Saturday 19th March 2016
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Quarter Final Tie
Oban Saints AFC v Shortlees AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban, Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr James Gallacher
Oban Saints AFC v Shortlees AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban, Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr James Gallacher
This Saturday afternoon at Glencruitten Saints Manager Alex Craik bids to make history by leading his charges into the previously uncharted territory of the Scottish Amateur Cup semi-finals. Barring the path to a semi-final showdown against either Kingdom Caledonian AFA high flyers Leven United or Linlithgow Thistle of the Lothian and Edinburgh AFA Premier Division are Ayrshire AFA First Division outfit Shortlees Amateurs.
The Lees are the form team in the Ayrshire Amateur ranks with a 100% start to their league campaign and a place in the semi-finals of the Ayrshire Cup already secured as they strive to go one better than last season's runners-up spot against all conquering Hurlford Thistle. Their semi-final slot was confirmed last weekend with a 3 - 1 away win against fierce local rivals New Farm Loch whom Saints fans will recall from the West of Scotland Amateur Cup fourth round tie at Oban High School in January. On that occasion Saints also prevailed by three goals to one before falling at the next hurdle to the seemingly invincible Colville Park. Shortlees however made it a double of quarter final qualifications in the national cup competitions with last month's six round 4 - 0 win over three time winners Dalziel High School Former Pupils of the Caledonian League Premier Division.
The Lees have also been relentless in their pursuit of Scottish Amateur Cup glory cementing their place in the quarter-finals with a thoroughly convincing 5 - 0 win over Lothian and Edinburgh AFA Championship leaders Shotts Victoria taking their goal tally to thirty four goals in seven matches. Saints however can point to an equally impressive run in Scottish amateur football's most prestigious competition which notably includes the scalps of last season's runners-up Craigshill Thistle and runaway Caledonian League Premier Division leaders Doune Castle.
A good turnout of local fans is anticipated and with the Shortlees supporters likely to travel in large numbers to cheer on their favourites the stage is set for a thrilling cup tie between two well matched teams standing at the edge of semi-final glory.
Team News
Manager Alex Craik's preparations for the biggest test of his tenure so far received a set-back when last Saturday's Scottish Amateur League Premier Division match against league leaders and reigning Champions St Joseph's FP had to be postponed on the morning of the match. Glencruitten 2 failed to withstand Friday and Saturday's deluge leaving an eager to go Saints squad kicking their heels and hoping that the cancellation will not prove too disruptive of the terrific head of steam built up in recent weeks. Alex's team selection options narrowed somewhat with the news that the re-occurrence of Martin Bonar's foot injury will keep him out of action for the remainder of the season. This significant blow was compounded when news of Dene Cassells' suspension for his ordering off against Colville Park in last month's West of Scotland Amateur Cup tie came through from Hampden park. Dene's moment of madness in the dying minutes of the fifth round tie will keep him on the sidelines for six matches which is enormously frustrating at this crucial stage of the season. On a more positive note Saints confirmed the re-signing of Brian Mackay who will be a valuable addition to the squad with the big fixtures coming thick and fast. Despite losing Martin and Dene from his plans Manager Craik should still be able to name a strong squad as plots to take Saints into their first ever Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final.Shortlees Ayrshire Amateur Football Association record:-
2011-12 Fourth Division 4th
2012-13 Fourth Division 3rd Promoted
2013-14 Third Division 4th Promoted
