Peter's Jig

Cambridge Morris Men - Peter's Jig

Saturday 28th November 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Finnart AFC
Oban Community Sports Field (3G)
Soroba Road
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4JB
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Mark Cameron

Last Saturday's thrilling 4 - 4 draw away at Goldenhill marked the end of a seven match winning streak for Saints. Although it was disappointing to drop two valuable league points the draw at least extends Saints unbeaten run in all competitions which now stretches back to 12th September. This Saturday Saints entertain Finnart in what should be an evenly matched contest with both teams in good recent form. Saturday's visitors currently sit in seventh place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division with six points from six games five points behind Saints who have played one game more. Saints had no home fixture against Finnart last season as the boys from Bridgeton were unable to travel on the allotted date with Saints eventually being awarded the three points by a Committee decision. When the two sides met at Glencruitten in season 2013-14 they were both very much in the title hunt and it was Saints who prevailed on that occasion thanks in no small measure to goalkeeper Daniel Cassells who pulled off two stunning penalty saves from Finnart skipper Brian Blair. In an incident packed game Saints took the lead through Ross Maitland and, after surviving the two Finnart penalties, wrapped things up against a tiring Finnart defence with two late goals from substitute Mattie Rippon.

It was an entirely different story when the sides met at Glasgow Green last November when Finnart recorded their first ever victory over Saints. Finnart again won two penalties in the match which were this time clinically dispatched by Andy Robertson giving Daniel Cassells no chance of repeating his previous heroics. The two second half penalties added to first half goals from Jason McArthur and Ben Mills to give Finnart an unassailable 4 - 0 lead, however to their Credit Saints never gave up and were rewarded for their tenacity with an 83rd minute Donald Campbell consolation goal.

Only time will tell whether it will be a jig of delight or a long trudge back to the changing rooms at full time but with Finnart's last two outings in league and cup seeing them rack up thirteen goals without reply and Saints rediscovered eye for goal all bodes well for another cracking game on Saturday. Both sides are desperate for league points to stay in touch with early pace setters St Joseph's FP and Inverclyde and will provide an entertaining spectacle for what, despite the dismal weather forecast, will hopefully be a good crowd of spectators. Saints have mixed news on the injury front with Dougal Graham returning to fitness after an injury sustained in training last week but Keith Millar looks likely to be out for a couple of weeks and joins Myles McAuley on the sidelines. Martin Bonar is also unavailable but with those exceptions Manager Alex Craik will have a strong squad to choose from.

Finnart AFC 2014 - 15

Finnart's league fixtures so far this season:-

22nd August 2015 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 4 - 0 Finnart

29th August 2015 Finnart 2 - 1 East Kilbride Rolls Royce

19th September 2015 St Joseph's 2 - 1 Finnart

10th October 2015 Finnart 1 - 2 Shawlands FP

24th October 2015 Finnart 2 - 3 Alba Thistle

7th November 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 0 - 5 Finnart

Finnart's SAFL Centenary Cup results this season:-

First Round
15th August 2015 Busby 1 - 5 Finnart

Second Round
12th September 2015 Finnart 1 - 6 Goldenhill

Finnart's Scottish Amateur Cup results this season:-

First Round
5th September 2015 FC Clydebank 3 - 2 Finnart

Finnart's West of Scotland Amateur Cup results so far this season:-

First Round
Bye

Second Round
17th October 2015 Finnart 6 - 2 Craigneuk

Third Round
21st November 2015 Condorrat 0 - 8 Finnart

Finnart's SAFL record:-

2010/11
Premier Division Two Champions (Promoted)

2011/12
Premier Division One Champions (Promoted)
Centenary Cup Runners Up to Postal United

2012/13
Premier Division 7th

2013/14
Premier Division 4th

2014/15
Premier Division 4th

Centenary Cup Runners Up to Goldenhill

Saints record against Finnart:-

2012/13
Oban Saints 4 - 1 Finnart
Finnart 0 - 1 Oban Saints

2013/14
Oban Saints 3 - 0 Finnart

Finnart 0 - 1 Oban Saints

2014/15
Finnart 4 - 1 Oban Saints
Oban Saints v Finnart (Unfulfilled Fixture, Points awarded to Saints)

