Familiar Territory

The Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

Wednesday 11th May 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League
Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Semui Final Tie
Motherwell Thistle AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Millburn Park
Leven Street
Alexandria
G83 0SR
Kick off 7pm
Referee Mr Jim Rose
Assistant Referee Gordon Hay
Assistant Referee Jozef Nemec

Millburn Park Home of Vale of Leven Juniors

Familiar Territory

Saints reached their fourth consecutive Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final courtesy of a nerve jangling penalty shoot-out victory over Kings Park Rangers at Toryglen last Wednesday night. Remarkably, of the seven who participated in the previous round's shoot-out with the FC Clydebank, only Willie Gemmell remained and fittingly it was he who netted the decisive penalty to confirm Saints return to the familiar territory of Millburn Park, Alexandria. As is usually the case the goalkeepers had a massive part to play in the shoot-out with Saints Graham Douglas emerging as the hero after saving Kings first two penalties to give Saints an ultimately decisive advantage. Despite Kings keeper Jordan Brand stopping Craig MacEwan's straight down the middle effort Saints had Donald Campbell, Craig Campbell, Dene Cassells and finally Willie Gemmell on target to set up a first ever encounter with Motherwell Thistle. 

After securing back to back promotions to lift them from Division 1B to Premier Division One Thistle's push to reach the top flight stuttered somewhat in the first half of this season where four defeats in seven matches left them facing an uphill struggle to make it three promotions out of three. Wednesday's opponents currently occupy fourth spot in Premier Division One but still harbour ambitions of securing third spot ahead of Dunoon with whom they go head to head this Saturday. Thistle have turned things around hitting a rich vein of form since the turn of the year suffering just one defeat in the calendar year so far. That solitary defeat came against Kings Park Rangers last month and effectively ended any feint hopes Thistle had of pipping Ferguslie Star for second place behind champions Drumchapel Amateurs Colts. However Thistle did their hopes of clinching third place no harm at all last Saturday inflicting just a third defeat of the season on Premier Division bound Drumchapel Amateurs Colts. 

En-route to the semi-finals Motherwell Thistle have seen off Premier Division One rivals Dunoon and established Premier Division sides Finnart and Alba Thistle with a penalty shoot-out necessary to secure victory in the battle of the Jags in the quarter-finals. Saints passage to the semi-finals has been a tortuous one including a hard fought away win against Premier Division leaders East Kilbride FC Amateurs and tricky away ties at FC Clydebank and Kings Park Rangers. Despite having their resources severely stretched, and being unable to rediscover their best form, Saints managed to squeeze past both the Bankies and Kings courtesy of penalty shoot-out victories.

This first ever encounter between Thistle and Saints looks delicately poised with both teams desperate to end the season with a cup final appearance. Tonight's tie will be decided on the night with the all too familiar sight of a penalty shoot-out to decide the winners if the sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes. The second semi-final between East Kilbride Rolls Royce and St Joseph's FP will be played this Saturday at McKenna Park with a 2pm kick off.

Team News

Saints team news is mixed with work commitments ruling out Dougal Graham while Paul Carmichael joins Skipper Marc Maccallum and Martin Bonar on the injured list. On the plus side Donald Campbell, Craig MacEwan and Keith Millar all return to the squad after missing last weekend's Premier Division away victory over East Kilbride Rolls Royce.  

Motherwell Thistle AFC

Motherwell Thistle Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1B Champions 2013-14

Motherwell Thistle's results so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division One

12th September 2015 Motherwell Thistle 4 - 0 Jamestown
19th September 2015 Drumchapel Amateurs Colts 1 - 0 Motherwell Thistle
3rd October 2015 Motherwell Thistle 2 - 3 Easthall Star
10th October 2015 Busby 0 - 3 Motherwell Thistle
24th October 2015 Neilston 5 - 2 Motherwell Thistle
21st November 2015 Motherwell Thistle 1 - 0 Kings Park Rangers
19th December 2015 Ferguslie Star 6 - 0 Motherwell Thistle

23rd January 2016 Motherwell Thistle 3 - 1 Kilbowie Union

6th February 2016 Dunoon 3 - 3 Motherwell Thistle

20th February 2016 Easthall Star 1 - 2 Motherwell Thistle

27th February 2016 Motherwell Thistle 10 - 1 Busby

5th March 2016 Jamestown 1 - 5 Motherwell Thistle

19th March 2016 Motherwell Thistle 1 - 1 Neilston

2nd April 2016 Motherwell Thistle 5 - 2 Lochgilphead Red Star

9th April 2016 Motherwell Thistle 4 - 1 Ferguslie Star

23rd April 2016 Kings Park Rangers 2 - 1 Motherwell Thistle

4th May 2016 Kilbowie Union 0 - 2 Motherwell Thistle

7th May 2016 Motherwell Thistle 3 - 2 Drumchapel Amateurs Colts

Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup

First Round

15th August 2015 St Joseph's FP 4 - 0 Motherwell Thistle

Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

First Round

Bye

Second Round
13th February 2016 Motherwell Thistle 3 - 0 Dunoon

Third Round
12th March 2016 Finnart 0 - 1 Motherwell Thistle

Quarter Final
16th April 2016 Alba Thistle 2 - 2 Motherwell Thistle
Motherwell Thistle win 5 - 3 on penalty kicks

Scottish Amateur Cup

First Round
5th September 2015 Motherwell Thistle 3 - 1 Hamilton FP

Second Round
3rd October 2015 Motherwell Thistle v Inverkip Thistle (Walkover to Motherwell Thistle)

Third Round
31st October 2015 Motherwell Thistle 1 - 1 Vale of Earn

Third Round Replay
7th November 2015 Vale of Earn 2 - 4 Motherwell Thistle

Fourth Round
11th December 2015 Motherwell Thistle 1 - 4 Stenhousemuir Community

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

First Round
Bye

Second Round
17th October 2015 Motherwell Thistle 3 - 2 Ardeer West Recreation

Third Round
14th November 2015 Cambria 5 - 4 Motherwell Thistle (After Extra Time)

Motherwell Thistle's recent SAFL record:-

2013-14 Division 1B Champions (Promoted)

2014-15 Premier Division Two 5th (Promoted)

Penalty kicks have featured prominently in Saints run to the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final

David Atha nets from the spot to give East Kilbride FC Amateurs the lead in round two

Donald Campbell seals a 2 - 1 round two victory for Saints 

Thomas McCulloch saves from FC Clydebank's Kevin McInally in the round three shoot-out

Paul Kerr sends Saints through to the quarter finals

Donald Campbell gives Saints a 2 - 1 lead in normal time against King Park Rangers 

Graham Douglas saved two penalties against Kings Park Rangers to help Saints into the semi-finals

#monthesaints