Winning In The Rain: Long Road

Electric Light Orchestra - Long Black Road

Saturday 14th January 2017
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Campbeltown Pupils AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Kinloch Green 3G
Kinloch Road
Campbeltown
Argyll
PA28 6EG
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

Long Road

After last weekend's exploits in securing a place in the Scottish Amateur Cup sixth round draw, Saints return to league business this Saturday taking the long road to Kintyre Park to face old rivals Campbeltown Pupils. While Saints were easing past Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Division Two East outfit Westdyce their Argyll rivals Pupils were on league duty against Shawlands FP where they notched up their second league win of the season to lift themselves off the foot of the table and into eighth place above Drumchapel Amateurs Colts and Inverclyde. After preserving their Premier Division status with a thrilling last day of the season win over Saints on Sunday 5th June 2106, a much weakened Pupils made a dismal start to their 2016 - 17 campaign with a record 10 - 0 reverse against Saints at Glencruitten. A much welcomed free weekend allowed the Pupils to regroup and record an excellent 1 - 1 draw in their next fixture away at reigning Champions East Kilbride FC Amateurs. A home win against newly promoted Premier Division One Champions Drumchapel Amateurs Colts completed the turnaround in fortunes before a run of just one point from the next four fixtures left Pupils rooted to the bottom of the table.

Understandably concentrating on their league fixtures Pupils featured only briefly in this season's major cup competitions losing their only West of Scotland Cup match away at Paisley and District Amateur Football Association Premier Division high fliers Fordbank Star. An encouraging start to the Scottish Amateur Cup campaign with a second round away win at Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Division Three side Broomlands was promptly ended when they unfortunately had to scratch from the third round tie away at reigning Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions Blochairn Star.

Last weekend's league win against Shawlands FP, who themselves had notched consecutive wins against Goldenhill and Ferguslie Star, will be a major confidence booster for Pupils and just what the Doctor ordered ahead of the Argyll Derby meeting with Saints. While the stakes for this Saturday's fixture are somewhat lower than last season's win or bust last day thriller there still remains three valuable Premier Division points as well as local bragging rights up for grabs. Pupils will be desperate to avenge the humiliating 10 - 0 defeat inflicted on them at Glencruitten in August just as Saints desperately need points to keep pace in what is developing into a fascinating tussle for this season's Premier Division title.

Campbeltown Pupils Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Two Champions 2012 - 13

Campbeltown Pupils results this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

13th August 2016 Oban Saints 10 - 0 Campbeltown Pupils
27th August 2016 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 1 - 1 Campbeltown Pupils
3rd September 2016 Campbeltown Pupils 3 - 2 Drumchapel Amateurs Colts
17th September 2016 Campbeltown Pupils 4 - 6 St Joseph's FP
15th October 2016 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 2 Ferguslie Star
26th November 2016 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 3 Goldenhill
3rd December 2016 Motherwell Thistle 3 - 2 Campbeltown Pupils
7th January 2017 Campbeltown Pupils 3 - 1 Shawlands FP

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round

8th October 2016 Broomlands 2 - 3 Campbeltown Pupils

3rd Round

5th November 2016 Blochairn Star v Campbeltown Pupils Walkover to Blochairn Star

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

22nd October 2016 Fordbank Star 3 - 2 Campbeltown Pupils

Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

Inverclyde v Campbeltown Pupils

Campbeltown Pupils' recent record in the SAFL:-

2015/16 Premier Division 8th
2014/15 Premier Division 7th
2013/14 Premier Division One Champions Promoted
2012/13 Premier Division Two Champions Promoted
2011/12 Premier Division Two 4th
2010/11 Premier Division One 9th Relegated
2009/10 Premier Division One 7th
2008/09 Premier Division 10th Relegated
2007/08 Premier Division One 3rd Promoted
2006/07 Premier Division One 5th

Saints v Pupils in recent seasons:-

2008/09 SAFL Premier Division

16th August 2008 Oban Saints 2 - 1 Campbeltown Pupils

20th May 2009 Campbeltown Pupils 3 - 2 Oban Saints

2014/15 SAFL Premier Division

13th September 2014 Campbeltown Pupils 0 - 1 Oban Saints

30th May 2015 Oban Saints 2 - 1 Campbeltown Pupils

2015/16 SAFL Premier Division

7th Novemember 2015 Oban Saints 2 - 0 Campbeltown Pupils
5th June 2016 Campbeltown Pupils 2 - 1 Oban Saints

2016/17 SAFL Premier Division

13th August 2016 Oban Saints 10 - 0 Campbeltown Pupils