Action from Finnart's last visit to Oban on 26th April 2014

Ross Maitland opens the scoring for Saints

   Daniel Cassells keeps Saints in front with his second penalty save

Mattie Rippon's emphatic right foot finish puts Saints 2 - 0 up

Lewis Cameron skips through the Finnart defence to set up Saints third goal

Mattie Rippon turns in Lewis Cameron's cut back to seal the three points for Saints

Lewis congratulates Mattie as coach Peter MacCallum dances a jig of delight

SAFL Select

Last Sunday Donald Campbell and Jamie Graham turned out for the Scottish Amateur Football League Select in an Inter League Cup Quarter Final tie against the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Select at Dalziel Park, Motherwell. The Ayrshire Select won a tight match 4 - 2 with the SAFL goals coming from Steven McAuley of Kings Park Rangers and David Edwards of Ferguslie Star. Ayrshire will now meet the Caledonian League Select in the Semi Finals after the Cally Select knocked out Lothian and Edinburgh by three goals to nil also last Sunday. In the other Semi Final Aberdeenshire, who received a Quarter Final stage bye, will meet the winners of the one remaining Quarter Final tie between the Central Scottish Amateur League and the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Football League which will be played at Dalziel Park this Sunday.

SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy

The draw for the first and second rounds of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy took place on Wednesday night. Only Bridgewater and Rosehill Star will be required to play a first round tie with all other clubs going straight into round two. Saints were handed a very difficult second round away tie against last season's Premier Division One Champions East Kilbride FC Amateurs. The second round ties will be played in January 2016 on a date yet to be set.

#monthesaints

Oh My Gowd

Saturday 21st November 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Clydebank High School 3G
Goldenhill AFC 4 - 4 Oban Saints AFC
Referee Gordon Hay

Saints starting line-up:-

Thomas McCulloch

David McArthur
Dene Cassells
Jamie Graham
Scott Maitland

Willie Gemmell
Paul Kerr
Donald Campbell (Captain)

Ross Maitland
Dean Smith
Craig MacEwan

Substitutes used:-

Shaun MacIver
Allan Mackay

Unused Substitutes:-

Martin Bonar
Alex Craik

Saints Goalscorers:-

Craig MacEwan
Paul Kerr
Ross Maitland
Dean Smith

Saints somehow contrived to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory in an enthralling match at Clydebank High School last Saturday afternoon. Despite being a goal ahead and two men to the good with only ten minutes remaining Saints couldn't see the match out and conceded a cheap headed last minute equaliser giving the home side an unlikely but deserved share of the points. 

Manager Alex Craik was able to name the same starting line-up for the third match in succession however an injury sustained By Dougal Graham at training on Wednesday night and the non-availability of Keith Millar and Marc MacCallum forced a change on the bench. Allan Mackay returned after two week absence and Alex named himself among the substitutes.

Goldenhill started the stronger of the two sides and had Saints pinned back in their own half during the opening exchanges without really threatening the Saints back four of David McArthur, Dene Cassells, Jamie Graham and Scott Maitland. Saints carved out their first opportunity in the fifth minute when Ross Maitland made a good run up the right wing and sent in a terrific cross for Dean Smith at the back post who met the cross well but was thwarted by an excellent save by Scott Rennie in the Goldenhill goal. Five minutes later Saints had Dene Cassells to thank for an important goal-line clearance when the hosts exposed Scott Maitland and Jamie Graham on the Saints left. Martin Lawlor made a good run into the box and cut back from the bye-line to James Gallagher who fired in a low shot which was cleared by Dene Cassells who had taken up a god position inside the six yard box. Saints opened the scoring in the 12th minute when an excellently struck Donald Campbell shot from the corner of the eighteen yard box brought out a terrific diving save from Scott Rennie low down to his right. Unfortunately for the Gowdie the big keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Ross Maitland who coolly picked out Craig MacEwan on the six yard line with Craig tucking the ball into the net. At the other end Saints were once more exposed on their left and again it was Dene Cassells who foiled the home side this time with a timely interception on Daniel McKenna before the Gowdie winger could get his shot away. In the 25th minute Craig MacEwan came the width of the post away from doubling his tally. Scott Maitland made a good run forward on the Saints left and delivered a tempting cross which Craig MacEwan did well to head goalwards however, much to the frustration of the Saints contingent on the touchline, the ball struck the inside of the post and dropped into the grateful arms of keeper Rennie. Craig was again denied three minutes later when Ross Maitland sent in a cross from the right which looked perfect for Craig until Gary McNaught made an excellent last gasp headed clearance. Saints continued to make good use of the flanks and David McArthur was next to make a good run up the right picking out Dean Smith on the edge of the box where, with time and space to measure his shot, Dean was disappointed to see his effort fly over the crossbar. Saints second came in the 35th minute with the two holding midfielders Willie Gemmell and Paul Kerr combining for a rare goal for Paul. Willie sent a perfect delivery from the left towards the back post where Paul had made a late run to send a sensational header back across the goalkeeper and into the top corner of the net. Saints ended the first half seemingly well in control of the match but looking back ruefully on the missed chances which could have seen them already out of sight.

