Saturday 10th September 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Inverclyde AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Rankin Park, Inverkip Road, Greenock PA16 9EU
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr James Tedford
Just two weeks after playing host to Inverclyde Saints make the reciprocal visit to Greenock this Saturday not to the usual Battery Park on the banks of the river Clyde but up the hill on the A78 to the new facilities at Rankin Park. Saints head for the tail o' the bank on the back of an excellent performance at Glasgow Green last Saturday where they knocked old foes and current Caledonian League Division 1B leaders Finnart out of the Scottish Amateur Cup. The Scottish Amateur Cup first round win extends Saints promising unbeaten start to the season to four games including the 4 - 2 Glencruitten triumph over this Saturday's opponents. The recently opened Rankin Park will be a new venue for Saints but the journey to Greenock is a familiar one which Saints have made eight times in the last nine seasons. Only Inverclyde's one season spell in Premier Division One interrupted that run however their immediate promotion back to the Premier Division quickly returned the annual Greenock trip to Saints itinerary.
Saints last visit to Greenock in August last year saw the home side take full advantage of a poor Saints display to record their first home win over the Oban men since April 2008. A ninety third minute consolation goal from David Beaton was all Saints had to show for a disappointing afternoon's work against a determined Inverclyde side. Second half goals from Craig Ellis and Brendan Gillan added to Darren MacGregor's first half opener to give the home side a thoroughly convincing win.
The 'Clyde have made a number of changes to last season's squad which flirted with relegation until the closing weeks of the season. Early results for the new look squad have been mixed with Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup group stage wins against Broomhill, Dunoon and East End United being overshadowed by league defeats to Shawlands FP and Saints. There was further disappointment for the 'Clyde last weekend when their Centenary Cup run came to an end at the quarter finals stage with a home defeat to Motherwell Thistle. Despite their mixed form the 'Clyde will still pose a major threat and Saints will have to continue the good form they have shown in their opening four fixtures if they are to avoid a repeat of last season's slip up.
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| Inverclyde AFC |
Inverclyde AFC results so far this season:-
SAFL Premier Division
20th August 2016 Inverclyde 2 - 4 Shawlands FP
27th August 2016 Oban Saints 4 - 2 Inverclyde
SAFL Centenary Cup
Group Section 4
13th August 2016 Broomhill 2 - 7 Inverclyde
17th August 2016 Inverclyde 5 - 3 Dunoon
24th August 2016 East End United 2 - 6 Inverclyde
Quarter Final
3rd September 2016 Inverclyde 0 - 2 Motherwell Thistle
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| Saints Skipper Marc MacCallum makes the introductions when the Saints and Inverclyde met in the 20113 - 14 SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy Final |
Inverclyde AFC recent SAFL finishes:-
2006 - 07 Premier Division One 2nd Promoted
2007 - 08 Premier Division 2nd
2008 - 09 Premier Division 7th
2009 - 10 Premier Division 5th
2010 - 11 Premier Division 5th
2011 - 12 Premier Division 8th
2012 - 13 Premier Division 6th
2013 - 14 Premier Division 9th Relegated
2014 - 15 Premier Division One 5th Promoted
2014 - 16 Premier Division 7th
Saints record at Battery Park in recent seasons:-
2007 - 08 SAFL Premier Division Inverclyde 3 - 1 Oban Saints
2008 - 09 SAFL Premier Division Inverclyde 1 - 2 Oban Saints
2009 - 10 SAFL Premier Division Inverclyde 2 - 3 Oban Saints
2010 - 11 SAFL Premier Division Inverclyde 2 - 4 Oban Saints
2011 - 12 SAFL Premier Division Inverclyde 3 - 4 Oban Saints
2012 - 13 SAFL Premier Division Inverclyde 0 - 5 Oban Saints
2013 - 14 SAFL Premier Division Inverclyde 0 - 1 Oban Saints
2015 - 16 SAFL Premier Division Inverclyde 3 - 1 Oban Saints
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| Willie Gemmell opens the scoring in Saints 5 - 0 win at Battery Park on 12th January 2013 |
Action from Saints last visit to Battery Park
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| The players observe a silence of remembrance for the late Jack McConnell |
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| The Inverclyde wall takes the sting out of Willie Gemmell's free kick |
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| Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland |
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| Lewis Cameron takes on Stevie Docherty |
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| Paul Kerr beats Lee Docherty to midfield header |
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| Scott Maitland dispossessed by Shaun McCarn |
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| David Beaton takes on Gordon McKillop |
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| Greg Wilson heads clear under pressure from Donald Campbell |
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| David Beaton scores Saints consolation goal |
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