Saturday 4th February 2017
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
6th Round Tie
Tarbolton AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Tarbolton Public Park
Park Road
Montgomerie Street
Tarbolton
Mauchline
KA5 5QA
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Steven Nicholls
Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League
6th August 2016 Clark Drive 3 - 0 Tarbolton
8th August 2016 Carrick 1 - 0 Tarbolton
13th August 2016 Tarbolton 0 - 4 Dirrans Athletic
17th August 2016 Shortlees 5 - 2 Tarbolton
22nd August 2016 Tarbolton 2 - 7 Galston United
10th September 2016 Dirrans Athletic 5 - 0 Tarbolton
8th October 2016 West Kilbride 2 - 2 Tarbolton
15th October 2016 Tarbolton 1 - 5 Kilbride Thistle
10th December 2016 Tarbolton 2 - 2 Clark Drive
14th January 2017 Tarbolton 4 - 2 Winlinton Wolves
21st January 2017 Galston 1 - 1 Tarbolton
28th January 2017 Tarbolton 2 - 3 Carrick
Tarbolton AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Tarbolton Public Park
Park Road
Montgomerie Street
Tarbolton
Mauchline
KA5 5QA
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Steven Nicholls
This Saturday the latest leg of this season's Scottish Amateur Cup adventure takes Oban Saints to Ayrshire to face Tarbolton of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier Division. So far the journey, which Saints hope will terminate at Hampden Park in May, has taken in stops at Glasgow Green, Bearsden, Edinburgh and their own Glencruitten Park but this latest installment has the potential to be the biggest test so far.
Saturday's opponents, who play their home fixtures at Tarbolton Public Park, currently occupy ninth place in the highly competitive Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League. The premier division in Ayrshire is one of the top amateur leagues in Scotland and among it's ranks boasts two time Scottish Amateur Cup winners Hurlford Thistle and current West of Scotland Amateur Cup holders Shortlees. It's clubs also provide the backbone of the Ayrshire Select Squad which currently holds the prestigious inter-league trophy.
This season's league campaign started badly for Tarbolton with an away defeat at Clark Drive and the misery continued for a further five matches before they finally put their first point on the board in their seventh match after a 2 - 2 draw at West Kilbride. Things eventually looked to have clicked into gear for Tarbolton when they bagged their first maximum points of the season with a 4 - 2 home win over Winlinton Wolves on 14th January, however only one point from their next two fixtures leaves them currently in ninth place with nine points from twelve matches and trailing undefeated leaders Glenburn Miners Welfare by a massive thirty points.
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.
The fifth round draw provided Saints with their first home cup tie of the season and just their fourth home match in all competitions. Opponents Westdyce of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Divison Two East were making their first ever trip west in Scottish amateur football's most prestigious competition and their first appearance at the fifth round stage. Things started well for the visitors when a clumsy challenge from Dene Cassells gave them a sixth minute penalty kick which Skipper Callum Mackay successfully converted. Despite dominating possession it took Saints ten minutes to get back on level terms and a further quarter of an hour before they eventually got their noses in front with both goals coming from Brian Mackay. Westdyce remained solid at the start of the second half but a sweet curling finish from Ross Maitland just before the hour mark finally broke their resilience. A near post Craig MacEwan header from a Ross Maitland corner five minutes later and a typical piece of individual brilliance from second half substitute Donald Campbell rounded off the scoring sending Saints through to the last thirty two.
Tarbolton AFC recent Ayrshire Amateur Football Association league finishes:-
2009-10 First Division 8th
2010-11 First Division 7th
Tarbolton AFC fixtures so far this season:-
Saturday's opponents, who play their home fixtures at Tarbolton Public Park, currently occupy ninth place in the highly competitive Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League. The premier division in Ayrshire is one of the top amateur leagues in Scotland and among it's ranks boasts two time Scottish Amateur Cup winners Hurlford Thistle and current West of Scotland Amateur Cup holders Shortlees. It's clubs also provide the backbone of the Ayrshire Select Squad which currently holds the prestigious inter-league trophy.
Promotion
Runners-up spot in the 2012-13 First Division was enough to earn Tarbolton promotion to the Premier League where they consolidated their position with back to back third place finishes in their first two seasons. Last season's eighth place was a creditable finish in a league where no team could live with Champions Hurlford Thistle on a relentless march towards their seventh consecutive Premier League title.This season's league campaign started badly for Tarbolton with an away defeat at Clark Drive and the misery continued for a further five matches before they finally put their first point on the board in their seventh match after a 2 - 2 draw at West Kilbride. Things eventually looked to have clicked into gear for Tarbolton when they bagged their first maximum points of the season with a 4 - 2 home win over Winlinton Wolves on 14th January, however only one point from their next two fixtures leaves them currently in ninth place with nine points from twelve matches and trailing undefeated leaders Glenburn Miners Welfare by a massive thirty points.
