Saturday 3rd December 2016
Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Fourth Round
Salvesen FC v Oban Saints AFC
Forrester High School 3G
212 Broomhouse Road
Edinburgh
EH12 9AE
Kick Off 1pm
Referee Mr James Jamieson
Regrettably the slight thaw in the weather conditions arrived too late to save Oban Saints scheduled trip to Port Glasgow last Saturday. A Friday afternoon pitch inspection found the grass park at Parklea Playing Fields to be frozen ruling out any chance of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy second round match between hosts Port Glasgow Old Boy's Union and cup holders Saints going ahead. This second consecutive enforced lay-off is far from ideal preparation in the build up to Saints biggest fixture of the season so far. The lead up to the Christmas and New Year break sees the Scottish Amateur Cup reach the fourth round stage where Saints will venture forth to a very much in form Salvesen of the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association Lothian West Division.
The latest stage of Saints bid to go one better than last season's extra time semi-final defeat to Leven United takes them to Edinburgh's west end this Saturday afternoon to face undefeated Salvesen. Playing their home matches at Forrester High School close to Sighthill Public Park, Salvesen are currently on a sixteen match winning streak in all competitions racking up seventy five goals in the process. Their impressive run has taken them to the fourth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup where they will face Saints and also to the last sixteen of the East of Scotland Cup where they have a home tie against Stirling and District Premier Division leaders Callander Thistle. Following a successful spell in the Sunday morning leagues Salvesen joined the Lothian and Edinburgh Saturday section in 2015 immediately winning promotion from the Edinburgh West Division to the Lothian West Division. Currently occupying second place three points behind Shotts Thistle, Salvesen have two games in hand over the league leaders whom they have already beaten in the league and Logan Cup and knocked out of the Scottish Amateur Cup at the second round stage.
Saints recent away form has been patchy to say the least and a marked improvement will be required if they are to successfully negotiate this substantial fourth round hurdle. In a bid to get some much need game time ahead of Saturday's crunch fixture Saints tried to arrange a friendly match against West of Scotland Amateur Football League Premier Division new boys South Lochaber Thistle. The match was due to take place at Kinlochleven High School on Wednesday evening however a shortage of players forced Lochaber Thistle to call off once again leaving Saints frustrated. Work and family commitments will once again affect Manager Alex Craik's selection options as he plots to extend his team's involvement in the nation's blue ribband event beyond the Christmas and New Year break. On a brighter note the Gaffer will at last be able to call upon fit again Martin Bonar for the first time since he injured his heel in a pre-season friendly against St Anthony's.
Salvesen results so far this season:-
Lothian and Edinburgh AFA Lothian West Division
13th August 2016 Balerno Athletic 0 - 1 Salvesen
15th August 2016 Salvesen 8 - 1 Bathgate Thistle
20th August 2016 Bank of Scotland Strollers 0 - 6 Salvesen
22nd August 2016 Craigroyston 1 - 5 Salvesen
27th August 2016 Salvesen 7 - 0 Edinburgh Harps
10th September 2016 North Merchiston Vale 0 - 4 Salvesen
12th November 2016 Salvesen 2 - 1 Shotts Thistle
1st Round
3rd September 2016 Salvesen 1 - 1 Shotts Thistle
Salvesen win 8 - 7 on penalty kicks
2nd Round
29th October 2016 Edinburgh Harps 3 - 5 Salvesen
1st Round
8th October 2016 Salvesen 2 - 0 Sandys
Lothian and Edinburgh AFA McDonald Cup
1st Round
22nd October 2016 Salvesen 4 - 3 Bank of Scotland Strollers
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
1st October 2016 Salvesen 4 - 1 Shotts Thistle
5th November 2016 AS Airdrie 3 - 8 Salvesen
East of Scotland Amateur Cup
1st Round
24th September 2016 Salvesen 12 - 0 Lauriston Thistle
2nd Round
15th October 2016 Salvesen 2 - 1 Dunblane Thistle
19th November 2016 Salvesen 4 - 1 Pennies
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| Salvesen FC |
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| Long term injury victim Martin Bonar is anticipated to be included in the squad for Saturday's visit to Salvesen |
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