Bang Bang

B.A. Robertson - Bang Bang

Saturday 5th November 2016
Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Third Round
FC Clydebank v Oban Saints AFC
Thorn Park
Thorn Road
Bearsden
East Dunbartonshire
G61 4BP
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Michael Auld

Following last Saturday's convincing home win against reigning Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division champions East Kilbride FC Amateurs, Saints resume their Scottish Amateur Cup campaign with a tricky away tie against FC Clydebank at Thorn Park, Bearsden.

Formerly members of the Scottish Amateur Football League, FC Clydebank made the switch at the start of this season to the Central Scottish Amateur Football League where they presently occupy fifth place in Division 1A with twelve points from a possible twenty one. The Bankies have made a decent start to their first league campaign in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League where four wins from seven games leaves them seven points behind early leaders Blantyre Celtic but with two games in hand. While their league form puts them in a good position to mount a serious challenge in what looks to be a very competitive title race, home defeats to Premier Division Bannockburn and Division 1B table toppers Gourock Athletic have already ended the Bankies interest in the Bunrigh Trophy and Cinema Cup.

Unfortunately for the Bankies their hopes of an extended run in the West of Scotland Amateur Cup have also been extinguished following a narrow home second round defeat to New Farm Loch of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Second Division who Saints fans will recall from last season's fourth round.

In the Scottish Amateur Cup the Bankies needed a replay to get past Port Glasgow of Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division 2B before bagging this Saturday's third round tie against Saints with a convincing 3 - 0 home win against St Silas of Strathclyde Evangelical Churches Division One.

Saints and the Bankies have met only once before in tight Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy third round tie at Colquhoun Park, Bearsden in April of this year. Neither side could find the net during the ninety minutes therefore the tie had to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Ross Maitland had the unenviable task of going first and got Saints off to a positive start sending Lewis Wood the wrong way. David McArthur and Allan Mackay also safely converted for Saints with Alan Rodgers, Fraser Urquhart and Allan Sillars responding for the home side. Scott Maitland followed the example of the previous three takers by going to the keeper's left however this time Lewis Wood guessed correctly and threw up a strong right hand to tip Scott's effort over the crossbar. Thomas McCulloch immediately levelled things up diving low to his right to stop from Kevin McInally and kept a close eye on the loose ball to gather safely at the second attempt. Willie Gemmell put Saints in front again but Andy Campbell scored to send the shoot out into sudden death. 

Paul Kerr stepped up to take the first of the sudden death spot kicks however Referee Allan noticed that the net had come away from the crossbar opening up a hole which he insisted must be repaired before proceeding any further. Bankies official Craig McPherson produced another roll of insulating tape and carried out the necessary repairs while Paul Kerr waited patiently for the signal to proceed. Thankfully the delay had no adverse effect on Paul and he sent Lewis Wood the wrong way tucking the ball low inside the keeper's right hand post to give Saints the advantage. Lewis Wood bravely stepped up to take the Bankies sixth penalty but was left a forlorn figure as his opposite number Thomas McCulloch dropped to his left to smother the ball and send Saints through to face Kings Park Rangers in the quarter final.

Saints can expect a similarly difficult afternoon against a determined Bankies side who will relish the opportunity of putting one over on their former league colleagues. Manager Alex Craik has a number of injury doubts to ponder which, added to the usual mix of holidays and work commitments, will give him a few headaches before naming his starting eleven for this Guy Fawkes day encounter. 

FC Clydebank

Thorn Park, Bearsden

FC Clydebank fixtures so far this season:-

Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1A

13th August 2016 CBW Waterside 5 - 2 FC Clydebank
17th August 2016 Clydebank AFC 1 - 2  FC Clydebank
31st August 2016 FC Clydebank 8 - 2 Electric AFC
17th September 2016 FC Clydebank 1 - 2 Mill United
24th September 2016 Blantyre Celtic 5 - 0 FC Clydebank
15th October 2016 FC Clydebank 3 - 1 Kilsyth
29th October 2106 FC Clydebank 5 - 2 Stedfast




Central Scottish Amateur Football League Bunrigh Trophy

First Round
20th August 2016 FC Clydebank 3 - 1 Mill United

Second Round
Bye

Third Round
27th August 2016 FC Clydebank 1 - 5 Bannockburn



Central Scottish Amateur Football League Cinema Cup

First Round
Bye

Second Round
8th October 2016 FC Clydebank 2 - 3 Gourock Athletic

Scottish Amateur Cup

First Round
3rd September 2016 Port Glasgow 3 - 3 FC Clydebank

First Round Replay
9th September 2016 FC Clydebank 2 - 0 Port Glasgow

Second Round
1st October 2016 FC Clydebank 3 - 0 St. Silas

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

First Round
Bye

Second Round
22nd October 2016 FC Clydebank 1 - 2 New Farm Loch

Action from last season's Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy third round match at Colquhoun Park

Myles McAuley drives into the Bankies box

Keith Millar and Ross Jackson

Craig Campbell and Allan Sillars

Allan Mackay bearing down on goal

Lewis Wood safely gathers a Paul Kerr header

Scott Maitland and Kevin McInally

Myles McAuley steers a shot wide of target

Thomas McCulloch saves from Allan McInally in the penalty shoot-out

Paul Kerr nets the winning penalty

In Other News

Saints were saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected folding of highly respected old rivals Postal United last Sunday evening. During their five seasons in direct competition in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Saints finished ahead of their Glasgow rivals on three occasions however in the final two seasons the balance of power shifted very much in favour of Postal. Returning to the top flight in season 2011-12 as reigning Premier Division One Champions Postal romped undefeated to the Premier Division title dropping just four points in the process. To round off a perfect season Postal added the Jimmy Marshall Trophy and Centenary Cup to their haul giving them a remarkable clean sweep of Scottish Amateur Football League silverware. The following season Postal announced their departure for a new challenge in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League and left with the a second consecutive Premier Division title tucked under their belts.

Postal gained immediate success in their new league set-up securing the Division 1B title and with it promotion to the Premier Division. Alas, despite putting up a brave fight, they were unable to hold onto their top flight status and dropped back to Division 1B for season 2015 - 16. Displaying all of the resilience which brought them so much success in their Scottish Amateur Football League days Postal bounced back yet again to finish second behind undefeated runaway champions Haldane United to earn the right to have another crack at the Premier Division.

Sadly, after an extremely difficult start to the season where their inability to attract new management and players left them struggling on the pitch, the highly dedicated Postal committee decided they could continue no more and, in their forty fourth year, withdrew from all competitions.

Saints wish everyone connected with Postal United all the best for whatever the future may hold for them more especially Club President James McCarthy who, during his forty four year association with the club, was a true gentleman of the amateur game.

#monthesaints