Wednesday 27th April 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Alba Thistle AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Seedhill Park, Lacy Street, Paisley PA1 1QR
Kick Off 6.45pm
Referee Mr Andrew Seymour
Following last Saturday's nail biting Jimmy Marshall Trophy penalty shoot-out success against FC Clydebank Saints quickly turn their attentions to league business with a trip to Seedhill, Paisley to face Alba Thistle. Ten points behind leaders East Kilbride FC Amateurs with eight games to play Saints have little or no margin for error in the battle for the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division trophy. If they are to keep themselves in the hunt alongside East Kilbride, St Joseph's FP and West of Scotland Cup finalists Goldenhill Saints will have to improve drastically on last season's dismal performance at Seedhill. In the penultimate game of the season for both clubs the Jags looked doomed to relegation but were gifted a lifeline by Saints which they grabbed with both hands ultimately securing their Premier Division status at the expense of Busby four days later with a convincing 5 - 2 win against Eaglesham. The 2 - 1 Jags win was Manager Iain Jackson's final away game in the Saints hot seat and if he had been in two minds about his future at that point then the performance of his charges that day would have surely convinced him it was time to call it a day.
Similar to last season the Jags are embroiled in a relegation battle but at last look to be hitting their stride taking seven points from three games against title challengers St Joseph's FP and fellow relegation strugglers Campbeltown Pupils and Shawlands FP. The Jags good run came to end last weekend in a 2 - 1 defeat to pace setters East Kilbride FC Amateurs where an excellent performance was cruelly denied a share of the points by a successfully converted last minute penalty kick.
When the sides met at Glencruitten in September it was Saints who edged a close game to notch their first win of the season. Craig MacEwan opened the scoring for Saints five minutes before the half time interval but Gordon Meredith replied for the visitors just two minutes later. Craig MacEwan restored the lead for Saints who survived a few close shaves before Myles McAuley finally made the points safe in the seventy ninth minute.
Adding to the usual injury, suspension and holiday problems for this midweek trip to Paisley will be work commitments which will severely test Saints resources and limit Manager Alex Craik's team selection options. Midweek away fixtures are something Saints may have to get used to with the trip to Campbeltown Pupils likely to be scheduled for a Wednesday night and all remaining Jimmy Marshall Trophy dates already confirmed for week nights.
Alba Thistle's fixtures so far this season:-
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
5th September 2015 Alba Thistle 5 - 3 East Kilbride Rolls Royce
12th September 2015 Oban Saints 3 - 1 Alba Thistle
19th September 2015 Alba Thistle 1 - 4 Campbeltown Pupils
24th October 2015 Finnart 2 - 3 Alba Thistle
31st October 2015 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 1 - 0 Alba Thistle
7th November 2015 Alba Thistle 0 - 4 Inverclyde
12th December 2015 Goldenhill 3 - 1 Alba Thistle
6th February 2016 St Joseph's FP 3 - 0 Alba Thistle
5th March 2016 Inverclyde 4 - 0 Alba Thistle
19th March 2016 Alba Thistle 3 - 0 St Joseph's FP
2nd April 2016 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 2 Alba Thistle
13th April 2016 Shawlands FP 1 - 2 Alba Thistle
20th April 2016 Alba Thistle 1 - 2 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
20th April 2016 Alba Thistle 1 - 2 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
Scottish Amateur Cup
First Round
Bye
Second Round
10th October 2015 Alba Thistle 1 - 2 Blochairn Star
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
First Round
Bye
Second Round
17th October 2015 Alba Thistle 0 - 5 New Farm Loch
Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup
First Round
15th August 2015 Drumchapel Amateurs Colts 2 - 2 Alba Thistle (4 - 5 on Penalties)
Second Round
29th August 2015 Alba Thistle 2 - 2 Rutherglen (4 - 5 on Penalties)
Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy
First Round
Bye
Second Round
13th February 2016 Alba Thistle 2 - 1 Duncanrig FP
Third Round
12th March 2016 Drumchapel Amateurs Colts 3 - 4 Alba Thistle
Quarter Final
16th April 2016 Alba Thistle 2 - 2 Motherwell Thistle (3 - 5 on Penalties)
Alba Thistle's recent league history:-
2007/08 Paisley and District Division Two Champions (Promoted)
2008/09 Paisley and District Division One Champions
2009/10 Paisley and District Division One Champions (Undefeated)
2010/11 SAFL Division Three Champions (Promoted)
2011/12 SAFL Division Two Champions (Promoted) (Undefeated)
2012/13 SAFL Division One Champions (Promoted)
2013/14 SAFL Premier Division 8th
2014/15 SAFL Premier Division 8th
Saints record against Alba Thistle:-
SAFL Centenary Cup Final
24th April 2013 Alba Thistle 0 - 0 Oban Saints (5 - 4 on penalties)
SAFL Premier Division
12th October 2013 Oban Saints 2 - 0 Alba Thistle
29th March 2014 Alba Thistle 4 - 5 Oban Saints
16th May 2015 Alba Thistle 2 - 1 Oban Saints
12th September 2015 Oban Saints 3 - 1 Alba Thistle
Action from last season's match at Seedhill
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| A pleasant May afternoon in Paisley |
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| The only highlight of a miserable afternoon for Saints was Paul Kerr's consolation goal |
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| Iain Jackson thinking "I've had enough of this" |
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