2014-15 Second Division Champions Promoted and Ayrshire Cup Runners Up
Shortlees results so far this season:-
Ayrshire AFA First Division
8th August 2105 Dailly 0 - 5 Shortlees
15th August 2015 Shortlees 5 - 1 Kilbirnie
17th August 2015 Fenwick Thistle 2 - 5 Shotlees
22nd August 2015 Shortlees 12 - 1 Fenwick Thistle
26th September 2015 Glenburn Miner's Welfare 1 - 5 Shortlees
10th October 2015 Shortlees 6 - 0 Beith
Ayrshire Cup
Round One
Bye
Round Two
29th August 2015 Shortlees 4 - 1 Westkirk Thistle
Round Three
21st November 2015 Galston United 1 - 3 Shortlees
Quarter Finals
12th March 2016 New Farm Loch 1 - 3 Shortlees
Ayrshire AFA James Scott Trophy
Round One
12th September 2015 Hurlford 1 - 5 Shortlees
Round Two
19th September 2015 Shortlees 0 - 2 Clark Drive
West of Scotland Cup
Round One
Bye
Round Two
24th October 2015 Cambusnethan Talbot 2 - 5 Shortlees
Round Three
28th November 2015 Shortlees 6 - 0 Mearns
Round Four
19th December 2015 Shortlees 2 - 0 Cumbernauld Colts
Round Five
13th February 2106 East Kilbride Thistle 2 - 9 Shortlees
Round Six
27th February 2016 Shortlees 4 - 0 Dalziel HSFP
Shortlees Progress to the Scottish Amateur Cup Quarter Finals:-
Round One
5th September 2015 Crosshouse Waverley 0 - 11 Shortlees
Round Two
3rd October 2015 Drumchapel FP 0 - 6 Shortlees
Round Three
7th November 2015 Westkirk Thistle 1 - 5 Shortlees
Round Four
12th December 2105 Hillington 1 - 2 Shortlees
Round Five
23rd January 2016 Shortlees 2 - 1 Holytown Colts Youths
Round Six
6th February 2016 Shortlees 3 - 0 Pennies
Round Seven
5th March 2016 Shortlees 5 - 0 Shotts Victoria
Saints progress to the Scottish Amateur Cup Quarter Finals:-
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
3rd October 2015 Oban Saints 9 - 1 Millbeg Villa
3rd Round
31st October 2015 Condoratt Club v Oban Saints - Walkover to Saints
4th Round
12th December 2105 Postal United 0 - 1 Oban Saints
5th Round
9th January 2016 Oban Saints 4 - 1 Craigshill Thistle
6th Round
6th February 2016 Stirling City 1 - 4 Oban Saints
7th Round
5th March 2016 Oban Saints 5 - 1 Doune Castle
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| Round Two - Donald Campbell nets Saints second goal against Millbeg Villa |
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| Round Four - Saints skipper Marc Maccallum in the thick of the action against Postal United |
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| Round Five - Craigshill Thistle keeper Robert Sinclair produces a terrific save to Deny Ross Maitland |
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| Round Six - Willie Gemmell, Keith Millar and Dene Cassells celebrate Keith's late strike against Stirling City |
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| Round Seven - Scott Maitland scores Saints fourth goal against Doune Castle |
News From Down Under
An impressive pre-season from former Saints striker Lewis Cameron has cemented his place in the Rochedale Rovers starting eleven for their assault on the Brisbane Premier League. After a tricky start to the league campaign losing their first two fixtures Rovers got their first point on the board with a hard fought 1 - 1 draw against Peninsula Power. This was followed up last Saturday with their first league win of the season against Albany Creek Excelsior. An eye catching performance from Lewis in a convincing 3 - 0 away win earned him the sponsor's Man of the Match award. You can watch edited highlights from the Albany Creek versus Rochedale Rovers match and a brief post-match interview with Lewis by clicking the links below.
Sponsorship
Following an appeal in an Oban Times article written by young reporter David McPhee Lewis has attracted sponsorship from two local businesses. Lewis' former employers the Floorshop and former Saints team-mate Sean Ford of Sean Ford Joinery answered the call and will sponsor Lewis for the 2016 Brisbane Premier League season. |
| Sean Ford and the Floorshop's number one floor layer Paul Kerr look on as a bloodied Dene Cassells is helped from the field by Davie Buchanan in the 2013 Jimmy Marshall Trophy final at Somervell Park, Cambuslang |
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