Saturday 22nd November 2014
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v St Joseph's FP AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban, Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr James Litster
Last Week's Fixture
Saints progressed to the fourth round of the Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Cup with an eventually convincing 7 - 1 victory over SAFL Division 1B side Rosehill Star at Netherpollock last Saturday. Due to injuries and other commitments Saints travelled without a number of key players including Ross Maitland and Myles McAuley who were left stranded on Colonsay due to bad weather on Friday night.
The match was played on an extremely difficult surface which Saints took a while to come to terms with. During this initial period Saints were unable to get their normal passing game going and it was the hosts who made the better start. Rosehill Star striker Gary MacLeod had the best of the early chances and was unlucky to see his 5th minute shot from the edge of the box come back off the post with Daniel Cassells in the Saints goal well beaten. Saints eventually began to gain the upper hand with Donald Campbell, Jamie Graham and Craig MacEwan all coming close with long range efforts.
A devastating twelve minute spell from the visitors either side of the half time interval put the final result beyond any doubt. Three quick-fire goals from Dean Smith, Donald Campbell and Lewis Cameron in the 38th, 39th and 41st minute respectively gave Saints a comfortable half-time lead. Saints were back on the attack after the break and increased their lead in the 50th minute when Lewis Cameron thumped home a terrific right foot shot to make it 4 - 0. This was the cue for some changes and Saints Manager Iain Jackson withdrew David McArthur and Scott Maitland replacing them with Martin Bonar and new signing Ally McKerracher. On the hour mark Saints added a fifth when substitute Martin Bonar was on hand to bundle home from close range after Star keeper Chris Morrison had failed to hold a Craig MacEwan shot. Donald Campbell got his second goal of the game in the 76th minute when his excellent run from midfield was picked out by a pin-point pass from Lewis Cameron. Donald calmly slotted past the Star keeper to make it two goals in as many games since his return from injury. Ally McKerracher's otherwise promising Saints debut was spoiled slightly when he was harshly adjudged to have fouled Star midfielder Scott Docherty in the Saints box. Gary MacLeod slammed home the spot kick to give Rosehill Star the consoltion goal their persistence deserved. The scoring was completed in the 81st minute when Martin Bonar and Donald Campbell combined well to set up Lewis Cameron for his hat-trick and a convincing 7 - 1 victory for Saints.
Saints friends Postal United clearly didn't think much of the playing surface
New signing Ally McKerracher. You can watch Ally's induction into the Saints Singer's Hall of Fame on the Saints Facebook page www.facebook.com/obansaintsafc
Hey Joe
After six weeks on cup duty Saints return to league action with a home fixture against in-form St Joseph's FP from Duntocher. St. Joe's currently sit in second place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division with 14 points from 6 games, 3 points behind league leaders Thorn Athletic who have played two games more. St Joe's are the only remaining unbeaten side in the Premier Division and have lost only one match in fifteen outings in all competitions so far this season. The solitary defeat came ten weeks ago in the Quarter Finals of the SAFL Centenary Trophy against Premier Division One side Goldenhill. Since that defeat St Joe's have taken valuable league points from title rivals Finnart, Haldane United and Thorn Athletic. St Joe's have also progressed to the fourth round of the "big two" cup competitions where they will play Clark Drive in the Scottish Cup and East Kilbride or Stewarton United in the West of Scotland Cup.
Saints go into this fixture two points behind the visitors knowing that a win will see them leap-frog their opponents in what is already shaping up to be an extremely tight league race. Saints will hope to add David Beaton, Marc MacCallum, Allan Mackay and Roy McLuckie to last week's squad which will give Manager Iain Jackson some interesting selection dilemas. Plans to airlift Myles McAuley and Ross Maitland from Colonsay in time for the match are also at an advanced stage.
St Joseph's FP AFC Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division fixtures so far this season:-
16th August 2014 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 6 St Joseph's FP
23rd August 2014 St Joseph's FP 3 - 0 Alba Thistle
27th August 2014 Busby 0 - 3 St Joseph's
20th September 2014 St Joseph's 1 - 1 Haldane United
11th October 2014 Thorn Athletic 1 - 1 St Joseph's FP
25th October 2014 St Joseph's 3 - 0 Finnart
St Joseph's FP Scottish Amateur Cup fixtures so far this season:-
1st Round 6th September 2014 St Joseph's FP 4 - 2 Auchinairn Star
2nd Round 4th October 2014 Drumley 2 - 5 St Joseph's FP
3rd Round 1st November 2014 Silverburn 4 - 4 St Joseph's
3rd Round Replay 8th November 2014 St Joseph's 4 - 0 Silverburn
St Joseph's West of Scotland Cup fixtures so far this season:-
2nd Round 18th October 2014 Clydeside Athletic 1 - 6 St Joseph's FP
3rd Round 15th November 2014 St Joseph's FP 3 - 1 Catrine
St Joseph's FP AFC recent Scottish Amateur Football League finishes:-
2006/07 Premier Division One 4th
2007/08 Premier Division One 2nd Promoted
2008/09 Premier Division Champions
2009/10 Premier Division 6th
2010/11 Premier Division 6th
2011/12 Premier Division 6th
2012/13 Premier Division 5th
2013/14 Premier Division 3rd
Saints home record against St Joseph's FP:-
2008/09 Premier Division Oban Saints 2 - 3 St Joseph's FP
2009/10 Premier Division Oban Saints 2 - 0 St Joseph's FP
2010/11 Premier Division Oban Saints 8 - 1 St Joseph's FP
2011/12 Premier Division Oban Saints 3- 1 St Joseph's FP
2012/13 Premier Division Oban Saints 0 - 1 St Joseph's FP
2013/14 Premier Division Oban Saints 1 - 1 St Joseph's FP
Action from last season's 1 - 1 draw at Glencruitten
Donald Campbell in aerial combat with the St Joseph's defence
Allan Mackay and St Joseph's central defender Craig Cameron
Paul Kerr and St Joseph's Keiron Timoney battle it out in midfield
In Other News
The West of Scotland Cup fourth round draw took place on Monday 17th November. Saints were handed as tough a draw as they could have wished for when they were paired away from home against Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division leaders Harestanes. Saints are provisionally scheduled to make the trip to Merkland Playing Fields, Kirkintilloch on Saturday 13th December however this date may be subject to change owing to Harestanes' involvement in the Scottish Amateur Cup. Harestanes are widely considered to be the top amateur football team in Scotland at present and will provide a massive test for Saints.
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