Pinky Blue

Pinky Blue

Saturday 21st. February 2015

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

Busby AFC v Oban Saints AFC

Overlee Playing Fields, Moray Drive, Clarkston G76 8NL 

Kick off 2pm

Referee - Mr James Rose

Last Weekend's Fixture

Saints took the first step towards a successful defence of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy with a hard fought win over Premier Division Two outfit Easthall Star at Stepford Football Centre last Saturday. Ross Maitland, Myles McAuley and Ally McKerracher were all unavailable so Alex Craik, Scott Maitland and Dean Smith all came into the starting line-up. The narrow, bumpy pitch at Stepford was not exactly to Saints liking and with the hosts giving them no time on the ball it took a while for Saints to get going. Saints looked to have a good chance to open the scoring in the 5th minute when Lewis Cameron ran onto a defence splitting pass from Donald Campbell. Unfortunately the referee ruled Lewis to be offside which can charitably described as a very close call from Mr Auld. One minute later Saints fell behind when Dean Smith lost possession in the centre circle. The ball was quickly played out wide to John MacDonald who cut in from the right wing and fired a low right foot shot into the bottom corner of the Saints net past Daniel Cassells' left hand. The tight park was making it difficult for Saints to use the flanks to good effect however they almost found some joy when Scott Maitland made a good run up the right wing and sent in a tantalising low cross which Dean Smith narrowly failed to connect with at the near post. Saints were relatively untroubled at the back and kept probing for an opening but were finding the resolute Star defence difficult to penetrate. Saints threatened on a couple of occasions from corner kicks but the Star goalkeeper kept them at bay with some unorthodox but nonetheless effective saves. Saints were back on level terms in the 35th minute thanks to a tactical switch from Manager Iain Jackson. Lewis Cameron was ordered to drop deeper into midfield to get on the ball a bit more,  a move which paid instant dividends. Lewis picked the ball up on the half way line and sent Dean Smith off on a run up the right wing,  Dean's low cross picked out Allan Mackay in the box who controlled under pressure from the Star defence before calmly rolling the ball past the keeper and into the net. Saints survived a scare in the 44th minute when, after a succession of long throws and corner kicks which the Saints rearguard of Marc MacCallum, Alex Craik and Dougal Graham repelled, the referee awarded Star a hotly disputed free kick on the edge of the Saints box. In a move straight from the training ground the ball was played to the right hand side for dangerman John MacDonald to fire in a shot which crashed off the underside of the crossbar and, fortunately for Saints back into play where it was scrambled to safety.
Saints capitalised on this slice of good fortune by proceeding to totally dominate the second half. Straight from the restart Saints were on the attack with Craig MacEwan bursting into the box only to see his shot smothered at his near post by the Star goalkeeper. In the 51st minute Dean Smith had an identical chance which the keeper turned round the post with his outstretched right foot. The Saints central midfield partnership of Paul Kerr and Donald Campbell were now well in control of the midfield and continued to create chances for the strikers. In the 56th minute a flowing move involving Lewis Cameron,  Dean Smith and Allan Mackay was rounded off by Allan stroking the ball home from just inside the box. However the referee once again gave the benefit of a very tight offside decision to the home side. Saints were becoming increasingly frustrated as it seemed the breakthrough wasn't going to come. Manager Iain Jackson elected to make some changes withdrawing Scott Maitland and Alex Craik and replacing them with Martin Bonar and Jamie Graham. In the 70th minute a Lewis Cameron corner Kick from the left was met by Craig MacEwan whose header from six yards out cannoned off the keeper's left hand post before being hooked clear. Saints then made their final change with David McArthur replacing Dean Smith. David made a quick impact on proceedings winning a 79th minute free kick a yard outside the Star box and slightly left of centre. Allan Mackay stepped up to drill a low shot past the five man Star wall and just inside the keeper's right hand post. Four minutes later Lewis Cameron was finally rewarded for his afternoon of tireless running. Lewis made a great run from deep through the inside right channel easily outpacing the tiring Star defence to bury a shot in the bottom corner of the net. One minute later Craig MacEwan was foiled once again by another excellent save at the near post from the Star goalkeeper. In the 88th minute Lewis Cameron should have doubled his tally but he shot wide of target after excellent build up play involving David McArthur and Allan Mackay. Saints completed the scoring in the 90th minute when David McArthur's shot from the edge of the box proved too hot to handle for the Star keeper who could only parry the ball into the path of the onrushing Martin Bonar. Martin who clearly has a keen eye for goal eagerly gobbled up the chance slotting home from close range to seal a hard fought but deserved 4 - 1 victory for Saints. A second round home tie against Premier Division One side Jamestown now awaits on a date yet to be decided.

Allan Mackay with Saints first half equaliser

Alex Craik with a clearing header

Easthall Star rattle the underside of the Saints crossbar

Easthall Star keeper Andy McCunnie makes a fine save from Dean Smith

Allan Mackay shoots over

Martin Bonar makes it 4 - 1 to Saints

Saints return to league action this Saturday with a trip to Clarkston to face Busby. Busby are currently in 8th place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division with eleven points from twelve games just one point behind Saints but with four more games played. Busby's three league victories have all come at home the most notable being a 1 - 0 win over title hopefuls Thorn Athletic. Busby have also recorded creditable away draws at Finnart and Haldane United.
After a disappointing start to the league season Saints will be looking to reignite the defence of their Premier Division Crown by taking maximum points on a ground where they have not dropped a point on any of their previous visits. The poor start to the league campaign has left Saints little margin for error but with only six points separating 7th placed Saints and current league leaders Finnart it is still very much all to play for. When the sides met at Glencruitten earlier this season Saints ran out comfortable 3 - 0 winners thanks to goals from Roy McLuckie, Lewis Cameron and Allan Mackay. The Saints Management will be hoping for an equally assured performance this time around but can take nothing for granted against their highly unpredictable opponents.

Busby's league fixtures so far this season:-

Busby 3 - 6 Finnart
Busby 7 - 4 Eaglesham
Busby 0 - 3 St Joseph's
Busby 0 -  2 Campbeltown Pupils
Oban Saints 3 - 0 Busby
Kings Park Rangers 2 - 1 Busby
Haldane United 2 - 2 Busby
Busby 1 - 0 Thorn Athletic
Finnart 0 - 0 Busby
Alba 2 - 1 Busby
Busby 2 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
Campbeltown Pupils 3 - 0 Busby

Saints record against Busby:-

2007-08

Oban Saints 2 - 3 Busby

Busby 2 - 3 Oban Saints

2013-14 

Busby 2 - 9 Oban Saints

Oban Saints 2 - 2 Busby

2014-15 

Oban Saints 3 - 0 Busby

Busby AFC still in the pink?

Busby's recent SAFL record:-

2013-14 Premier Division 5th
2012-13 Premier Division One 4th Promoted
2011-12 Premier Division One 4th
2010-11 Premier Division One 7th
2009-10 Premier  Division One 3rd
2008-09 Premier Division One 5th
2007-08 Premier Division 9th Relegated
2006-07 Premier Division One Champions Promoted

Overlee Playing Fields

The Pavilion at Overlee

#monthesaints