Winning In The Rain: New Douglas Park Return

Saturday 15th April 2017
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition

Semi Final Tie
Colville Park AFC v Oban Saints AFC
The Superseal Stadium
New Douglas Park
Cadzow Avenue
Hamilton
ML3 0FT
Kick off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Ross Holms
Assistant Referee To be confirmed
Assistant Referee To be confirmed
Fourth Official To be confirmed

Ross Maitland celebrates his goal in last season's Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final against Leven United

On Saturday 15th April Saints will rack up 1600 Scottish Amateur Cup miles for the season when they travel to New Douglas Park home of good friends Hamilton Academical for their crunch semi-final tie with cup holders Colville Park. Saints Scottish Cup adventure has taken them to Glasgow, Bearsden, Tarbolton, Perth and Edinburgh twice where they have faced some formidable opposition. However the trip to Hamilton to cross swords with Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division top dogs Colville Park is by far the biggest test yet. Arguably currently the best amateur team in Scotland the reigning Central Premier Division Champions and Scottish Cup holders are well on the way to retaining their league crown and are also through to the West of Scotland Amateur Cup semi-finals where they will face Cambria of the Caledonian League.

Central Scottish Amateur Football League

Motherwell based Colville Park's bid for a fourth Central Amateur Football League Premier Division title in six years sees them currently top of the league with only last Saturday's goalless draw with Cambusnethan Talbot Community spoiling an otherwise 100% record from their first twelve games. Until recently Saints old friends East Kilbride looked capable of preventing Colville's relentless march to back to back league titles however with no wins in their last four games even that feint hope of a challenge looks to have faded.

East Kilbride did manage to eliminate Colville Park from the Bunrigh Trophy with Colville's only other defeat so far this season coming against Haldane United in the second round of the Cinema Cup. In the Central Scottish Amateur Football League's other cup competition, the McAvoy and McIntyre Trophy, Colville have an away quarter-finals tie against Eastfield.

Scottish Cup

Last season's Scottish Amateur Cup triumph earned Colville a place in the preliminary rounds of the Scottish Cup proper where they did the amateur game proud eliminating Edusport Academy of the South of Scotland League before losing out narrowly to Girvan Juniors in a match they reputedly deserved to take more from.

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

Colville's bid for a second West of Scotland Amateur Cup to add to their previous triumph in 2013 includes the notable scalps of Saints Scottish Amateur Football League colleagues St Joseph's FP and Colville's own league rivals East Kilbride. St Joe's were edged out by the odd goal in three in the fifth round with East Kilbride being the quarter-final victims. This ensured another visit to New Douglas Park for Colville where they will face Cambria on Friday 21st April.

Scottish Amateur Cup

Colville's defence of the Scottish Amateur Cup has seen them bang in thirty two goals and concede just four in their seven matches so far. Victims to date include league rivals Harestanes and Bannockburn, each of whom have three Scottish Amateur Cup triumphs to their name, Saints Scottish Amateur Football League colleagues Drumchapel Colts and Caledonian League high fliers Thorn Athletic.

Despite the size of the task ahead Saints can at least point to a good record against Colville. In four previous Scottish Amateur Cup encounters there has been two draws and a win a piece. In last season's West of Scotland Amateur Cup fifth round tie at Glencruitten the visitors edged a close match by two goals to one. Donald Campbell's successfully converted eighth minute penalty kick cancelled out James Miller's headed opener. However another header just before half-time, this time from Robbie Peebles restored the advantage for the visitors which they held onto despite a spirited second half display from Saints.

After forty plus years of competing in Scottish amateur football's blue riband event Saints once again stand within one match of an appearance in the final of the Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition. There is no doubting the strength of the opposition but with the agony of last season's semi-final defeat at the hands of Leven United still fresh in the player's minds Saints will need no motivating for the most important match in the club's fifty seven year history.

The massive Colville Park squad pictured prior to the 2016 Scottish Amateur Cup Final. Fortunately they are only allowed to field eleven of this talented bunch at any one time.

Colville Park results so far this season:-

Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

6th August 2016 Colville Park 5 - 1 Cambusnethan Talbot Community
17th August 2016 Colville Park 4 - 1 Eastfield
29th August 2016 Colville Park v Campsie Minerva (Walkover to Colville Park)
10th September 2016 Greenock HSFP 0 - 3 Colville Park
17th September 2016 Colville Park 10 - 0 Haldane United
8th October 2016 Campsie Minerva 0 - 5 Colville Park
29th October 2016 Bannockburn 0 - 3 Colville Park
12th November 2016 Harestanes 2 - 3 Colville Park
14th January 2017 Colville Park 4 - 1 Bannockburn
25th February 2017 Colville Park 1 - 0 St Patrick's FP
5th April 2017 Colville Park 3 - 1 East Kilbride
8th April 2017 Cambusnethan Talbot Community 0 - 0 Colville Park

