Saturday 21st January 2017
Scottish Amateur Football League
Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Second Round Tie
Port Glasgow Old Boys Union AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Parklea Playing Fields
Greenock Road
Port Glasgow
PA14 6TR
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Jim McNeil
This Saturday Saints begin their defence of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy secured at Millburn Park, Alexandria last May in an absorbing 2 - 1 final win over then holders St Joseph's FP. This season's campaign kicks off with an away tie against one of the stalwarts of the Scottish Amateur Football League Port Glasgow Old Boy's Union AFC. Port Glasgow OBU celebrated their 110th anniversary this year which is a fantastic achievement, particularly in the current climate of long established clubs having to fold. True to their motto, Port Glasgow OBU have remained Sure and Steadfast throughout their history and have a long and happy association with the Scottish Amateur Football League. OBU have admirably chosen not to follow the well worn path to other leagues taken by many long standing SAFL member clubs including close neighbours Greenock High School Former Pupils and Gourock Athletic, electing instead to stay with the Scottish Amateur Football League and battle on in search of that elusive promotion to the Premier Division.
OBU's last Scottish Amateur Football League honour was the 1996 - 97 Premier Division Two title and any hopes of adding this season's Premier Division 2A title to their list of honours have already been extinguished after a faltering run of two draws and six defeats from their opening eight matches which leaves them in ninth place trailing league leaders Rossvale Amateurs by twenty four points. Encouragingly for OBU their best performances of the season so far have come against the league leaders holding them to a 2 -2 draw at Bishopbriggs on the opening day of the league season and losing out by the odd goal in five at Parklea nine weeks ago. However since that narrow home defeat in November OBU have dropped a further six home points against Houston and Millbeg Villa leaving them now in a no less exciting battle to avoid finishing bottom of Premier Division 2A.
After a bright start in the Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup group sections which saw them win three out four matches losing out only to Premier Division Goldenhill, OBU have unfortunately found the going in the major cup competitions to be extremely tough. A second round Scottish Amateur Cup home defeat to reigning Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions East Kilbride FC Amateurs was quickly followed by an eleven goal hammering in the West of Scotland Amateur Cup at Kilbirnie of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association First Division.
Saints and Port Glasgow OBU have met many times over the past forty or so years with the most recent encounters coming in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy. Saints came out on top in the 2007 quarter finals tie at Glencruitten before eventually finishing as runners-up to Pollock. Saints repeated the feat in the 2012 first round en-route to another cup final defeat this time at the hands of Hillington.
With the tie have twice previously fallen victim to the weather and further fixture disruption a distinct possibility Saints will be desperate for this week's good weather to continue into the weekend to allow the tie to proceed. The tie must be decided on the day with penalty kicks to decide who progresses if the sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes. Awaiting the winner of Saturday's second round match is an away tie against Arkleston or Shawlands FP. If Saints can successfully negotiate those hurdles they will end a run of eight consecutive away or neutral venue Jimmy Marshall Trophy ties with a home quarter final tie against Port Glasgow. However OBU will relish the chance to do battle with the trophy holders on home soil and Saints know they are in for a potentially tricky afternoon at Parklea.
Port Glasgow OBU results so far this season:-
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division 2a
17th August 2016 Rossvale 2 - 2 Port Glasgow OBU
3rd September 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 4 - 6 Broomhill
15th October 2016 East Kilbride YMCA 3 - 2 Port Glasgow OBU
29th October 2016 Houston 1 - 0 Port Glasgow OBU
5th November 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 4 - 4 Castlemilk
19th November 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 2 - 3 Rossvale
7th January 2017 Port Glasgow OBU 0 - 3 Houston
14th January 2017 Port Glasgow OBU 1 - 2 Millbeg Villa
Scottish Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
8th October 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 1 - 4 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
22nd October 2016 Kilbirnie AFC 11 - 0 Port Glasgow OBU
Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup
Group Section 3
13th August 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 3 - 2 Milton of Colquhoun
22nd August 2016 Port Glasgow OBU 2 - 1 Port Glasgow
24th August 2016 Goldenhill 7 - 0 Port Glasgow OBU
27th August 2016 FC Argyle 0 - 2 Port Glasgow OBU
Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy
1st Round
Bye
Port Glasgow OBU recent Scottish Amateur Football League finishes:-
2006 - 07 Premier Division One 10th Relegated
2007 - 08 Premier Division Two 7th
2008 - 09 Premier Division Two 5th
2009 - 10 Premier Division Two 6th
2010 - 11 Premier Division Two 5th2011 - 12 Premier Division Two 8th
2012 - 13 Premier Division Two 9th Relegated
2013 - 14 Division 1B 2nd Promoted
2014 - 15 Division 1A 4th Promoted
2015 - 16 Premier Division Two 8th
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| Port Glasgow Old Boys Union AFC Victoria Cup Winners 2014 |
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| Oban Saints AFC Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners 2016 |
In Other News
In last Friday's Scottish Amateur Cup sixth round draw Saints were handed another extremely difficult away tie against Tarbolton Amateurs of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier Division. The last thirty two tie is scheduled for Saturday 4th February.
In Other Other News
Saints full back Scott Maitland demonstrated his commitment to his club and the national cause last weekend by covering upwards of 400 road miles for Saints Argyll Derby win over Campbeltown Pupils and the national select trial match at Dalziel Park, Motherwell. Scott was one of thirty two players involved in the trial match as National Select Manager Bruce McNaught and his team step up their preparations for the annual Graham Harkness Memorial Trophy match against Leinster Senior League in Dublin on 31st March.
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