New Kid In Town

Eagles - New Kid In Town

Saturday 30th January 2016
Scottish Amateur Football Association
Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Amateur Cup
Fourth Round Tie
Oban Saints AFC v New Farm Loch AFC
Oban Community Sports Field (3G), Soroba Road, Oban, Argyll PA34 4JB
Kick Off 1.30pm
Referee Mr Stephen Payne

Last Time Out

Saints league game against East Kilbride Rolls Royce last Saturday was the only Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division fixture to survive the weather. Despite a slightly off-colour performance Saints were too strong for the men from East Kilbride with first half goals from David McArthur and Craig MacEwan being enough to see off a determined Rolly challenge. The narrow 2 - 1 victory saw Saints capitalise on the inactivity of the other title challengers bisecting leading pair St Joseph's F.P. and Inverclyde to reach the half-way point in the season in second place on seventeen points from nine games played.

David McArthur heads Saints in front against East Kilbride Rolls Royce at Glencruitten last Saturday

New Kid In Town

This Saturday Saints welcome Ayrshire Amateur Football Association new kids on the block New Farm Loch to Oban for the first time. The new boys from Kilmarnock only gained entry to the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association league set up in June 2014 but have made significant early strides since then. Eighteen wins from twenty four games, rattling in 109 goals in the process, saw "the Loyal" land the Fourth Division title in their first season pipping Catrine by one point but with a massive goal difference advantage. Their first season also saw them hit the dizzy heights of an Ayrshire Cup semi-final where they were unfortunate to meet the all conquering Hurlford Thistle who ran out comfortable 8 - 0 winners en-route to a fantastic three trophy haul.

The Loyal have continued their impressive form this season where seven league wins from eight sees them currently occupy fourth spot in the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Third Division eleven points behind leaders Catrine but with four games in hand. The only team so far to take league points from the Loyal are Darvel Victoria who punished a rare New Farm Loch off-night back in August to earn a point in an entertaining 4 - 4 draw.

Despite going out of both the Scottish and Ayrshire Amateur cups the Loyal have continued to make progress in the West of Scotland Amateur Cup. Second and third round victories over Alba Thistle and Shawlands F.P. have earned the Loyal a third successive away trip to face Scottish Amateur Football League Premier League opposition this time in the shape Oban Saints.

With the horrendous weather showing no sign of relenting an early decision was made to switch the tie to the all weather surface at Oban High School which, barring heavy snow or gale force winds, should guarantee that game goes ahead. As per West of Scotland Cup rules the tie must be decided on the day with extra time and penalty kicks to decide the winner if necessary. Victory in this tie carries the added incentive of a home fifth round tie against Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division runaway leaders Colville Park.


Barring any late call-offs Saints Manager Alex Craik will have the luxury of being able to name the same squad for a third consecutive match. On the injury front Martin Bonar, Chris Graham and Myles McAuley remain sidelined.






New Farm Loch's League Results so far this season:-

8th August 2015 Symington Caledonian 1 - 7 New Farm Loch
12th August 2015 Stewarton Annick 0 - 2 New Farm Loch
15th August 2015 New Farm Loch 5 - 3 Coylton
17th August 2015 New Farm Loch 4 - 4 Darvel Victoria
26th August 2015 New Farm Loch 3 - 1 Crosshouse Vaverley
12th September 2015 Dalmilling 2 - 7 New Farm Loch
19th September 2015 New Farm Loch 5 - Vale of Girvan
12th December 2015 New Farm Loch 7 - 1 Broomlands

New Farm Loch's Cup Results so far this season:-

Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Cup

1st Round
22nd August 2015 New Farm Loch 4 - 2 Mauchline United

2nd Round
26th September 2015 Lochan 2 - 6 New Farm Loch

Ayrshire Amateur Football Association James Scott Trophy

1st Round
5th September 2015 New Farm Loch 4 - 0 Kilbride Thistle

2nd Round
7th November 2015 New Farm Loch 0 - 2 Winlinton Wolves

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round - Bye

2nd Round
3rd October 2015 Mill United 3 - 3 New Farm Loch

2nd Round Replay
10th October 2015 New Farm Loch 5 - 0 Mill United

3rd Round
31st October 2015 Blackridge Vale of Craig 5 - 4 New Farm Loch

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round - Bye

2nd Round
17th October 2015 Alba Thistle 0 - 5 New Farm Loch

3rd Round
23rd January 2016 Shawlands F.P. 2 - 3 New Farm Loch

New Farm Loch AFC

News From Down Under

Lewis Cameron opens his account for Rochedale Rovers

Former Saints striker Lewis Cameron has signed for Rochedale Rovers ahead of the forthcoming new Brisbane Premier League season. Click the link above to see Lewis open his goal scoring account in a pre-season BLK Silver Boot group section match against Redlands United.

#monthesaints