Saturday 25th April 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Kings Park Rangers AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Glasgow Green Football Centre
28 Kings Drive
Glasgow
G40 1HB
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr James Carberry
Last Weekend's Fixture
Saints edged past Haldane United in a tense and, at times, scrappy Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy quarter final tie at Glencruitten last Saturday afternoon. In stark contrast to Haldane's last visit to Oban when torrential rain forced a switch to the 3G pitch at Oban High School this match was played in glorious April sunshine on an excellent Glencruitten surface perfect for good football. With both teams seemingly out of the running for the Premier Division title they contested so well last season, the Jimmy Marshall Trophy represented the only realistic hope of ending this season with some silverware. A typically close match between the two evenly matched teams was therefore anticipated. Saints were without Manager Iain Jackson, Daniel Cassells and Marc MacCallum who were on holiday, Ross Maitland and Myles McAuley who were working on Colonsay and Ally McKerracher who has surprisingly elected to switch sports and join up with Oban Celtic Shinty Club. Making a welcome return to the squad were Allan Mackay and Scotland Amateur International Lewis Cameron. Haldane had their own selection problems with eight regulars unavailable and a travelling squad of just twelve fit players. Saints started brightly attacking the railway end with Lewis Cameron curling a first minute shot off the junction of post and bar. Moments later Lewis forced his way into the Haldane box and, from a tight angle, elected to shoot when a cut back to the waiting strike pair of Allan Mackay and Dean Smith looked to be the better option. The shot from Lewis was comfortably saved at his near post by Haldane keeper Pat McCune. With just two minutes on the clock Saints came close again with Allan Mackay flashing a drive from the edge of the eighteen yard box inches over the crossbar. Haldane weathered the initial storm from Saints and had their own first attempt on goal in the fifth minute with a long range shot going well wide of Thomas McCulloch's left hand post. The battle for midfield supremacy then began in earnest with the Saints five of David McArthur, Lewis Cameron, Paul Kerr, Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan being made to work extremely hard to get their normal passing game going. In the 16th minute Lewis Cameron and David McArthur combined well on the right wing to force a corner kick but the outswinger from Lewis was easily dealt with by the Haldane defence. Haldane's main threat comes from set pieces and Saints would have been working hard in training to tighten up on the soft goals conceded from corner kicks in the previous fixture against Thorn Athletic. After twenty minutes Haldane forced their first corner and set about testing the resolve of the Saints defence. Haldane skipper and main aerial threat Daniel McIlmun evaded markers Alex Craik and Craig MacEwan to meet the corner kick from the right with a powerful header which Jamie Graham did well to head off the line and behind for a second corner. The second corner was scrambled to the edge of the box where it was met by a fierce shot which was deflected wide for yet another corner. This time Alex Craik won a convincing header to clear the danger and settle the nerves on the touchline. In the 23rd minute Haldane tried again from distance but the shot lacked power leaving Thomas McCulloch was an easy save. In the 27th minute Lewis Cameron and David McArthur again combined well on the right, David made a terrific run to the bye-line before sending in a tantalising cross which fizzed across the face of goal agonisingly out of the reach of Allan Mackay and Dean Smith. The Saints defensive trio of Jamie Graham, skipper Alex Craik and Dougal Graham were keeping the Haldane attack in check restricting them to shots from distance the best of which came on the half hour mark from Euan Kennedy which Thomas McCulloch did well to hold. From the big keeper's clearance Saints launched an attack up the left wing with Craig MacEwan making a surging run to the bye-line. Craig sent over a deep cross which Paul Kerr did well to head back across goal to Allan Mackay who fired a terrific 16 yard volley which took keeper McCune two attempts to force behind for a corner. In the 37th minute Donald Campbell, Allan Mackay and Craig MacEwan carved open the Haldane defence to create a fantastic chance for Craig whose left foot shot under pressure from the retreating defenders was well saved on his six yard line by keeper McCune. Three minutes later Saints were on the attack again and Paul Kerr found himself in space just inside the Haldane box. From a knock down from Allan Mackay Paul shot for goal Frank Lampard style. Unfortunately Paul's shot was more Frank Lampard Senior (19 goals in 584 senior appearances) than Junior and it sailed high over the bar. At the other end Haldane won a free kick from which Daniel McIlmun got a header on target forcing Thomas McCulloch into a smart save. In the 42nd minute Haldane won another free kick this time electing to try a shot on goal which was flighted high and wide of target. Saints final opportunity of the first half came from a Lewis Cameron left wing corner which Jamie Graham was unable to connect with under pressure from the Haldane defence.
