Winning In The Rain: On A Roll

Saturday 16th January 2016

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

East Kilbride Rolls Royce AFC v Oban Saints AFC

Murray Park, Liddle Grove, East Kilbride G75 9AA

Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Michael Mccart

Following last Saturday's convincing Scottish Amateur Cup fifth round win over last season's beaten finalists Craigshill Thistle Saints return to league business this weekend with a trip to East Kilbride where they will face old adversaries East Kilbride Rolls Royce. Saints and the Rolly have crossed swords many times over the years in the Scottish Amateur Football League often with very little to choose between the two sides. Indeed Saints managed to take just one point from their two visits to Murray Park when the Rolly last graced the Premier Division between 2011 and 2013. Since then the Rolly have spent two seasons in Premier Division One where last seasons third place finish behind East Kilbride FC Amateurs and Shawlands FP was enough to see them rejoin the top division.

Saints last visit to East Kilbride was on cup duty back in October when a Donald Campbell hat-trick inspired Saints to a 5 - 1 win to knock the Rolly out of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup at the second round stage. Also on the score sheet in an emphatic win were Craig MacEwan and Willie Gemmell. Despite an excellent performance all round team performance Saints didn't have everything entirely their on way and couldn't deny their hosts their consolation goal from a thundering right foot Paul Innes shot after a great run from deep in his own half. Since then Saints remain unbeaten in seven competitive matches with two dropped league points in a thrilling 4 - 4 draw at Goldenhill being the only blot on an otherwise perfect record. Saints unbeaten run has taken them to the sixth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup, the fourth round of the West of Scotland Cup and has propelled them back into the race for the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division title.

Being out of both major cup competitions the Rolly can now concentrate entirely on their league campaign which, after producing only one point from the opening five fixtures, has recovered considerably since their cup exits. Home wins over Alba Thistle and, most recently, Campbeltown Pupils have lifted the Rolly off the foot of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division table and up to seventh place.

Barring any late call-offs Saints Manager Alex Craik will name the same squad as last weekend while Martin Bonar, Chris Graham and Myles McAuley remain in the treatment room and still some way off a return to action.

East Kilbride Rolls Royce league fixtures so far this season:-

15th August 2015 Campbeltown Pupils 1 - 1 East Kilbride Rolls Royce
29th August 2015 Finnart 2 - 1 East Kilbride Rolls Royce
5th September 2015 Alba Thistle 5 - 3 East Kilbride Rolls Royce
12th September 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 2 - 4 Inverclyde
24th October 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 1 - 3 St Joseph's FP
31st October 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 1 - 0 Alba Thistle
7th November 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 0 - 5 Finnart
14th November 2015 Inverclyde 2 - 0 East Kilbride Rolls Royce
12th December 2015 St Joseph's FP 2 - 1 East Kilbride Rolls Royce

9th January 2016 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 3 - 0 Campbeltown Pupils

East Kilbride Rolls Royce cup fixtures so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup

First Round

22nd August 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 9 - 1 Dumbarton Wanderers

Second Round
10th October 2015 Hillington 1 - 0 East Kilbride Rolls Royce

Scottish Amateur Cup

First Round

Bye

Second Round
3rd October 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 1 - 4 Semsa

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

First Round

19th September 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 3 - 1 FC Clydebank

Second Round
17th October 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 1 - 5 Oban Saints

East Kilbride Rolls Royce recent Scottish Amateur Football League record:-

2006 - 07 Premier Division Two 7th
2007 - 08 Premier Division Two 4th
2008 - 09 Premier Division Two 4th and Centenary Cup Runner Up
2009 - 10 Premier Division Two Champions Promoted
2010 - 11 Premier Division One 2nd Promoted and Jimmy Marshall Trophy Runner Up
2011 - 12 Premier Division 4th
2012 - 13 Premier Division 9th Relegated
2013 - 14 Premier Division One 7th
2014 - 15 Premier Division One 3rd Promoted

Saints SAFL record v East Kilbride Rolls Royce in recent seasons:-

14th April 2012 Oban Saints 5 - 1 East Kilbride Rolls Royce
26th May 2012 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 2 - 1 Oban Saints
27th April 2013 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 2 - 2 Oban Saints
12th May 2013 Oban Saints 1 - 1 East Kilbride Rolls Royce