Saints didn't have long to enjoy their lead as it was wiped out in a blistering start to the second half from the home side. In the opening minute Saints conceded possession from their own throw-in on the left. Daniel Gibson raced into the inside right channel past a statuesque Saints defence and squared for James Gallagher to tap in at the back post. Barely sixty seconds later the Gowdie drew level when Gibson pounced on a speculative ball over the top splitting David McArthur and Dene Cassells. The Gowdie winger fired in a low shot which Thomas McCulloch got both hands to but couldn't keep out low down at his near post. Saints could scarcely believe that their lead had been so quickly eroded and had to quickly rediscover the high tempo passing which had inexplicably deserted them. This they nearly did straight from the restart when a good exchange of passes on the right between Willie Gemmell and Ross Maitland set up David McArthur for a run and cross along the six yard line which agonisingly eluded Dean Smith who looked well placed to score. In the 51st minute Dean Smith won a free kick just outside of the Gowdie box when he was chopped down by Jack Bennett who had already found his way into Referee Gordon Hay's notebook for a studs up challenge on David McArthur in the first half. The Referee took no further action but left the Gowdie defender in no doubt that he wouldn't be so lenient next time. The free kick was in perfect Willie Gemmell territory and the big Saints midfielder, who has thus far struggled to find his range since returning to the club at the start of this season, sent a good curling shot over the Gowdie wall but into the hands of Scott Rennie who had read Willie's intentions well. The home side completed the turnaround in the 53rd minute when a deep cross from their left was nodded down at the back post by Daniel McKenna into the path of the unmarked James Gallagher to complete his hat-trick with a sweet right foot finish past the helpless Thomas McCulloch. Despite this set back Saints refused to let their heads drop and came close almost immediately when Dean Smith made good progress to the dead ball line and sent a tempting cut back which agonisingly bisected the runs of Craig MacEwan and Donald Campbell in the centre. In the 57th minute Willie Gemmell stung the palms of Scott Rennie with a rasping long range effort which the big keeper did well to hold with Dean Smith waiting to pounce on any handling error. Saints twice almost gifted their hosts a fourth goal cheaply conceding possession in dangerous areas. Both opportunities fell to Daniel Gibson who firstly fired over the crossbar before bringing out a good save from Thomas McCulloch with his second effort. The Gowdie had adopted a higher defensive line in the second half and after a couple of tight calls from Mr Hay Saints finally sprung the home side's offside trap with a perfectly timed Craig MacEwan run onto a David McArthur through ball. Craig drew the keeper and squared to Ross Maitland for a simple tap-in to restore parity. Barely a minute later Saints hit the woodwork for the second time when Ross Maitland got on the end of a Paul Kerr pass and hit the inside of the post with the ball being scrambled behind for a corner kick. Ross flighted in an excellent ball from the Saints left which eluded everyone in the centre but was well controlled by Dene Cassells at the back post who turned and fired in a shot which was blocked on the goal-line and hoofed to safety. Saints got their noses back in front in the 75th minute by once again springing the Gowdie off-side trap. Willie Gemmell began the move with a delicious curling pass setting Ross Maitland off on a run in the inside left channel. Ross won the foot race with the Gowdie full back Steven Dock and cut the ball back to Willie Gemmell who thundered in a fierce right foot shot which this time was too hot for the keeper to handle and the ball broke loose to Dean Smith six yards out who eagerly gobbled up the opportunity the restore the lead for Saints. The home side momentarily lost their heads with substitute striker Chris McGrath receiving a straight red card for aiming a kick at Jamie Graham and defender Jack Bennett picking up a second yellow for a petulant kick at Dean Smith as he lay on the ground having been brought down on the half way line. In between the two red cards Saints missed yet another chance which would have finally made the points safe. Craig MacEwan standing on the six yard line missed a Ross Maitland corner kick from the left with the ball landing at the feet of Dene Cassells who, from a tight angle, could only find the side netting with his shot through a sea of legs. With match seemingly safe Manager Alex Craik made a couple of changes replacing Ross Maitland and Dean Smith with Shaun MacIver and Allan Mackay. In the 82nd minute Craig MacEwan chased down an almost lost cause wide on the Saints left back heeling the ball on the dead ball line just before it could run out of play. Shaun MacIver did well to close down full back Steven Dock and set up Craig MacEwan for a curling shot from the corner of the box which dipped just over the junction of post and bar. With the clock ticking down and the killer fifth goal eluding them Saints seemed to panic and dropped deeper and deeper inviting the nine men of Goldenhill onto them. A succession of needless fouls gave the Gowdie the chance to lauch long balls into the box which although Saints managed to deal with their failure to fully clear their lines meant the ball kept coming straight back. It was therefore with a large dose of inevitability that the home side equalised in the 89th minute from a long throw on the Saints right level with the eighteen yard line. The Gowdie piled everybody into the box for the long throw and Damon Gray looped a free header beyond Thomas McCulloch and into the net for an equaliser for which Saints have only themselves to blame.     

