Saturday 29th October 2016
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v East Kilbride FC Amateurs
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr James Litster
It's been a long time coming, nine weeks to be precise, however Saints will return to Glencruitten this Saturday for a long awaited home fixture. During that nine week spell circumstances conspired to ensure Saints would only manage three competitive matches therefore everybody at the club is now looking forward to what will hopefully be a good run of fixtures leading up to the Christmas and New Year break.
After last Saturday's West of Scotland Cup success away at Petershall Villa Saints could scarcely have asked for a bigger match on their return to league business than this weeks visit of reigning Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions East Kilbride FC Amateurs. The amateur wing of highly ambitious Scottish Lowland Football League club East Kilbride FC, who themselves stand on the brink of a world record equaling twenty sixth consecutive victory, have taken the Scottish Amateur Football League by storm in recent seasons securing an unprecedented four consecutive league titles in a relentless march to the top division, Kilby's momentum continued in their first season in the Premier Division where they successfully saw off the challenge of established sides Saints and St Joseph's FP, and fellow top flight new boys Goldenhill, to land an incredible fifth league title on the spin. In addition to their hugely impressive league form EKFC Amateurs have also recorded some highly commendable cup runs reaching at least the sixth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup in each of the past three seasons.
Kilby's opening to their title defence has stuttered slightly with two wins, two draws and a defeat from their first five fixtures. Five points from a possible fifteen is currently good enough for second place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division however early form team Goldenhill are already one point ahead of the reigning Champions with two games in hand and the chasing pack of Saints, Ferguslie Star and St Joseph's FP are all within touching distance also with games in hand.
After a disappointing Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup campaign which saw them eliminated at the group stage Kilby have recovered well to progress to the third round in both major amateur cup competitions where they will face Greater Glasgow Premier League opposition. In the Scottish Cup Kilby have a home Guy Fawkes day tie with Craigneuk. While in the West of Scotland Cup two weeks later it's a away trip to Erskine.
Previous meetings
There have only been three previous meetings between Saints and East Kilbride all of which came last season. In the league the honours were shared with draws at both Glencruitten and K-Park. However it was Saints who came out on top in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy second round tie at K-Park in February where two second half Donald Campbell strikes cancelled out David Atha's first half opener from the penalty spot.Illness, injuries and work commitments continue to restrict Manager Alex Craik's selection options however he should still be able to name a strong squad for this vital league clash in what is already promising to be an extremely close Premier Division title race.
East Kilbride FC Amateurs fixtures so far this season;-
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
20th August 2016 Drumchapel Amateurs Colts 3 - 3 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
27th August 2016 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 1 - 1 Campbeltown Pupils
10th September 2016 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 2 - 1 Shawlands FP
17th September 2016 Inverclyde 2 - 3 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
15th October 2016 Goldenhill 1 - 0 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup Group Section 6
13th August 2016 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 1 - 3 Rutherglen
24th August 2016 Claremont 3 - 3 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
31st August 2016 Duncanrig FP 2 - 2 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
Scottish Amateur Cup
Round One
3rd September 2016 St Mungo's 1 - 2 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
Round Two
8th October 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 1 - 4 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
Round One
Bye
Round Two
22nd October 2016 United Churches of Ayr 0 - 4 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
East Kilbride FC Amateurs Scottish Amateur Football League record;-
2011-12 Division 1B Champions Promoted
2012-13 Division 1A Champions Promoted
2013-14 Premier Division Two Champions Promoted
2014-15 Premier Division One Champions Promoted
2012-13 Division 1A Champions Promoted
2013-14 Premier Division Two Champions Promoted
2014-15 Premier Division One Champions Promoted
2015-16 Premier Division Champions
Saints SAFL Premier Division record v East Kilbride FC Amateurs:-
15th August 2015 Oban Saints 0 - 0 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
14th May 2016 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 1 - 1 Oban Saints
Saints SAFL Premier Division record v East Kilbride FC Amateurs:-
15th August 2015 Oban Saints 0 - 0 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
14th May 2016 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 1 - 1 Oban Saints
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| East Kilbride FC Amateurs Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions 2015 - 16 |
Action from last season's Glencruitten stalemate
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| Craig MacEwan heads over the crossbar |
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| Dene Cassells prepares to let fly |
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| Jamie Graham |
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| Lewis Cameron tries to escape the attentions of Jamie Innes and Scott McEwan |
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| Ross Maitland and Ross Campbell |
In Other News
The draw for the third round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup took place at Hampden Park on Tuesday night. Saints were rewarded for their 8 - 0 second round win over Petershall Villa with a home tie against Auchinleck Boswell of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Second Division. The tie is scheduled to take place on Saturday 19th November.
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