Saturday 7th January 2017
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
5th Round Tie
Oban Saints AFC v Westdyce AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Kevin Nolan
Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Division Two (East)
6th August 2016 Highland Hotel 1 - 7 Westdyce
10th August 2016 Lads Club Amateurs 1 - 3 Westdyce
15th August 2016 Westdyce 2 - 0 Torphins
3rd September 2016 Auchnagatt Barons 0 - 4 Westdyce
17th September 2016 Westdyce 2 - 1 Bridge of Don
Oban Saints AFC v Westdyce AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Kevin Nolan
This Saturday at Glencruitten Oban Saints usher in the Chinese year of the rooster with just their fourth home match of the season so far and their first in any of the cup competitions. The visitors for Saturday's Scottish Amateur Cup fifth round tie are Westdyce of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Divison Two East who are making their first ever trip west in Scottish amateur football's most prestigious competition.
Founded in 2012 as a Sunday morning team Westdyce joined the Saturday afternoon ranks for the 2014 - 15 season where a second placed finish in Division Three behind Champions Sheddocksley was enough to secure an immediate promotion to Division Two East. Another impressive league campaign followed and only a shock 1 - 0 defeat to bottom club Continental in their penultimate fixture denied the Inverdee based club back to back promotions. Westdyce took out their frustration at the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a place in Division One East with a thumping 8 - 2 victory over Grammar FP's in the final of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Barclay Cook Cup to win the fledgling club's first ever piece of silverware.
Westdyce have continued their good form into the 2016 -17 season winning fourteen of their seventeen fixtures so far. After a 100% return from their opening five league fixtures, including a 2 - 1 defeat of their local rivals and current league leaders Bridge of Don, the Westdyce promotion push has been placed on hold in favour of pursuit of cup glory. Unfortunately their defence of the Barclay Cook Cup came unstuck at the semi-finals stage when a first defeat of the season to Sheddocksley brought to an end a ten match winning streak. This set back was followed up in their next fixture by a 6 - 1 thrashing from Division One East league leaders Cowie Thistle in the second round of the North of Scotland Amateur Cup. Westdyce have maintained steady progress in the other local cup competitions and will face neighbours Bridge of Don in the third round of the Dickie Trophy. The draw for the fourth round of the Aberdeen F.C. Trophy gives Westdyce an early opportunity to avenge their record equaling defeat at the hands of Cowie Thistle when the two sides were paired to meet on Westdyce territory at Inverdee.
Shaking off their back to back defeats Westdyce have rediscovered the winning habit to progress to the fifth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup for the first time in their short history and are one of just six Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association clubs still in with a shout of grabbing the big prize. A first round bye was followed up by a second round regional section 2 -1 home win against Rattray's XI. Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Division 1A Firhill United were sent back down the A90 on the wrong end of a 5 - 3 scoreline in round three before Westdyce entered the previously uncharted waters of the fourth round. Awaiting them was an away trip to Fife to face Strathmiglo United of the Kingdom Caledonian Amateur Football Association where a Ryan Fenby goal secured a 1 - 1 draw on 3rd December to set up a replay at Inverdee the following week. Back on home soil things didn't start well for Westdyce when injuries forced them to field their only two available substitutes after just twenty minutes. Despite this early impediment and being under the cosh from their more experienced visitors Westdyce took the lead in the twenty third minute when Michael Caldwell poked home a Robbie Duncan corner. A second yellow card for right full back Danny Blanchard after forty minutes left the home side facing an uphill struggle in the second half however the makeshift Westdyce side produced an heroic performance to keep the Strathmiglo attack at bay before Michael Caldwell made the tie safe with a second breakaway goal.
The fifth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup may be unexplored territory for the Saturday's visitors but it has far more of a familiar feel for the home side. Saints have maintained their interest in the nation's premier cup competition beyond the Christmas and New Year break in nine of the past twelve seasons including three quarter-finals and last season's semi-final appearance.