At the outset a share of the points against an impressive Goldenhill side on a ten match winning streak would not have been a bad result but the manner in which the late equaliser was conceded against nine men leaves the result feeling more like a defeat than a draw.

Thomas McCulloch

Paul Kerr

Scott Maitland

Craig MacEwan

Donald Campbell

Ross Maitland swings over another cross

David McArthur launches a long ball from defence

Scott Rennie saves Willie Gemmell's free kick

Paul Kerr in action on the edge of the Gowdie box

Craig MacEwan congratulates Ross Maitland on drawing Saints level at 3 - 3

Dean Smith pounces on the loose ball to make it 4 - 3 to Saints

Despite those pink boots Shaun MacIver still thinks Thomas McCulloch needs some assistance in picking him out

Last gasp Gowdie equaliser

#monthesaints

‪

Another School Day

Hello - Another School Day

Saturday 21st November 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Goldenhill AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Clydebank High School 3G
Janetta Street
Clydebank
G81 3EJ
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr. Gordon Hay

Last Saturday Saints secured their place in the fourth round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup with a 6 - 1 home victory over Springhill of the North & South Lanarkshire Amateur Football League Premier Division. The reward for this seventh consecutive victory in all competitions is a home tie on Saturday 12th December against either fellow Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division club Shawlands FP or New Farm Loch of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association 3rd Division.

This Saturday Saints return to league business and take their winning streak to Clydebank where they will face Premier Division new boys Goldenhill. "The Gowdie" are on a remarkable run of good form which has seen them win all ten of their competitive fixtures so far this season scoring forty nine goals in the process and conceding twelve. The winning run puts the Gowdie through to the Semi-Finals of the SAFL Centenary Cup where the defending Champions will face St Joseph's FP or East Kilbride FC Amateurs; the fourth round of the West of Scotland Cup where they will face Lochan or Carrick (both of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association); and the fourth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup where they will face Erskine of the Greater Glasgow Premier League Division One.

Goldenhill arrived in the Premier Division on the back of three successive promotions have made a perfect start to their first season in the Scottish Amateur Football League top flight where they currently occupy fourth place, one point behind Saints but with three games less played. With league leaders St Joseph's on West of Scotland Cup duty and second placed Inverclyde without a fixture Saints and the Gowdie will see this as an ideal opportunity to make up some precious ground on their rivals in the league title race.

On the team news front Myles McAuley remains someway short of a return from injury while Marc MacCallum is on holiday in Venice. Allan Mackay returns to the squad after a two week absence where he will fill the seat on the bench vacated by Marc MacCallum. Otherwise Saints will remain unchanged from last weeks squad and, barring any last minute hiccups, Manager Alex Craik will name the same starting eleven for what looks likely to be an extremely difficult fixture for the dark blues.

