals were both lost on penalties. Despite starting well with successful kicks from Mattie Rippon and Allan MacKay Saints once again crumbled under pressure. Donald Campbell saw his penalty saved and Craig MacEwan and Lewis Cameron both failed to hit the target giving Giffnock North a 3 - 2 shoot-out win.
Although disappointed at going out of the cup in such a cruel manner Saints can take heart from a good performance against a top quality Giffnock North side which will hopefully be a springboard to a successful SAFL Premier Division campaign.
The result turned out to be a springboard for both sides, Saints went on to clinch a League and Cup double and the North continued their excellent cup run all the way to the final before eventually losing out to all conquering Hurlford Thistle at New Douglas Park, Hamilton.
Giffnock North's Scottish Amateur International Gary Dickson
Saints Captain Marc MacCallum on a rampaging run against Rosyth last season
Lewis Cameron in action against Eaglesham earlier this season
Saturday's match will be Saints toughest test of the season so far, Giffnock North are an excellent team and are in very good form. Manager Iain Jackson will have the usual mixture of injuries and other call-offs to contend with but it remains to be seen whether he can name a ninth different starting eleven in as many matches. Jamie Graham is unavailable due to family commitments. Returning to the squad are Lewis Cameron and David McArthur after missing the West of Scotland Cup win over Glenburn Athletic through illness and holidays respectively. Captain Marc MacCallum who has been out of action since the Scottish Cup second round win at Wallacetoun Sporting Club is touch and go but Donald Campbell, despite inching closer to making his comeback, definitely remains on the sidelines.
In Other News
The draw for the third round of the Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Cup took place on Monday evening. Saints were drawn away from home against Rosehill Star of Scottish Amateur League Division 1B. The match is scheduled to be played on Saturday 15th November and must be played to a finish with extra time and penalty kicks to decide the winner if necessary.
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