Winning In The Rain: The Boys of Summer

Jamie Graham and Donald Campbell lead the Saints boys on a summer expedition over the hills at Ganavan

KT Tunstall - The Boys of Summer

Saturday 30th July 2016

Pre-Season Friendly

Oban Saints AFC v East Kilbride AFC

Glencruitten 1

Glencruitten Drive

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EB

Kick off 2pm

Referee Mr John Scott

Saints continue their preparations for the new season this Saturday with the welcome return of regular pre-season opponents East Kilbride AFC. After an absence of four years East Kilbride reacquainted themselves with the A82 and A85 last pre-season when they and Saints played out a highly entertaining match in front of a healthy crowd at Glencruitten. On that occasion Saints fought back from a 2 - 0 half time deficit to win by the odd goal in five thanks to goals from Allan Mackay, Lewis Cameron and Craig MacEwan. If this year's match is even half as exciting then the home support will be in for a treat.

Newly elevated to the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division for the 2015 - 16 season East Kilbride continued the good form which had secured their promotion to the top flight as Division One Champions. A fifth placed Premier Division finish was an excellent return in a league where competition is fierce among some of the top amateur sides in the country. The icing on the cake for East Kilbride came on Friday 27th May at the home of Kilsyth Juniors where they completed a successful defence of the McAvoy and McIntyre Trophy defeating Premier League and Scottish Amateur Cup winners Colville Park in an eight goal thriller. Pegged back three times during the ninety minutes East Kilbride eventually prevailed in extra time with William Hastings having the honour of netting the killer fifth goal.

East Kilbride began their pre-season fixtures schedule with high scoring away trip to Irvine where they conceded a 4 - 2 lead eventually losing 8 - 4 to Winlinton Wolves of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League. In two further away matches East Kilbride have defeated Kilsyth 1 - 0 and lost 5 - 2 to Possil YMCA both of Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1A. East Kilbride's opponents at home have both come from the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division in the shape of newly promoted Ferguslie Star and reigning Champions East Kilbride FC Amateurs. The Premier Division new boys were edged out 2 -1 while Champions EKFC Amateurs failed to find the target and where beaten 2 - 0.

Saturday's match will provide another stiff test for Saints against high quality opposition where Manager Alex Craik will hope to continue the good form pre-season form shown so far. The kick off to the new league season is now just two weeks away with Argyll rivals Campbeltown Pupils set to provide Saints first opposition.

The usual mixture of holidays, injuries and work commitments will have a major bearing on the Saints squad selection and home fans can expect more changes from the line ups which drew against Vale of Leven and defeated St Anthony's. This will be Saints last home pre-season match before they travel to Lochgilphead on Saturday 6th August to defend the Argyll & Bute Cup in an eight team tournament organised and hosted by Lochgilphead Red Star.

East Kilbride AFC recent Central Scottish Amateur Football League finishes:-

2008-09 Division 1A 11th
2009-10 Division 1A 11th
2010-11 Division 1A 8th
2011-12 Division 1A 10th
2012-13 Division 1A 8th
2013-14 Division 1A 11th
2014-15 Division 1A Champions (Promoted)
2015-16 Premier Division 5th