Two goals from Donald Campbell and a hat-trick from Ross Maitland helped Saints to last weekend's 6 - 1 West of Scotland Cup victory over Springhill

Also on the score sheet for Saints last week was Martin Bonar pictured here against St Joseph's last season

Goldenhill's SAFL Premier Division results so far this season:-

5th September 2015 Inverclyde AFC 2 - 4 Goldenhill AFC
10th October 2015 Goldenhill AFC 3 - 2 Campbeltown Pupils AFC
24th October 2015 Goldenhill AFC 2 - 0 East Kilbride FC Amateurs

Goldenhill's SAFL Centenary Cup results so far this season:-

1st Round Bye
2nd Round 12th September 2015 Finnart AFC 1 - 6 Goldenhill AFC
Quarter Final 7th November 2015 Goldenhill AFC 4 - 1 Neilston AFC

Goldenhill's Scottish Amateur Cup results so far this season:-

1st Round Bye
2nd Round 3rd Ocotber 2015 Dean AFC 2 - 5 Goldenhill AFC
3rd Round 31st October Gryffe Thistle AFC 1 - 2 Goldenhill AFC

Goldenhill's West of Scotland Amateur Cup results so far this season:-

1st Round 19th September 2015 Mill United 1 - 11 Goldenhill AFC
2nd Round 17th Ocotber 2015 Lomond Vale AFC 1 - 9 Goldenhill AFC
3rd Round 14th November Kilbarchan Thistle AFC 1 - 3 Goldenhill AFC

Goldenhill's recent SAFL finishes:-

2012 - 13 Division One Promoted and Coronation Cup Winners
2013 - 14 Premier Division Two 2nd Promoted
2014 - 15 Premier Division One 4th Promoted and Centenary Cup Winners

Goldenhill AFC SAFL Coronation Cup Winners 2013

Goldenhill AFC SAFL Centenary Cup Winners 2015

Scottish Amateur Football League Select

The Scottish Amateur Football League Select will face the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Select this Sunday in the Quarter Finals of the Scottish Amateur Football Association Inter League Trophy. The tie will be played at Dalziel Playing Fields, Motherwell with a 1.15 pm kick off. The other quarter final ties between the Caledonian Amateur Football League and the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association, and the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League and the Central Scottish Amateur Football League will also be played at Dalziel Park at 1.15 pm. The winners of each tie will join the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association in the semi-finals.

With Lewis Cameron, Myles McAuley and Marc MacCallum all unavailable Saints only representative in Manager Richard Bryers' Scottish Amateur Football League Select is Donald Campbell. Good luck to Donald and all others selected for what looks like a very difficult match.

#monthesaints

Saints Call The Shotts

Saturday 14th November 2015
West of Scotland Cup third round 

Oban Community Pitch 3G

Oban Saints AFC 6 - 1 Springhill AFC
Referee Mr John Stobo

Saints starting line-up:-

Thomas McCulloch

David McArthur
Dene Cassells
Jamie Graham
Scott Maitland

Willie Gemmell
Paul Kerr
Donald Campbell (Captain)

Ross Maitland
Dean Smith
Craig MacEwan

Substitutes used:-

Martin Bonar
Dougal Graham
Marc Maccallum
Shaun MacIver
Keith Millar

Saints Goalscorers:-

Donald Campbell ⚽ ⚽
Ross Maitland ⚽ ⚽ ⚽
Martin Bonar ⚽

Saints progressed to the fourth round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup with a 6 - 1 win over Springhill of the North & South Lanarkshire Amateur Football League Premier Division last Saturday. Storm Abagail and the heavy rain which she brought with her put an end to any lingering hopes of the match being played on grass so the tie was switched to the 3G community pitch at Oban High School. Saints Manager Alex Craik named the same squad and starting eleven that defeated Campbeltown Pupils in the Argyll Derby the previous week meaning there was no place for available again striker Allan Mackay who joined the injured Myles McAuley on the sidelines.

