Weekend

Eddie Cochrane - Weekend

SAINTS HAVE NO FIXTURE THIS WEEK DUE TO THE SEPTEMBER WEEKEND HOLIDAY

Scottish Amateur Football League Select

Last Sunday 20th September the Scottish Amateur Football League Select lined up against top Scottish Lowland League side East Kilbride for their first friendly match of the season. The match was played at the excellent new 4g pitch at New Western Park in Blythswood Retail Park home of Renfrew Juniors. The SAFL Select, under the supervision of new Manager Richard Byers assisted by Stuart Robertson, came out on the wrong end of a 4 - 0 scoreline against their high flying opponents who currently sit second top of the Scottish Lowland League having lost just one of their opening six league fixtures. Despite the disappointing scoreline this was a useful exercise for the Select against the current holders of the Lowland League Cup and one which the new management team will hope to build on in the months ahead. Saints were represented by Select Squad regulars Lewis Cameron, Donald Campbell, Myles McAuley and Marc MacCallum all of whom acquitted themselves well against their very experienced opponents.

Lewis Cameron

Donald Campbell

Myles McAuley

Marc MacCallum

New Western Park, Blythswood Retail Park, Renfrew - Home of Renfrew FC

Winter Training

In a sure sign that winter is almost upon us Saints returned to the 3G community pitch at Oban High School for training where they will remain until the end of the season. In a welcome boost to the squad long term injury victim Dougal Graham and even longer term injury victim twin brother Chris returned to training. Hopefully it won't be too long before both are pushing for a place in the side.

West of Scotland Cup

While Saints were kicking their heels on the sidelines last Saturday the rest of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division were all in league or West of Scotland Cup action. Reigning champions St Joseph's FP continued their 100% start to the defence of their title with a 2 - 1 win over Finnart at Mountblow while Saints Argyll rivals Campbeltown Pupils notched up their first victory of the season with an impressive 4 - 1 away win at Alba Thistle. The results mean that after four league fixtures sixth placed Saints trail leaders St Joseph's FP by eight points.

In the West of Scotland Cup first round East Kilbride FC Amateurs, Goldenhill and Shawlands FP all progressed comfortably to round two with wins over Gryffe Thistle, Mill United and Dennistoun Waverley respectively. Also through to round two where they will host Saints on Saturday 17th October are East Kilbride Rolls Royce. The Rolly booked their place in the next round with a 3 -1 home win over FC Clydebank of SAFL Premier Division Two. The SAFL Premier Division's only first round casualties were Inverclyde who went down 2 -1 in another all SAFL tie at Premier Division Two Dumbarton Wanderers. 

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Breaking Glass

(I Love The Sound Of) Breaking Glass - Nick Lowe

SAINTS HAVE NO FIXTURE THIS WEEKEND

Last Time Out

Saints returned to winning ways against an impressive Alba Thistle side at Glencruitten to lift themselves off the foot of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division. Manager Alex Craik had his plans thrown into disarray on the morning of the match when goalkeeper Thomas McCulloch called off with a cut hand suffered in a bizarre DIY accident with a glass light shade. Veteran net minder David Dunlop answered the call and it was a reassuring sight for the Saints faithful to see the vastly experienced keeper taking care of business between the posts once again. After weathering the early Alba storm Saints opened the scoring through Craig MacEwan but were quickly pegged back by a Gordon Meredith strike for the visitors who looked an improved side on the one which escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth last season. Saints exerted more of an influence in the second half and regained the lead when Craig MacEwan netted his second of the afternoon heading home a Lewis Cameron cross. The points were wrapped up by Myles McAuley when the big midfielder got on the end of a terrific run and cutback from the bye-line from skipper Marc MacCallum to round off the scoring at 3 - 1.

Disappointingly for Saints, due to West of Scotland Cup first round fixtures and next week's September Weekend Holiday, they will now have to wait until Saturday 3rd October to see if they can finally put together a winning run. 

Thomas McCulloch

David Dunlop

Craig MacEwan

In Other News

This Sunday 20th September the Scottish Amateur Football League Select will face top Scottish Lowland League side East Kilbride in a friendly match at the excellent new 4g pitch at New Western Park home of Renfrew Juniors. The SAFL Select will be under the supervision of new Manager Richard Byers assisted by Stuart Robertson. The Select face a difficult task against high flying East Kilbride who sit second in the Lowland League one point behind Edinburgh City and are the current holders of the Lowland League Cup. Saints representatives in the Select Squad are Lewis Cameron, Donald Campbell, Myles McAuley and Marc MacCallum all of whom can boast numerous appearances at this level.

Lewis Cameron

Donald Campbell

Myles McAuley

Marc MacCallum

New Western Park, Blythswood Retail Park, Renfrew - Home of Renfrew FC

In Other Other News

Congratulations to former Saints goalkeeper Daniel Cassells and his family on the birth of daughter Artemis Serifi Cassells.

