Winning In The Rain: Welcome Back

Take Me Back (To The Vale of Leven) - Neil McKinlay

Saturday 16th July 2016

Pre-Season Friendly

Oban Saints AFC v Vale of Leven FC

Glencruitten 1, Glencruitten Drive, Oban PA34 4EB

Kick off 2.00pm

Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

Following last year's first ever visit to Oban, Saints are delighted to welcome back Vale of Leven Juniors this Saturday afternoon for what should be another good pre-season workout for both sets of players. Saints got their pre-season fixtures schedule off to a flying start two weeks ago with an excellent undefeated showing in the D&K Lafferty Cup tournament and will be keen to build on that against this Saturday's visitors. The Vale have yet to play so far this pre-season but have been working hard in training for the past three weeks. Vale currently ply their trade in the Scottish Junior Football Association West Region Central District Second Division where they finished last season in tenth place with 21 points from 22 games played. This third from bottom finish represented Vale's lowest final league position for 51 years and is one which the club are desperate to improve upon.

As part of their quest to revive the club's fortunes the Annual General Meeting in May ratified the promotion of Under 21's Manager Brian Brown to the post of Assistant to first team Manger Hugh Hamill. The pair are already working hard to bring about a change in the Vale's recent spell in the doldrums and are looking forward to an exciting season ahead. Brian's place at the helm of the Under 21's set-up has been taken by former Vale, Airdrionians, Arbroath, Clydebank, Cowdenbeath and Dumbarton player Toby King who is tasked with the development of the club's crop of talented youngsters. The Vale have also been carrying out some essential pitch maintenance work at Millburn Park dictating that all but one of their pre-season friendlies will be played away from home.

Notwithstanding their current lowly league position the Vale have a long and illustrious history in the game and to secure this pre-season friendly match between the clubs is a major coup for Saints. Originally founded in 1872 Vale of Leven won three successive Scottish Cups (1877 - 79) and became unofficial British champions in 1878 beating English F.A. Cup holders The Wanderers at Kennington Oval. In 1890 they were founder members of the Scottish Football League where, excluding brief flirtations with the Scottish Alliance, the Scottish Football Combination and the Western League, they remained until 1939 when they club disbanded due to the suspension of league football for World War Two. The club immediately re-emerged as Vale of Leven Football and Athletic Club becoming members of the Scottish Junior Football Association. Over the years many league and cup successes followed the biggest of which being the Scottish Junior Cup win in 1953.

Last year's encounter

Glencruitten 1 stood up well to torrential rain on the eve of the match and survived an early morning pitch inspection allowing the match to go ahead. The semi-professionals from Alexandria playing their first pre-season match looked in the mood and were rewarded for their bright start in the sixth minute when David McNaught exploited a gap in the Saints defence to drill a shot into the bottom corner past Thomas McCulloch's left hand. Saints responded well to the early setback and equalised in the twenty fifth minute when Dean Smith's glancing header from a Lewis Cameron corner kick squeezed in between the junction of post and bar to restore parity. Saints took the lead in the thirty sixth minute after another good passing move through the midfield. Dean Smith picked up the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal where a skillful turn created space for a thumping shot which flew past the Vale keeper into the postage stamp corner. Lewis Cameron notched another assist for Saints third goal again providing a perfect delivery from the corner flag which was on this occasion met by a thumping header from Martin Bonar to send Saints into the half time interval 3 - 1 up. Both sets of players served up an equally entertaining second forty five but this time the defences came out on top and neither side managed to add to their tally. Referee John Scott, who had enjoyed an easy afternoon, brought a sporting encounter to a halt giving new Saints Manager Alex Craik a win in his first 90 minutes in charge.

The Vale of Leven squad pictured prior to last year's match

Dean Smith draws Saints level with a glancing header

Martin Bonar sends Saints into the half-time interval 3 - 1 in front

Saints still have a few regulars missing due to injury and holidays but will have a strong squad available for selection for Saturday's match where Manager Alex Craik will be keen to give as many players as possible some valuable game time against experienced opposition. It is anticipated that the Vale will bring their full squad to Oban for the first of four friendlies before their season kicks off in earnest with a Sectional League Cup tie away at Johnstone Burgh on Saturday 6th August.