Haldane carved out the first opportunity of the second half forcing Thomas McCulloch into a smart save from another long range shot. In the 48th minute Dougal Graham launched a Saints counter-attack up the left wing, Craig MacEwan fed Dean Smith in the box whose goal-bound shot was blocked and cleared to the edge of the box. David McArthur picked up the loose ball and attempted to play in Dean again, his pass was blocked but only as far as Donald Campbell who shot narrowly over the bar. Three minutes later Dean Smith looked to have created a great chance for himself when he turned towering defender Daniel McIlmun on the Haldane 18 yard line. With the goal at his mercy Dean was very harshly adjudged by Referee Jimmy Litster to have fouled the big Haldane skipper which given the size difference between the two must to have been quite a feat for Dean. In the 56th minute David McArthur and Allan Mackay linked up well in the inside right channel with Allan laying the ball off to David whose weak shot was easily saved by Pat McCune. Two minutes later Haldane forced their way into the Saints box which took the Saints defence three attempts to halt eventually forcing the ball behind for a corner. With the Saints rearguard preparing for another aerial attack Haldane went short with the corner picking out Euan Kennedy lurking on the corner of the box whose stinging shot brought out another good save from Thomas McCulloch. On the hour mark Saints forged a good opening from a throw-in on the right. Donald Campbell picked out Craig MacEwan on the left who fired in a terrific cross which keeper McCune at full stretch managed to touch behind for a corner. In the 65th minute Allan Mackay held up a Donald Campbell through ball under pressure from the Haldane defence and laid the ball off to Lewis Cameron who burst forward only to be crudely stopped in his tracks by a trip from behind. Lewis took the resulting free kick himself and found the head of Craig MacEwan whose powerful header was well held by keeper McCune. Saints were now upping the pressure in search of a goal and came close in the 67th minute when Donald Campbell shot through a ruck off players from 15 yards out bringing out another good save from keeper McCune. Two minutes later Donald repeated the feat this time beating McCune only for Allan Mackay, standing in an offside position inside the six yard box, to deflect the ball wide of target. With twenty minutes remaining acting Management duo of Secretary David Buchanan and Coach Peter MacCallum made their one and only change of the afternoon replacing Dean Smith with Scott Maitland. Scott took up a position on the right side of midfield with Lewis Cameron moving forward to join Allan Mackay in attack. The speed and trickery of Lewis Cameron was now giving the tiring Haldane rearguard problems and his switch to attack eventually paid dividends in the 84th minute. Lewis forced his way into the left hand side of the Haldane box and cut back onto his right foot before curling an excellent finish into the net beyond the helpless Haldane keeper. With time running out Haldane now had to go for broke and launched the ball forward at every opportunity. Saints were sitting deep but remained relatively untroubled by the Haldane long balls. Spaces were now opening up at the other end for Saints to exploit which, although no further goal scoring chances were created, helped to run down the clock for the nervous Saints faithful watching anxiously from the sidelines. Referee Jimmy Litster, who had an easy afternoon's work, brought proceedings to a halt giving Saints a third consecutive Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final to look forward to.
The semi-final against St Joseph's FP will take place at Millburn Park, Alexandria home of Vale of Leven Juniors on Wednesday 13th May 2015. The tie will kick off at 1845 hours and will be played to a finish on the night with penalty kicks to decide the winner if the scores are level after 90 minutes. The winners will face either East Kilbride, Ferguslie Star or Goldenhill in the final at Somervell Park, Cambuslang on Sunday 31st May.
Jamie Graham clears Daniel McIlmun's header off the line
Saints clear their lines from another aerial attack
David MacArthur's tantalising cross has no takers
Craig MacEwan's first half chance
Donald Campbell's shot is safely gathered by Pat McCune
Donald Campbell with Euan Kennedy and Daniel McIlmun in close attendance
Lewis Cameron nets the only goal of the game
This Saturday Saints will make their second visit of the season to Glasgow Green where they will hope to fare considerably better than last November's 4 - 1 defeat at the hands of Finnart. Saturday's opponents are old rivals Kings Park Rangers who currently prop up the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division with eight points from their fourteen matches so far. After a seven year absence from the Premier Division KPR opened their league campaign with a 2 - 1 defeat against reigning champions Saints at Glencruitten on 23rd August. The Croftfoot men picked up four points from the following three fixtures but this early promise soon disappeared as they embarked on a run of eight straight defeats to leave them facing an uphill struggle to remain in the top division. KPR's form has improved considerably in their most recent fixtures including an away win at Campbeltown Pupils, which is never an easy place to visit, and a 2 - 2 home draw against Eaglesham last midweek. KPR were also unlucky to go out of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy on penalty kicks against Eaglesham following a 0 - 0 draw at the Burnside. The return of KPR to the top flight sees the resumption of one of the Scottish Amateur Football League's oldest remaining rivalries with KPR and Saints having almost ninety years of SAFL membership between them. Since first meeting in the Scottish Amateur Cup 40 years ago the paths of Saints and KPR have crossed on numerous occasions up and down the league with many enduring friendships being made along the way. Saints can expect a tough afternoon against KPR as they look to keep alive their faint hopes of retaining the Premier Division trophy which they won in such convincing style last season. Manager Iain Jackson should have Ross Maitland and Myles McAuley available after missing last week's match through work commitments however PJ Sinclair drops out also through work commitments.