Cup
Tarbolton have so far reserved by far their best form for the Scottish Amateur Cup getting their campaign underway with an emphatic second round 11 - 0 home win over Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Division 1C basement boys Gartcairn. A high scoring home draw with Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Division One East title challengers Alford meant a third round replay in the chilly North East which they successfully negotiated returning home victorious by the odd goal in three. The fourth round draw did Tarbolton no favours sending them straight back up the A90 to face Dyce ITC Hydraulics. The long journey north had no detrimental effect on the Ayrshire men and they progressed to the fifth round courtesy of a 4 - 2 victory. After consecutive long distance trips Tarbolton's prayers for something a little closer to home in the fifth round were answered however an away tie at fellow Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League side Dirrans Athletic would certainly not have been their number one choice. The men from Kilwinning had already inflicted home and away defeats on Tarbolton banging in nine goals without reply but the league encounters provided no indication of how the cup tie would pan out. A convincing 4 - 0 away win for Tarbolton not only sealed their place in the sixth round but looks finally to have ignited an otherwise faltering season.Familiar Territory
The sixth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup is, of course, familiar territory for Saints who 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.
The fifth round draw provided Saints with their first home cup tie of the season and just their fourth home match in all competitions. Opponents Westdyce of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Divison Two East were making their first ever trip west in Scottish amateur football's most prestigious competition and their first appearance at the fifth round stage. Things started well for the visitors when a clumsy challenge from Dene Cassells gave them a sixth minute penalty kick which Skipper Callum Mackay successfully converted. Despite dominating possession it took Saints ten minutes to get back on level terms and a further quarter of an hour before they eventually got their noses in front with both goals coming from Brian Mackay. Westdyce remained solid at the start of the second half but a sweet curling finish from Ross Maitland just before the hour mark finally broke their resilience. A near post Craig MacEwan header from a Ross Maitland corner five minutes later and a typical piece of individual brilliance from second half substitute Donald Campbell rounded off the scoring sending Saints through to the last thirty two.
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| Tarbolton AFC |
Tarbolton AFC recent Ayrshire Amateur Football Association league finishes:-
2009-10 First Division 8th
2010-11 First Division 7th
2011-12 First Division 5th
2012-13 First Division 2nd Promoted
2013-14 Premier League 3rd
2014-15 Premier League 3rd
2014-15 Premier League 3rd
2015-16 Premier League 8th
Tarbolton AFC fixtures so far this season:-
Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League
6th August 2016 Clark Drive 3 - 0 Tarbolton
8th August 2016 Carrick 1 - 0 Tarbolton
13th August 2016 Tarbolton 0 - 4 Dirrans Athletic
17th August 2016 Shortlees 5 - 2 Tarbolton
22nd August 2016 Tarbolton 2 - 7 Galston United
10th September 2016 Dirrans Athletic 5 - 0 Tarbolton
8th October 2016 West Kilbride 2 - 2 Tarbolton
15th October 2016 Tarbolton 1 - 5 Kilbride Thistle
10th December 2016 Tarbolton 2 - 2 Clark Drive
14th January 2017 Tarbolton 4 - 2 Winlinton Wolves
21st January 2017 Galston 1 - 1 Tarbolton
28th January 2017 Tarbolton 2 - 3 Carrick
Ayrshire Cup
1st Round
27th August 2016 Beith 2 - 3 Tarbolton (After Extra Time)
2nd Round
3rd September 2016 Tarbolton 6 - 1 Symington Caledonian
3rd Round
29th October 2016 Shortlees 8 - 0 Tarbolton
1st Round
27th August 2016 Beith 2 - 3 Tarbolton (After Extra Time)
2nd Round
3rd September 2016 Tarbolton 6 - 1 Symington Caledonian
3rd Round
29th October 2016 Shortlees 8 - 0 Tarbolton
Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Thistle Bar Trophy
1st Round
24th September 2016 Tarbolton 2 - 3 Cumnock
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
1st Round
17th September 2016 Tarbolton v Anniesland (Walkover to Anniesland)
Scottish Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
1st October 2016 Tarbolton 11 - 0 Gartcairn
3rd Round
5th November 2016 Tarbolton 3 - 3 Alford
3rd Round Replay
12th November 2016 Alford 1 - 2 Tarbolton
4th Round
3rd December 2016 Dyce ITC Hydraulics 2 - 4 Tarbolton
5th Round
7th January 2017 Dirrans Athletic 0 - 4 Tarbolton
1st Round
24th September 2016 Tarbolton 2 - 3 Cumnock
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
1st Round
17th September 2016 Tarbolton v Anniesland (Walkover to Anniesland)
Scottish Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
1st October 2016 Tarbolton 11 - 0 Gartcairn
3rd Round
5th November 2016 Tarbolton 3 - 3 Alford
3rd Round Replay
12th November 2016 Alford 1 - 2 Tarbolton
4th Round
3rd December 2016 Dyce ITC Hydraulics 2 - 4 Tarbolton
5th Round
7th January 2017 Dirrans Athletic 0 - 4 Tarbolton
Oban Saints path to the Scottish Amateur Cup fifth round
1st Round
3rd September 2016 Finnart 1 - 3 Oban Saints
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| 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
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| 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
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| Dean Smith opens the scoring against Salvesen |
5th Round
8th January 2017 Oban Saints 5 - 1 Westdyce
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| Brian Mackay nets the first of his two goals to bring Saints level against Westdyce |
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