Despite the convincing scoreline this was far from a vintage performance from Saints with the game remaining in the balance until deep into the second half when their opponents from Shotts began to tire allowing Saints to finally hit their stride. Saints kicked off attacking the Games Park end and were almost immediately behind when Willie Gemmell delayed too long in clearing up field and was closed down on the edge of his own penalty box by Paul Hughes. Hughes broke into the box but was closed down by Saints keeper Thomas McCulloch who came quickly off his line to smother the ball at the feet of the Springhill striker. Surviving this first minute scare Saints went straight up the other end and opened the scoring with their first attack. Ross Maitland and David McArthur combined well on the right with David sending in a good cross which picked out Donald Campbell on the edge of the box. Donald met the cross perfectly on the half volley and fired an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner giving Springhill keeper Graeme Marshall no chance. This should have been the signal for the flood gates to open but Saints usual slick passing was sadly not in evidence allowing the visitors to remain firmly in a game which, frankly, should have been a canter for the home side. Saints thought they had unlocked the Springhill back four again when David McArthur looped over a deep cross from the left after the visitors had cleared an eleventh minute Ross Maitland corner. David's cross was well taken down and controlled by Donald Campbell but before Saints Scotland Amateur International midfielder could strike for goal he was given offside by Referee John Stobo who gave the benefit of a very tight decision to the visitors. Donald's exertions with the Scottish Amateur International team in midweek had left him looking slightly off colour and he was easily dispossessed in the centre circle by Callum Mitchell in the 12th minute. The Springhill midfielder was then allowed to stride forward unchallenged and fire off a shot which fortunately he didn't get much power behind allowing Thomas McCulloch to gather easily. McCulloch released the ball quickly and Saints broke up field where Dean Smith was brought down 30 yards from goal in the first of many tangles with Springhill skipper Lori McLean. It was a good distance for Willie Gemmell to have a strike on goal but perhaps slightly too central therfore Willie elected to loft a cross to the far post looking for the head of Craig MacEwan. The Sprinhill defence read it well and the combined efforts of Lori McLean and central defensive partner John Liddell cleared the danger. The visitors almost capitalised on some hesitancy in the Saints defence in the 17th minute. Scott Maitland and Jamie Graham failed to deal with a throw in deep in their own half allowing James Cordiner to cut into the box on the Saints left. Fortunately for Saints, with two of his team mates unmarked in front of goal, Cordiner sliced his cross onto the roof of the net giving Saints another let off. Saints were in charitable mood again two minutes later with Paul Kerr uncharacteristically conceding possession cheaply in his own half. Springhill's impressive Paul Hughes threaded a perfectly weighted pass bisecting Saints central defensive pairing of Dene Cassells and Jamie Graham and picking out a good run by James Cordiner. Thomas McCulloch did excellently to anticipate the danger and was quickly off his line to narrow the angle and make a good save from Cordiner's first time shot. Despite not hitting their usual heights Saints continued to create chances particularly from the wide areas where they looked more of a threat. In the 21st minute Craig MacEwan made a good run across the face of the back four from left to right before picking out Dean Smith at the back post. Dean controlled well but seemed caught in two minds between shooting and passing to strike colleague Ross Maitland and was closed down by the Springhill defence who snuffed out the danger. Three minutes later Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan combined well on the right from where Donald lofted an excellent cross to the back post where Dean Smith and Ross Maitland were lying in wait. With Ross probably the better placed of the two Dean got slightly underneath the ball and sent his header about a foot over the crossbar. Another chance almost came Dean's way when Ross Maitland made a good run up the right wing and sent in a dangerous low cross which Springhill central defender John Liddell had to slide in to clear at the near post with Dean waiting for a tap-in. Saints second came in the 29th minute with width finally proving decisive. Craig MacEwan delivered a terrific cross from the left which Ross Maitland controlled excellently on his instep before beating full back Dylan Ferguson and drilling a left foot shot low past Graeme Marshall in the Springhill goal. Saints had the ball in the net again two minutes later after Springhill had cleared a Ross Maitland corner from the right. The ball came back out to Ross who flighted a deep cross to the back post towards Donald Campbell. Donald headed the ball back across goal for Craig MacEwan to nod into the net only for Referee Mr Stobo to rule Donald offside which was another close call from the man in the middle. Saints were very much in the ascendancy at this point and good work on the right from Craig MacEwan and Ross Maitland set up Donald Campbell for a thumping 35th minute left foot shot from the edge of the box which crashed off Graeme Marshall's right hand post with the big keeper firmly rooted to the spot. Two minutes later Craig MacEwan carved out a good opportunity for himself cutting in from the left past fullback Marc Burns and sending a rasping right foot drive just wide of the keeper's near post. Craig immediately came close again heading over from Ross Maitland's right wing cross after a delightful Willie Gemmell pass had set the wee man off on a run up the wing. With five minutes of the first half remaining Saints slackness in the centre of the park was punished when Paul Hughes pounced on a loose ball and quickly fed James Cordiner who made a good run forward and tucked a neat finish inside Thomas McCulloch's right hand post to halve Saints advantage. Saints ended a largely disappointing first half with a good turn and cross from Craig MacEwan on the right wing which fizzed across the face of goal with, sadly, no takers in navy blue.

