Move On

Saturday 2nd April 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Goldenhill AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Referee Mr. Jim Rose

Following Thursday nights disappointment in the Scottish Amateur Cup Semi Final Saints have no time to dwell on what might have been and return to league business this Saturday afternoon in a match which is sure to have a significant bearing on the final destination of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division title. Visitors Goldenhill are undefeated in eight Premier Division matches with only Saints and Finnart managing to take points from the newly promoted side. Goldenhill's sensational form has not been restricted to league matches and has propelled them into the semi finals of both the West of Scotland Cup, where they will face the mighty Colville Park, and the Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup against current Premier Division leaders St Joseph's FP. Victory in the Centenary Cup semi-final would give Goldenhill the chance to avenge one of only two defeats so far this season which came last Saturday in the third round of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy at the hands of Premier Division One promotion chasing Ferguslie Park. The West of Scotland Cup semi-final creates another revenge opportunity for the Gowdie as it was Colville Park who inflicted their only other defeat in the fifth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup.

Saints only previous encounter with the Gowdie came last November in a thrilling 4 - 4 Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division draw at Clydebank High School. A close range Craig MacEwan finish followed by a sensational Paul Kerr looping header gave Saints a two goal half time lead which, in truth, should have been more. Saints were severely punished for their first half profligacy when their lead was cancelled out by two James Gallagher goals in as many minutes at the start of the second half. Gallagher completed the turn around and his hat trick in the fifty third minute slotting a knock down past Thomas McCulloch. Craig MacEwan and Ross Maitland combined well for Ross to bring Saints level before Dean Smith turned the result on it's head again after Scott Rennie failed to hold a Willie Gemmell twenty five yard piledriver. Saints were then afforded a two man advantage when first Jack Bennett and then Chris McGrath received their marching orders from Referee Gordon Hay. Despite being reduced to nine men it was the Gowdie who looked most likely to add to the scoring in the closing stages. Eventually the panic stricken Saints rearguard was breached for the fourth time in the eighty ninth minute when Damon Gray headed a long throw-in past Thomas McCulloch to give the home side an unlikely but thoroughly deserved share of the points.

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