Saturday 12th March 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v St Joseph's FP AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban, Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Gordon Mackay
Sandwiched between Saints Scottish Amateur Cup seventh round and quarter-final ties is yet another crucial fixture when old rival St Joseph's FP come calling on league business. On their last visit to Glencruitten on 22nd November 2014 St. Joe's produced a scintillating performance to inflict Saints heaviest home defeat in many a long year. Despite going into the half-time interval on level terms with a goal a-piece Saints struggled to contain their visitors from Duntocher and were blown away in the second half. David Gallagher, John Paul Seagrave and Blair Mulgrew were all on target for St Joe's before Ryan Holms added to his first half strike to complete a miserable day for the home side whose only consolation came in the shape of Craig MacEwan's second half goal to add to Donald Campbell's ninth minute opener. St. Joe's also prevailed in the last two fixtures between the clubs winning last May's Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final at Millburn Park, Alexandria 2 - 0 with first half goals from Gary Redpath and Thomas Wilson; and this season's keenly contested September league encounter at William Street, Duntocher 1 - 0 thanks to a looping Ryan Craig shot just before half-time. Saints will take succour from a much improved performance on the day against the reigning champions which was the catalyst for a fifteen match unbeaten run ended only by defeat in the West of Scotland Amateur Cup to Colville Park on 13th February.
The reigning Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions and Jimmy Marshall Trophy holders made a blistering start to the defence of their league title winning five matches on the bounce to open up a considerable gap at the top of the table. However a 6 - 0 thumping at the hands of East Kilbride FC Amateurs and last month's 3 - 1 defeat at Glasgow Green against Finnart have seen that lead eroded somewhat with the gap to second placed Inverclyde now just three points. Saints meanwhile lie one point further behind in fourth place and know that a win on Saturday will thrust them right back into contention for a second league title in three seasons.
St Joe's made a convincing start to their defence of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy with an emphatic 11 - 0 home win against Premier Division Two side Tarbert. They also already through to the Centenary Cup semi-finals where they will face Goldenhill for a place in the final against Premier Division One promotion hopefuls Ferguslie Star. St Joe's only regret of a positive season so far will be their failure to improve upon last season's excellent showing in the Scottish Amateur Cup which took them to the seventh round and a narrow exit at the hands of eventual competition runners up Craigshill Thistle.
Team News
It's a mixed bag on the Saints team news front with the gloss almost instantly being rubbed off the re-signing of Brian Mackay (see below) with the news that the reoccurrence of Martin Bonar's foot injury will keep him out of action for the remainder of the season. This is a massive blow for both player and club and Winning In The Rain wishes Martin a full and speedy recovery. In a further set-back Dene Cassells was handed a suspension for his ordering off against Colville Park in last month's West of Scotland Amateur Cup tie. Dene's moment of madness in the dying minutes of the fifth round tie will keep him on the sidelines for six matches and is another massive blow to the club at a crucial stage of the season. Manager Alex Craik will however still be able to name a strong squad as he bids to maintain Saints interest on three trophy fronts.