This season's road to Hampden began with an extremely tough first round away fixture against former Scottish Amateur Football League rivals Finnart now of the Caledonian League Division 1B. A Craig MacEwan strike after eighteen minutes gave Saints the lead at Glasgow Green which they comfortably held onto until the half time interval. The second half started badly for Saints when a cheaply conceded corner kick allowed Finnart dead ball expert Andrew Robertson to find the head of Kieren Molloy in the six yard box and bring the home side level. Saints re-established their midfield domination and regained the lead just after the hour when second half substitute Paul Carmichael cracked a powerful drive off the underside of the crossbar and over the goal line. The Saints defence repelled an aerial onslaught from Finnart before a successfully converted Donald Campbell penalty kick in the eighty third minute made the tie safe.
A second round no show from Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League Premier Division outfit Bishopton denied the Saints faithful a home match on 1st October but saw Saints comfortably through to the third round by virtue of a walkover.
The third round draw paired Saints with another recent Scottish Amateur Football League defector FC Clydebank now of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1A. A significantly less assured performance than against Finnart somehow still managed to produce an identical result at Thorn Park Bearsden on 5th November. Dean Smith gave a sluggish Saints side a thirty eighth minute lead which they managed to hold until the closing stages despite an uncharacteristically disjointed performance. The eightieth minute introduction of Fraser MacFarlane proved to be an inspired change by Manager Alex Craik as, within three minutes of joining the action, young Fraser pounced on a loose ball in the Bankies' box to double the Saints advantage. A frantic period then ensued with Ross Hollinsworth pulling one back for the home side from a well worked short corner routine before Willie Gemmell settled the nerves on the touchline with a perfectly struck free kick into the postage stamp corner to send Saints into the fourth round.
Saints made a rare journey east to face Salvasen of the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association Lothian West Division in their biggest test of the season so far. With Skipper Marc Maccallum calling off due to illness Paul Kerr took the armband and successfully lead his troops into the fifth round against the previously undefeated Edinburgh side. Saints were assured throughout dominating possession and looking solid at the back. Goals either side of the half time interval from Dean Smith and Ross Maitland saw Saints comfortably through to a much welcomed and eagerly anticipated home tie against Westdyce.
Westdyce AFC fixtures so far this season:-
Founded in 2012 as a Sunday morning team Westdyce joined the Saturday afternoon ranks for the 2014 - 15 season where a second placed finish in Division Three behind Champions Sheddocksley was enough to secure an immediate promotion to Division Two East. Another impressive league campaign followed and only a shock 1 - 0 defeat to bottom club Continental in their penultimate fixture denied the Inverdee based club back to back promotions. Westdyce took out their frustration at the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a place in Division One East with a thumping 8 - 2 victory over Grammar FP's in the final of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Barclay Cook Cup to win the fledgling club's first ever piece of silverware.
Westdyce have continued their good form into the 2016 -17 season winning fourteen of their seventeen fixtures so far. After a 100% return from their opening five league fixtures, including a 2 - 1 defeat of their local rivals and current league leaders Bridge of Don, the Westdyce promotion push has been placed on hold in favour of pursuit of cup glory. Unfortunately their defence of the Barclay Cook Cup came unstuck at the semi-finals stage when a first defeat of the season to Sheddocksley brought to an end a ten match winning streak. This set back was followed up in their next fixture by a 6 - 1 thrashing from Division One East league leaders Cowie Thistle in the second round of the North of Scotland Amateur Cup. Westdyce have maintained steady progress in the other local cup competitions and will face neighbours Bridge of Don in the third round of the Dickie Trophy. The draw for the fourth round of the Aberdeen F.C. Trophy gives Westdyce an early opportunity to avenge their record equaling defeat at the hands of Cowie Thistle when the two sides were paired to meet on Westdyce territory at Inverdee.