The second half opened with Donald Campbell winning a free-kick wide on the left level with the Springhill penalty spot. Willie Gemmell flighted a deep cross which Craig MacEwan rose well to head back across goal where Springhill skipper Lori McLean out jumped Dean Smith to head clear of the danger area. Smith and McLean renewed their earlier hostilities in the 49th minute with McLean chopping down the Saints striker twenty yards from goal and slightly left of centre. Willie Gemmell curled a shot around the three man Springhill wall forcing keeper Marshall into a good save diving full length to his left to parry the ball wide. Ross Maitland was first to react and picked out Dean Smith who slid in at the near post to beat the close attention of McLean but couldn't direct his effort on target. Saints had two penalty appeals in as many minutes firstly for handball when Donald Campbell attempted to cut into the box from the left wing, secondly when Scott Maitland appeared to be bundled over when chasing down a Donald Campbell pass deep inside the Springhill box. Referee Stobo remained unconvinced and dismissed both appeals. Scott was in action again shortly afterwards and delivered a good cross from the left which Ross Maitland controlled well but steered wide of the keeper's left hand post. In the 55th minute another cynical foul on Dean Smith by Lori McLean earned the Springhill skipper a yellow card when Dean had looked well placed to cut through the visitor's defence for an attempt on goal. Saints profligacy in front of goal continued with Donald Campbell firing high over the crossbar from the edge of the box and Craig MacEwan sending a free header also over the bar from a Ross Maitland corner won on the right by Paul Kerr. A further chance was spurned in the 67th minute when Ross Maitland was closed down in the box before he could get a shot away after a good run and cross from the left by Scott Maitland. The goal which finally made the tie safe for Saints came just one minute later when Ross Maitland rifled a thirty yard shot into the bottom corner the pace and accuracy of which beat keeper Marshall low down to his right. Saints twice almost allowed Springhill an unlikely route back into the match with sloppy passing gifting opportunities to Matthew Wemyss and Declan Muir. Wemyss sent a shot from the edge of the box wide of target while Thomas McCulloch had to be quick to narrow the angle when Muir charged into the box forcing the Springhill substitute to snatch an effort inches past McCulloch's left hand post. From this second let off Saints broke up field in the 77th minute where Craig MacEwan picked out Donald Campbell with an excellent through ball. Donald fired in a shot from just outside the box which the advancing keeper Marshall did well to parry but only into the patch of Ross Maitland who stroked the ball home to complete his hat-trick. With the tie now well and truly safe Manager Alex Craik gave all five substitutes a ten minute run-out with Marc Maccallum, Dougal Graham, Keith Millar, Martin Bonar and Shaun MacIver replacing Dene Cassells, Scott Maitland, Willie Gemmell, Craig MacEwan and Dean Smith respectively. Within a minute of coming on Shaun MacIver showed good strength to hold off a strong challenge from John Kilmurray and sent in a good shot which was well saved by keeper Marshall. With five minutes remaining Saints got their fifth from the penalty spot. Ross Maitland made a terrific run into the penalty box, amidst a flurry of challenges the ball broke loose to Donald Campbell who steered the ball into the unguarded net however before the ball had reached Donald Referee Stobo spotted an infringement and blew for a penalty kick. Clearly frustrated that his original effort had been ruled out, Donald smashed his spot kick emphatically off the underside of crossbar for his second of the game and fourteenth goal in six matches. Saints rounded off the scoring in the final minute when Martin Bonar stooped at the back post to head home a lofted Ross Maitland free kick from the right.                          

Saints will face either Shawlands FP or New Farm Loch in the fourth round at Glencruitten on Saturday 12th December.