St Joseph's FP AFC SAFL Premier Division fixtures so far this season:-
22nd August 2015 Shawlands FP 2 - 6 St Joseph's FP
5th September 2015 St Joseph's FP 1 - 0 Oban Saints
12th September 2015 Campbeltown Pupils 0 - 5 St Joseph's FP
5th September 2015 St Joseph's FP 1 - 0 Oban Saints
12th September 2015 Campbeltown Pupils 0 - 5 St Joseph's FP
19th September 2015 St Joseph's FP 2 - 1 Finnart
24th October 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 1 - 3 St Joseph's FP
28th November 2015 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 6 - 0 St Joseph's FP
12th December 2015 St Joseph's FP 2 - 1 East Kilbride Rolls Royce
6th February 2016 St Joseph's FP 3 - 0 Alba Thistle
13th February 2016 Finnart 3 - 1 St Joseph's FP
24th October 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 1 - 3 St Joseph's FP
28th November 2015 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 6 - 0 St Joseph's FP
12th December 2015 St Joseph's FP 2 - 1 East Kilbride Rolls Royce
6th February 2016 St Joseph's FP 3 - 0 Alba Thistle
13th February 2016 Finnart 3 - 1 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
3rd Round 5th March 2016 St Joseph's FP 5 - 2 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
3rd Round 5th March 2016 St Joseph's FP 5 - 2 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
St Joseph's SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy exploits this season:-
1st Round Bye
2nd Round 27th February 2016 St Joseph's FP 11 - 0 Tarbert
St Joseph's West of Scotland Amateur Cup exploits this season:-
1st Round Bye
2nd Round 17th October 2015 St Joseph's FP 2 - 1 Glentynan Thistle
3rd Round 21st November 2015 Kilsyth 2 - 1 St Joseph's FP
St Joseph's Scottish Amateur Cup exploits this season:-
1st Round Bye
2nd Round 3rd October 2015 St Joseph's FP 7 - 2 Rannoch
3rd Round 31st October 2015 St Joseph's FP 3 - 1 Cumbernauld Colts
4th Round 5th December 2015 Albion 4 - 2 St Joseph's FP
2nd Round 27th February 2016 St Joseph's FP 11 - 0 Tarbert
St Joseph's West of Scotland Amateur Cup exploits this season:-
1st Round Bye
2nd Round 17th October 2015 St Joseph's FP 2 - 1 Glentynan Thistle
3rd Round 21st November 2015 Kilsyth 2 - 1 St Joseph's FP
St Joseph's Scottish Amateur Cup exploits this season:-
1st Round Bye
2nd Round 3rd October 2015 St Joseph's FP 7 - 2 Rannoch
3rd Round 31st October 2015 St Joseph's FP 3 - 1 Cumbernauld Colts
4th Round 5th December 2015 Albion 4 - 2 St Joseph's FP
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 and Centenary Cup Winners
2010/11 Premier Division 6th
2011/12 Premier Division 6th
2012/13 Premier Division 5th
2013/14 Premier Division 3rd and Centenary Cup Runners Up
2014/15 Premier Division Champions and Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners
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| The St Joseph's FP player celebrate winning the 2014-15 SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy |
Saints home record against St Joseph's FP:-
2008/09 Premier Division Oban Saints 2 - 3 St Joseph's FP
2009/10 Premier Division Oban Saints 2 - 0 St Joseph's FP
2010/11 Premier Division Oban Saints 8 - 1 St Joseph's FP
2011/12 Premier Division Oban Saints 3- 1 St Joseph's FP
2012/13 Premier Division Oban Saints 0 - 1 St Joseph's FP
2013/14 Premier Division Oban Saints 1 - 1 St Joseph's FP
2014/15 Premier Division Oban Saints 2 - 5 St Joseph's FP
The draw for the semi-finals of the Scottish Amateur Cup took place at Hampden Park on Monday afternoon. The winners of Saints quarter-final tie against Shortlees will face Leven United or East Kilbride YM or Linlithgow Thistle or Dennistoun Vale. The dates and venues for the semi-final ties have still to be announced.
Saints this week secured the services of former player Brian Mackay who will be a valuable addition to the squad in what could prove to be a hectic fixture schedule. Brian has been training with the squad for a couple of weeks and is likely to be named in the match day squad for the game against St Joseph's FP.
2014/15 Premier Division Oban Saints 2 - 5 St Joseph's FP
Action from some past Saints v St Joe's encounters at Glencruitten
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| Marc Maccallum and Donald Campbell 17th March 2012 |
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| Willie Gemmell's indirect free kick hits the St Joseph's wall 17th March 2012 |
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| Allan Mackay and Craig Cameron 14th September 2103 |
In Other News
The draw for the semi-finals of the Scottish Amateur Cup took place at Hampden Park on Monday afternoon. The winners of Saints quarter-final tie against Shortlees will face Leven United or East Kilbride YM or Linlithgow Thistle or Dennistoun Vale. The dates and venues for the semi-final ties have still to be announced.
In Other Other News
Saints this week secured the services of former player Brian Mackay who will be a valuable addition to the squad in what could prove to be a hectic fixture schedule. Brian has been training with the squad for a couple of weeks and is likely to be named in the match day squad for the game against St Joseph's FP.
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| Brian Mackay in action against Kilbowie Union on 17th August 2013 |
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