Shaking off their back to back defeats Westdyce have rediscovered the winning habit to progress to the fifth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup for the first time in their short history and are one of just six Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association clubs still in with a shout of grabbing the big prize. A first round bye was followed up by a second round regional section 2 -1 home win against Rattray's XI. Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Division 1A Firhill United were sent back down the A90 on the wrong end of a 5 - 3 scoreline in round three before Westdyce entered the previously uncharted waters of the fourth round. Awaiting them was an away trip to Fife to face Strathmiglo United of the Kingdom Caledonian Amateur Football Association where a Ryan Fenby goal secured a 1 - 1 draw on 3rd December to set up a replay at Inverdee the following week. Back on home soil things didn't start well for Westdyce when injuries forced them to field their only two available substitutes after just twenty minutes. Despite this early impediment and being under the cosh from their more experienced visitors Westdyce took the lead in the twenty third minute when Michael Caldwell poked home a Robbie Duncan corner. A second yellow card for right full back Danny Blanchard after forty minutes left the home side facing an uphill struggle in the second half however the makeshift Westdyce side produced an heroic performance to keep the Strathmiglo attack at bay before Michael Caldwell made the tie safe with a second breakaway goal.
The fifth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup may be unexplored territory for the Saturday's visitors but it has far more of a familiar feel for the home side. Saints have maintained their interest in the nation's premier cup competition beyond the Christmas and New Year break in nine of the past twelve seasons including three quarter-finals and last season's semi-final appearance.
This season's road to Hampden began with an extremely tough first round away fixture against former Scottish Amateur Football League rivals Finnart now of the Caledonian League Division 1B. A Craig MacEwan strike after eighteen minutes gave Saints the lead at Glasgow Green which they comfortably held onto until the half time interval. The second half started badly for Saints when a cheaply conceded corner kick allowed Finnart dead ball expert Andrew Robertson to find the head of Kieren Molloy in the six yard box and bring the home side level. Saints re-established their midfield domination and regained the lead just after the hour when second half substitute Paul Carmichael cracked a powerful drive off the underside of the crossbar and over the goal line. The Saints defence repelled an aerial onslaught from Finnart before a successfully converted Donald Campbell penalty kick in the eighty third minute made the tie safe.
A second round no show from Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League Premier Division outfit Bishopton denied the Saints faithful a home match on 1st October but saw Saints comfortably through to the third round by virtue of a walkover.
The third round draw paired Saints with another recent Scottish Amateur Football League defector FC Clydebank now of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1A. A significantly less assured performance than against Finnart somehow still managed to produce an identical result at Thorn Park Bearsden on 5th November. Dean Smith gave a sluggish Saints side a thirty eighth minute lead which they managed to hold until the closing stages despite an uncharacteristically disjointed performance. The eightieth minute introduction of Fraser MacFarlane proved to be an inspired change by Manager Alex Craik as, within three minutes of joining the action, young Fraser pounced on a loose ball in the Bankies' box to double the Saints advantage. A frantic period then ensued with Ross Hollinsworth pulling one back for the home side from a well worked short corner routine before Willie Gemmell settled the nerves on the touchline with a perfectly struck free kick into the postage stamp corner to send Saints into the fourth round.
Saints made a rare journey east to face Salvasen of the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association Lothian West Division in their biggest test of the season so far. With Skipper Marc Maccallum calling off due to illness Paul Kerr took the armband and successfully lead his troops into the fifth round against the previously undefeated Edinburgh side. Saints were assured throughout dominating possession and looking solid at the back. Goals either side of the half time interval from Dean Smith and Ross Maitland saw Saints comfortably through to a much welcomed and eagerly anticipated home tie against Westdyce.
Team News
Saints returned to training on Wednesday evening with an enforced change to the normal routine due to Oban High School being closed for the holidays. After an hour of road work on the steep inclines around McCaig's Tower the boys repaired to Atlantis Leisure for some indoor football to blow away the cobwebs. With something approaching a full squad available for selection Manager Alex Craik faces some tough choices as he ponders his starting eleven for the biggest match of the season so far.Referee
Saturday's match official is highly respected Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League whistler Kevin Nolan. Kevin's efforts last season were rewarded when he was appointed as Referee for the Hampden Park show piece Scottish Amateur Cup Final between Colville Park and Leven United. Kevin was also in charge for Saints narrow West of Scotland Cup exit against Colville Park at Glencruitten last February. Kevin will hope to avoid a repeat of last year's unfortunate collision with Ross Maitland and Colville's Thomas Airlie which saw him leave Oban with the unwelcome souvenir of two cracked ribs.