Kings Park Rangers league record so far this season:-
23rd August 2014 Oban Saints 2 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
30th August 2014 Alba Thistle 1 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
13th September 2014 Kings Park Rangers 0 - 2 Thorn Athletic
4th October 2014 Kings Park Rangers 2 - 1 Busby
11th October 2014 Kings Park Rangers 0 - 3 Campbeltown Pupils
1st November 2014 Finnart 4 - 0 Kings Park Rangers
15th November 2014 Eaglesham 4 - 3 Kings Park Rangers
29th November 2014 Kings Park Rangers 1 - 3 Haldane United
6th December 2014 Busby 2 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
13th December 2014 Thorn Athletic 3 - 2 Kings Park Rangers
7th February 2015 Haldane United 5 - 2 Kings Park Rangers
28th February 2015 Kings Park Rangers 0 - 2 Finnart
14th March 2015 Campbeltown Pupils 0 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
15th April 2015 Kings Park Rangers 2 - 2 Eaglesham
Kings Park Rangers league record so far this season:-
23rd August 2014 Oban Saints 2 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
30th August 2014 Alba Thistle 1 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
13th September 2014 Kings Park Rangers 0 - 2 Thorn Athletic
4th October 2014 Kings Park Rangers 2 - 1 Busby
11th October 2014 Kings Park Rangers 0 - 3 Campbeltown Pupils
1st November 2014 Finnart 4 - 0 Kings Park Rangers
15th November 2014 Eaglesham 4 - 3 Kings Park Rangers
29th November 2014 Kings Park Rangers 1 - 3 Haldane United
6th December 2014 Busby 2 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
13th December 2014 Thorn Athletic 3 - 2 Kings Park Rangers
7th February 2015 Haldane United 5 - 2 Kings Park Rangers
28th February 2015 Kings Park Rangers 0 - 2 Finnart
14th March 2015 Campbeltown Pupils 0 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
15th April 2015 Kings Park Rangers 2 - 2 Eaglesham
The Kings Park Rangers squad celebrating last season's 2 - 1 victory at Kintyre Park over Champions Campbeltown Pupils which finally sealed their promotion back to the Premier Division
2013-14 Premier Division One 2nd (Promoted)
2012-13 Premier Division One 7th
2011-12 Premier Division 10th (Relegated)
2010-11 Premier Division One 3rd (Promoted)
2009-10 Premier Division One 4th
2008-09 Premier Division One 7th
2007-08 Premier Division 10th (Relegated)
2006-07 Premier Division 5th
Saints recent record against Kings Park Rangers:-
2014-15
23rd August 2015 Oban Saints 2 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
2011-12
19th May 2012 Oban Saints 3 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
17th September 2011 Kings Park Rangers 0 - 5 Oban Saints
2007-08
24th May 2008 Kings Park Rangers 1 - 3 Oban Saints
25th August 2007 Oban Saints 3 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
2006-07
28th April 2007 Oban Saints 0 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
23rd September 2006 Kings Park Rangers 3 - 3 Oban Saints
Dean Smith celebrates his 88th minute winner when the sides met at Glencruitten in August
In Other News
The Scottish Amateur Football League fixture computer has been fired up for the final time this season and the five remaining title contenders now know exactly what lies in store for them in the coming weeks until the Premier Division season ends on Saturday 23rd May. Title favourites are current leaders Thorn Athletic closely followed by St Joseph's with Saints being joined in the chasing pack by Eaglesham and Finnart. Saints remaining fixtures are as follows:-
Saturday 25th April 2015
Kings Park Rangers v Oban Saints
Saturday 9th May 2015
Haldane United v Oban Saints
Saturday 16th May 2015
Oban Saints v Finnart
Wednesday 20th May 2015
Oban Saints v Campbeltown Pupils
Saturday 23rd May 2015
Alba Thistle v Oban Saints
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