Dene Cassells keeps his eye on the ball

Craig MacEwan's headed goal ruled out for offside

Half-time team talk

Graeme Marshall saves Willie Gemmell free-kick

Dean Smith tangles with John Liddell

John Stobo shows Springhill skipper Lori McLean the yellow card

Donald Campbell thumps home Saints fifth from the penalty spot

Martin Bonar nods home Saints 6th and final goal of the afternoon

#monthesaints

Go West

The Pet Shop Boys - Go West

Saturday 14th November 2015

The Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup
3rd Round Tie
Oban Saints AFC v Springhill AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban, Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick Off 1.30pm
Referee Mr John Stobo

Alternative Venue and kick-off time should Glencruitten prove to be unplayable:-

Oban Community Sports Field (3G), Soroba Road, Oban, Argyll PA34 4JB
Kick off 3pm

Saints welcome Springhill of the North and South Lanarkshire Amateur Football Association Premier League to Glencruitten this Saturday for Saints first home tie in the West of Scotland Cup since December 2013. On that occasion a successfully converted extra-time penalty kick from Allan Mackay against Glasgow Harp saw Saints through to the fourth round where they slipped agonisingly out of the competition to a penalty shoot-out defeat against Giffnock North at Northolm Park.

Saturday's visitors hail from Shotts in North Lanarkshire and currently occupy eighth spot in the ten team North and South Lanarkshire Premier League after just two games played. The majority of Springhill's fixtures thus far have been in their "domestic" cup competitions where they have won four out of their five ties. The only reverse for Springhill in the league cups came against Eddlewood whom Saints fans will recollect from the 2008-09 Scottish Cup campaign. On that particular occasion an excellent Eddlewood side defeated Saints 5 - 2 in the quarter finals and despite not making that season's final went on to triumph in the following season's final against Drumchapel United.

Springhill have managed to reach this third round stage of the West of Scotland Cup without kicking a ball. After receiving a first round bye Springhill were paired in the second round with Waterside of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1, however Waterside failed to fulfill the fixture and the tie was awarded to Springhill.

Springhill's last outing was last Saturday where they slumped to a very heavy Scottish Amateur Cup third round replay defeat against North Motherwell. The initial tie in Shotts ended all square but the replay in Motherwell was one to forget for Springhill who will be desperate to get the 11 - 1 reverse out of their system when they make their first ever visit to Oban.

With the exception of the injured Myles McAuley, and barring any last minute call-offs, Saints Manager Alex Craik has pretty much a full squad available from which to select his match day sixteen. Storm Abigail is currently doing her best to spoil the Saints party therefore the alternative venue of the community 3G pitch at Oban High School is very likely to be called upon.

Abagail's Party

Springhill results so far this season:-

22nd August (League) Springhill 2 - 8 Woodhall Thistle
26th August (League Cup) Springhill 1 - 4 Eddlewood
5th September (League Cup) Calderwood Bluestar 1 - 6 Springhill
12th September (League Cup) Central Park 1 - 3 Springhill
19th September (League Cup) Springhill 6 - 1 Coalburn Wanderers
3rd October (Scottish Cup 2nd round) Muirend v Springhill (Walkover)
10th October (League) Springhill 2 - 2 Blantyre Soccer Academy
17th October (W.O.S. Cup 2nd round) Springhill (Committee Decision) v Waterside
24th October (League Cup) Springhill 5 - 2 Motherwell Bridge
31st October (Scottish Cup 3rd round) Springhill 3 - 3 North Motherwell
7th November (Scottish Cup 3rd round replay) North Motherwell 11 - 1 Springhill

SAFA Select

Saints Player/Assistant Manager Donald Campbell once again joined up with the Scottish Amateur Football Association Select squad for a training session at Colville Park Country Club last Sunday afternoon. Donald did enough during the session to convince National Team Manager Bruce McNaught to hand him a starting role in the following Wednesday night's friendly against Airdrie FC at the Shyberry Stadium, Airdrie. The Select won the match courtesy of an own goal in the dying minutes however, more importantly, the Select Manager was able to give his entire twenty two man squad a run out rewarding the players for their hard work in training and dedication to the National team squad. The players' attention will now return to club and inter-league fixtures until the next National Squad training session in January.

Scottish Amateur Cup Draw News

The draw for the fourth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup was made last Friday morning at Hampden Park. Saints were drawn away from home against old friends and former Scottish Amateur Football League rivals Postal United now of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League. The tie is scheduled for Saturday 5th December.

West of Scotland Amateur Cup Draw News

Immediately following last Monday night's West District Committee meeting, at which Saints third round opponents were decided when Springhill were declared winners of the unfulfilled second round tie against Waterside, the draw for the fourth round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup took place. The winners of this Saturday's third round tie between Saints and Springhill were drawn at home against Shawlands FP of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division or New Farm Loch of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Third Division. The tie is scheduled for Saturday 12th December.

#monthesaints