Winning In The Rain: Back Home

Saturday 7th March 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Haldane United AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban, Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr John McQuilter

Last Saturday

Last Saturday's scheduled Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy second round match against Jamestown became the latest addition to Saints list of postponements adding to the sense of frustration presently surrounding the club. An early Saturday morning pitch inspection found Glencruitten to be playable despite the heavy rainfall during the week. However, with more extreme weather forecast for Saturday afternoon, the Council grounds staff elected to call off the match in order to save the pitch from long term damage. This was not an easy call for the groundsman to make but the predicted heavy rain duly arrived to vindicate the decision. To add to the air of frustration the all weather pitch at Oban High School was hosting a pre-season friendly shinty tournament and was also unavailable. A revised date for the match against Jamestown is still awaited.

Back Home

This Saturday Saints will make another attempt to play their first home match of 2015. Once again Glencruitten has taken a bit of a pounding from the weather but with the 3G at Oban High School now available as a back-up a first home fixture in fifteen weeks looks a distinct possibility. Hopefully the Saints home faithful will turn out in good numbers to welcome the boys home after such a long absence.
Saturday's visitors are the very much in-form Haldane United who have lost just one of their last eight matches in all competitions. That solitary defeat came in a Scottish Amateur Cup fourth round replay at the hands of Galston United of the Ayrshire Amateur Football League Premier Division. Haldane are currently in second place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division, level on points with Finnart but with a slightly inferior goal difference. Saints, meanwhile, are eight points worse off however victories in their three games in hand would bring them right back into contention.
The three previous meetings between the clubs contained more than their fair share of drama. In the 2012/13 Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final clash at the neutral venue of McKenna Park, Govan Saints survived a number of scares before late strikes from Dene Cassells and Donald Campbell saw them scrape through to the final against Hillington. Saints first visit to Inler Park, Balloch saw the visitors take a 3 - 0 lead and a one man advantage into the closing thirty minutes of the match. First half goals from Paul Kerr, Allan Mackay and Mattie Rippon, coupled with a red card for Haldane on the hour mark should have had Saints on easy street but the newly promoted home side gave an early indication that they were not in the Premier Division merely to make up the numbers with a stirring comeback. Two goals from Scottish Amateur international Alan MacPherson brought Haldane right back into the game and a looping header from Robert MacKenzie levelled the scores with just minutes remaining. Such was the head of steam built up by the home side Saints were relieved to hear the final whistle and escape with a point. An enthralling league title race then developed with Saints and Haldane eventually seeing off strong challenges from Finnart and St Josephs FP before a final day head to head at Glencruitten. Saints held a two point advantage over their rivals meaning that a draw would be good enough for the home side to win the league title but only a win would do for Haldane. On a beautiful sunny May afternoon the home crowd and a substantial visiting support were treated to a fantastic game of football which ebbed and flowed throughout the 90 minutes. Saints started strongly and missed some early chances before being caught out by Haldane's first foray up field. A deep free kick was met at the back post by a towering header from Haldane Captain Daniel McIlmun to give Haldane the lead and stun the home crowd. Saints came roaring back and after several near misses levelled the scores in the 37th minute when Craig MacEwan got on the end of a Donald Campbell free kick to force the ball home from the edge of the six yard box. Haldane pressed hard in the second half making good use of set pieces to try and exploit their aerial advantage but the Saints defence stood firm. Saints were able to launch several presentable counter attacking opportunities which finally paid off in the 78th minute when Lewis Cameron set up Mattie Rippon to clinch the secure the points and with it the Premier Division title.
Exciting stuff I'm sure you'll agree and with both sides desperate for league points Saturday's meeting should be another cracker.

Saints record against Haldane United:-

8th May 2013 Jimmy Marshall Trophy Semi-Final Haldane United 0 - 2 Oban Saints
24th August 2013 Premier Division Haldane United 3 - 3 Oban Saints
31st May 2014 Premier Division Oban Saints 2 - 1 Haldane United

Haldane United's league fixtures so far this season:-

16th August 2014 Alba Thistle 0 - 2 Haldane United
23rd August 2014 Eaglesham 2 - 1 Haldane United
6th September 2014 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 7 Haldane United
13th September 2014 Haldane United 1 - 5 Finnart
20th September 2014 St Joseph's FP 1 - 1 Haldane United
11th October 2014 Haldane United 2 - 2 Busby
8th November 2014 Haldane United 1 - 3 Thorn Athletic
15th November 2014 Haldane United 0 - 0 Campbeltown Pupils
29th November 2014 Kings Park Rangers 1 - 3 Haldane United
7th February 2015 Haldane United 5 - 2 Kings Park Rangers
28th February 2015 Haldane United 3 - 1 Eaglesham

Haldane United's Scottish Amateur Football League Record:-

2008/09 Division 2A Champions and Coronation Cup Winners Promoted
2009/10 Division 1 Champions Promoted
2010/11 Premier Division Two 2nd Promoted
2011/12 Premier Division One 3rd
2012/13 Premier Division One 2nd Promoted
2013/14 Premier Division 2nd

Photos from last season's enthralling encounter at Glencruitten:-