Big Dan showing a safe pair of hands

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Breakdown

The Buzzcocks - Breakdown

Saturday 12th September 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Alba Thistle AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban, Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr John Stobo

Saints league title aspirations are currently up on blocks and in need of some urgent attention if they are to mount a serious challenge this season. The signs were encouraging in preseason with the new engine management system producing several good performances in test drives. However, after stalling on the opening day of the season, Saints have since refused to start even after some tinkering from new chief mechanic Alex Craik. When asked to describe the symptoms Alex was unable to positively identify the problem but narrowed it down to misfiring upfront and an intermittent leak at the back. To make matters worse the big end will now have to be removed and will be replaced up front by a leaner model for several weeks. Despite not starting again last Saturday there was definite signs that the Saints engine is finally about to turnover and will hopefully fire into action this weekend. On top of all that the minibus is f***ed!!!!

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More Superstitions

Stevie Wonder - Superstition

Saturday 5th September 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
St Joseph's FP AFC v Oban Saints AFC
William Street, Duntocher, Clydebank G81 6DF
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Mark Cameron

The unwelcome third landmark moment speculated upon in last week's blog post duly arrived last Saturday morning in the form of an unprecedented waterlogged Glencruitten 2 pitch in August! Last Saturday's Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division match against Campbeltown Pupils looked to have survived the heavy overnight rain when Glencruitten 2 passed an early morning pitch inspection. However, with the pitch marked and the nets up, the rain continued to fall faster than the ground could soak it up and a decision to postpone the match was taken to avoid a wasted journey for the visitors.

This Saturday Saints take their search for their first win of the season to Duntocher to face reigning Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions St Joseph's FP. It was a case of honours even in the league meetings between the two sides last season with St Joe's impressing in a convincing 5 - 2 win at Glencruitten in November and Saints winning the return fixture at William Street in April 2 - 1 courtesy of goals from Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan. When the pair were drawn together at the semi-final stage of the SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy at Millburn Park, Alexandria in May it was the men from Duntocher who came out on top. A sluggish start from Saints was severely punished by a Ryan Holmes inspired St Joe's who raced into a two goal lead inside the opening eleven minutes. Despite a spirited recovery there was to be no way back for cup holders Saints and St Joe's held out comfortably to deny Saints a third consecutive Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final appearance. Man of the match Ryan Holmes, who gave Saints a torrid time on the night, has since left St Joe's to join Clydebank F.C. in the Junior ranks where he is bound to impress.

Last season's league and cup double winners St Joe's have continued their rich vein of form in their opening fixtures of the new season. In the SAFL Centenary Cup they have comfortably eased past Motherwell Thistle and Inverclyde while their defence of the Premier Division kicked off with a convincing 6 - 2 away win at newly promoted Shawlands FP. If you believe in omens St Joe's march to last season's league title got underway with a 6 - 2 away win at newly promoted Campbeltown Pupils!

Saints have an excellent record on St Joe's territory but, as the defeat on erstwhile happy hunting ground Battery Park proves, those records are there to be broken. St Joe's are already shaping up as leading contenders for the Premier Division title therefore Saints will have to be at their best if they are to keep this particular run going and notch their first win of the league campaign. In selecting his travelling party Saints Manager Alex Craik will be faced with the usual mixture of injuries, suspensions, work and family commitments but should still have a strong squad to choose from.

St Joseph's FP AFC Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division fixtures so far this season:-

22nd August 2015 Shawlands FP 2 - 6 St Joseph's FP

St Joseph's SAFL Centenary Cup exploits this season:-

1st Round 15th August 2015 St Joseph's FP 4 - 0 Motherwell Thistle

2nd Round 29th August 2015 St Joseph's FP 3  - 0 Inverclyde

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

2014/15 Premier Division Champions

Saints away record against St Joseph's FP:-

2008/09 St Joseph's FP 1 - 1 Oban Saints
2009/10 St Joseph's FP 1 - 1 Oban Saints
2010/11 St Joseph's FP 1 - 3 Oban Saints
2011/12 St Joseph's FP 0 - 3 Oban Saints
2012/13 St Joseph's FP 0 - 1 Oban Saints
2013/14 St Joseph's FP 1 - 2 Oban Saints

2014/15 St Joseph's FP 1 - 2 Oban Saints

St Joseph's FP celebrate winning the 2014 -15 SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy to complete a league and cup double

Action from Saints 2 - 1 win over St Joseph's FP at William Street last season

Donald Campbell opens the scoring

Allan Mackay and Christopher Scouller

Craig MacEwan with Craig Cameron in hot pursuit

St Joe's keeper Kevin Connor punches clear

Martin Bonar and St Joe's Captain John Paul Seagrave

Saints clear their lines late in the second half

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