Do It Again

Do It Again

Saturday 8th November 2014
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
3rd Round Replay
Giffnock North AAC AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Northolm Sports Complex, Braidbar Farm Road, Giffnock, Glasgow G46 6HU
Kick off 1.30pm
Referee Mr James Cotton

Last Time Out

At Glencruitten last Saturday Saints and Giffnock North served up a cracking Scottish Amateur Cup tie before Saints band of loyal supporters and a healthy turnout of visiting fans who had accompanied their favourites on their day trip to Oban. In a blistering opening two minutes Lewis Cameron and Ross Maitland linked up well on the right wing to find Paul Kerr bursting through the inside right channel. Paul's goal bound shot from the edge of the box was well blocked by the Giffnock North defence. The action quickly swung to the other end where Roy McLuckie was very harshly adjudged by referee Peter Laing to have fouled Giffnock striker David Devine just inside the Saints box. The incident looked to be no more than an accidental collision but the referee pointed to the spot much to the astonishment of the assembled Saints faithful. However Saints sense of injustice was soon lifted when Daniel Cassells pulled off an excellent save from Eugene Forde's spot kick before the ball was bundled behind for a corner. After this let-off Saints slowly began to gain the upper hand and in the 14th minute were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty kick when Allan Mackay was felled on the very edge of the Giffnock North penalty box. The referee again gave the benefit of the doubt to the visitors and ruled that the infringement had taken place outside the box. Allan took the free kick himself but his curling right foot shot failed to clear the Giffnock defensive wall and bounced to safety. Saints fell behind in the 18th minute when North midfielder David Kneale was allowed time and space to measure a precise long range shot which beat Daniel Cassells low down to his right. Saints recovered from this setback and created some excellent goal scoring opportunities. Scott Maitland curled an excellent left foot shot just wide of target with Craig Marshall in the Giffnock goal well beaten. Scott was also unlucky to see his well timed run to collect a precise Lewis Cameron pass go unrewarded when the Giffnock keeper made a fine save from Scott's shot from just inside the box. In the 33rd minute Craig MacEwan met a Lewis Cameron in-swinging corner from the left wing to send a powerful header inches over the crossbar. Just two minutes later Saints were again slow to close down in their own half allowing David Devine space to fire an unstoppable shot past Daniel Cassells' despairing left hand. The home side came close to pulling one back in the 40th minute when Allan Mackay rose above the North defence to head a pin-point Ross Maitland free kick narrowly over the bar. Two nil down at half time was harsh on Saints but full credit to The North for the clinical manner in which they scored their goals.
Saints started the second half as they did the first and within a minute of the re-start Craig MacEwan forced Craig Marshall into another fine save. Saints continued to probe without success until the game exploded into action in the 57th minute. Allan Mackay forced his way into the Giffnock box and sent a curling right foot shot goalwards only to see it spectacularly tipped round the post by Craig Marshall for a corner. Lewis Cameron's corner kick from the right wing was cleared but Saints regained possession on the edge of the Giffnock box and Lewis sent in a low cross which the goalkeeper could only parry into the path of Ross Maitland who bundled the ball over the line from six yards. Saints equalised five minutes later with Lewis Cameron once again the creator. Lewis linked up well with Ross Maitland on the right wing to force a corner before planting his flag kick straight onto the head of Allan Mackay whose header back across goal gave the keeper no chance. Saints were well in the ascendancy now and completed the turnaround in the 66th minute. Lewis Cameron once again carved his way through the Giffnock defence to pick out Craig MacEwan with an excellent cut-back which Craig headed into the net from just inside the six yard box. One minute later Craig almost made it four but with his header after an excellent run and cross from Myles McAuley was well saved. The lead, however, didn't last long as Saints were once again severely punished for their own sloppiness. A speculative long range effort from Giffnock substitute Brendan McGurk beat Saints keeper Daniel Cassells far too easily low down at his right hand post. The big keeper was bitterly disappointed to loose such a soft goal but swiftly regained his composure to deal comfortably with everything else the North could throw at him.
After that frenetic spell the game settled down somewhat with both sides unable to capitalise on any chances that came their way. At the final final whistle Saints Manager Iain Jackson was disappointed with the soft goals conceded but otherwise satisfied with a good performance against top quality opposition.

Scott Maitland in a foot race with the Giffnock North defence

Giffnock North right back launches a free kick 

Allan Mackay rises above the North defence to head Ross Maitland's free kick narrowly over 

Daniel Cassells clears upfield

Ross Maitland pulls one back for Saints 

Allan Mackay equalises

Craig MacEwan heads Saints into a brief 3 - 2 lead

Ross Maitland clears off his own line

Giffnock North keeper Craig Marshall

Do It Again

After last week's thrilling encounter at Glencruitten Saints and Giffnock North must do it again on Saturday to decide which of these evenly matched teams will progress to the fourth round of this season's Foster's Scottish Amateur Cup. When the two sides met at Giffnock last season in the West of Scotland Cup they couldn't be separated after 120 minutes of football so the outcome was decided by a penalty shoot-out which the hosts edged 3 - 2. The North are unbeaten at home in all competitions so far this season whilst Saints only two defeats have come on their travels. There is clearly very little to choose between the two sides but home advantage must make the North slight favourites. Saints have made it as least as far as the sixth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup in each of the last three seasons but face an uphill struggle if they are to keep that impressive run going.
In a season blighted by selection headaches Manager Iain Jackson has been unable to field the same starting XI twice in nine attempts. Saints injury problems appear to be clearing up but that other curse on the amateur game "work commitments" may force the Manager to shuffle the pack yet again. Whatever the line-up the boys will be desperate to make up for letting a winning position slip from their grasp last week. The game must be played to a finish with extra time and penalties to decide the winner if necessary. If you are anywhere near Glasgow on Saturday you could do a lot worse for your Saturday afternoon entertainment than to make the short trip out to Giffnock.  

Giffnock North AAC AFC League and Cup double winners 2012 - 13

In Other News

The draw for the fourth round of the Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition sponsored by Foster's took place at the Energy Assets Arena, Livingston on the evening of Tuesday 4th November. The winners of this Saturday's third round replay between Oban Saints AFC and Giffnock North AAC AFC face an away trip to Kilsyth Amateurs of Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1A

Muddy Mildred! It's Movember!

#monthesaints