Westdyce AFC fixtures so far this season:-
 |
| Westdyce AFC 2016 - 17 |
Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Division Two (East)
6th August 2016 Highland Hotel 1 - 7 Westdyce
10th August 2016 Lads Club Amateurs 1 - 3 Westdyce
15th August 2016 Westdyce 2 - 0 Torphins
3rd September 2016 Auchnagatt Barons 0 - 4 Westdyce
17th September 2016 Westdyce 2 - 1 Bridge of Don
Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Barclay Cook Cup
1st Round
13th August 2016 Westdyce 9 - 0 Grammar FP's
Quarter Final
20th August 2016 Aboyne 0 - 6 Westdyce
Semi Final
8th October 2016 Westdyce 2 - 3 Sheddocksley
1st Round
13th August 2016 Westdyce 9 - 0 Grammar FP's
Quarter Final
20th August 2016 Aboyne 0 - 6 Westdyce
Semi Final
8th October 2016 Westdyce 2 - 3 Sheddocksley
Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Dickie Trophy
1st Round
27th August 2016 Highland Hotel 2 - 5 Westdyce
2nd Round
29th October 2016 Westdyce 2 - 1 Faithlie United
Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Aberdeen F.C. Trophy
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
24th September 2016 McTeagle 0 - 6 Westdyce
3rd Round
17th December 2016 Alford 1 - 1 Westdyce - Westdyce win 7 - 6 on penalty kicks
North of Scotland Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
22nd October 2016 Cowie Thistle 6 - 1 Westdyce
Scottish Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
1st October 2016 Westdyce 2 - 1 Rattrays XI
3rd Round
19th November 2016 Westdyce 5 - 3 Firhill United
4th Round
3rd December 2016 Strathmiglo United 1 - 1 Westdyce
4th Round Replay
10th December 2016 Westdyce 2 - 0 Strathmiglo United
1st Round
27th August 2016 Highland Hotel 2 - 5 Westdyce
2nd Round
29th October 2016 Westdyce 2 - 1 Faithlie United
Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Aberdeen F.C. Trophy
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
24th September 2016 McTeagle 0 - 6 Westdyce
3rd Round
17th December 2016 Alford 1 - 1 Westdyce - Westdyce win 7 - 6 on penalty kicks
North of Scotland Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
22nd October 2016 Cowie Thistle 6 - 1 Westdyce
Scottish Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
1st October 2016 Westdyce 2 - 1 Rattrays XI
3rd Round
19th November 2016 Westdyce 5 - 3 Firhill United
4th Round
3rd December 2016 Strathmiglo United 1 - 1 Westdyce
4th Round Replay
10th December 2016 Westdyce 2 - 0 Strathmiglo United
 |
| Westdyce AFC celebrate their first silverware after thumping Grammar FP's 8 - 2 in the 2015-16 Barclay Cook Cup Final |
Oban Saints path to the Scottish Amateur Cup fifth round
1st Round
3rd September 2016 Finnart 1 - 3 Oban Saints
 |
| Donald Campbell beats Finnart's Brian Paton from the penalty spot to seal victory for Saints |
2nd Round
1st October 2016 Oban Saints v Bishopton - Walkover to Saints
3rd Round
5th November 2016 FC Clydebank 1 - 3 Oban Saints
 |
| Thomas McCulloch shows safe hands to collect a corner under pressure from FC Clydebank's Gavin Mcqueen |
4th Round
3rd December 2016 Salvesen 0 - 2 Oban Saints
 |
| Dean Smith opens the scoring against Salvesen |
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