Central Scottish Amateur Football League Bunrigh Trophy

1st Round
27th August 2016 Colville Park 0 - 3 East Kilbride

Central Scottish Amateur Football League Cinema Cup

1st Round
27th August 2016 Colville Park 0 - 3 East Kilbride

2nd Round
15th October 2016 Colville Park 1 - 2 Haldane United

Central Scottish Amateur Football League McAvoy & McIntyre Trophy

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
1st April 2017 Colville Park 1 - 0 BSC Glasgow

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
22nd October 2016 St David's 1 - 7 Colville Park

3rd Round
19th November 2016 Colville Park 5 - 1 Westerlands

4th Round
10th December 2016 Rannoch 0 - 4 Colville Park

5th Round
28th January 2017 Colville Park 2 - 1 St Joseph's FP

6th Round
18th February 2017 Wishaw HSFP v Colville Park (Walkover to Colville Park)

Quarter Final
18th March 2017 Colville Park 2 - 0 East Kilbride

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
1st October 2016 Colville Park 6 - 0 Gormac

3rd Round
5th November 2016 Harestanes 1 - 2 Colville Park

4th Round
2nd December 2016 Renfrew 0 - 4 Colville Park

5th Round
7th January 2017 Drumchapel Colts 0 - 6 Colville Park

6th Round
4th February 2017 Colville Park 5 - 1 Woodside

7th Round
4th March 2017 Colville Park 6 - 1 Thorn Athletic

Quarter Final
25th March 2017 Bannockburn 1 - 3 Colville Park

Scottish Cup

Preliminary Round
13th August 2016 Edusport Academy 2 - 2 Colville Park

Preliminary Round Replay
20th August 2016 Colville Park 1 - 0 Edusport Academy

Preliminary Round
3rd September 2016 Colville Park 0 - 1 Girvan Juniors

Colville Park's recent Central Scottish Amateur Football League finishes:-

2008/09 Premier Division 3rd
2009/10 Premier Division 3rd, West of Scotland Amateur Cup Runners Up, League Cup Winners
2010/11 Premier Division 5th
2011/12 Premier Division Champions, Scottish Amateur Cup Runners Up, West of Scotland Amateur Cup Runners Up
2012/13 Premier Division Champions (Undefeated), Scottish Amateur Cup Runners Up, West of Scotland Amateur Cup Winners, League Cup Winners
2013/14 Premier Division 3rd, Scottish Amateur Cup Runners Up, Cinema Cup Winners
2014/15 Premier Division 2nd, West of Scotland Amateur Cup Runners Up
2015/16 Premier Division Champions, Scottish Amateur Cup Winners

Oban Saints v Colville Park Previous Encounters:-

Scottish Amateur Cup

2006/07 Sixth Round
17th March 2007 Oban Saints 2 - 2 Colville Park

2006/07 Sixth Round Replay
24th March 2007 Colville Park 1 - 2 Oban Saints

2012/13 Seventh Round
2nd March 2013 Colville Park 2 - 2 Oban Saints

2102/13 Seventh Round Replay
9th March 2013 Oban Saints 1 - 3 Colville Park

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

2015/16 Fifth Round
13th February 2016 Oban Saints 1 - 2 Colville Park

Colville Park lift the 2016 Scottish Amateur Cup at Hampden Park

Saints passage to their second consecutive Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final has been an arduous one with the biggest hurdle yet to be overcome if they are to reach their first ever final.

Round One

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.

Round Two

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.

Round Three

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.

Round Four

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.

Round Five

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.

Round Six

Saints were back on the road again in round six with a trip to Burns Country to face Tarbolton of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier Division. The Oban lads were made to dig deep in very soggy underfoot conditions and battle their way through to the last sixteen. Hosts Tarbolton used the difficult conditions to their advantage to keep the tie hanging in the balance until the dying seconds. The match was played on an extremely soft and wet pitch which, by the end of the ninety minutes, bore close resemblance to a ploughed field and Referee Steven Nicholls was in two minds as to whether the surface was fit for play. Indeed, had it not been for some vigorous forking from the groundsman and the rain which had fallen steadily for days abating in time for kick off the match would surely have been postponed. Saints started well and had their hosts pinned back inside their own half from the first whistle. The breakthrough came after twelve minutes with Willie Gemmell claiming the assist. Craig MacEwan won a free-kick on the left which Gemmell swung into the packed penalty box. David McArthur got in between Blair Kennedy and Brandon Hendren and from eight yards out glanced Gemmell's delivery into the bottom corner of the net past Allan McKelvie's right hand. Saints reached the half time interval good value for their narrow lead but were pegged back inside the first minute of the second forty five. From the Saints kick off Craig MacEwan and Brian Mackay drove at the heart of the Tarbolton defence with the final ball from Brian just beyond Craig leaving Allan McKelvie an easy task to collect at the edge of his box. The wind assisted kick from hand from the keeper carried almost to the Saints eighteen yard line where David McArthur missed his header allowing Stephen Brodie to run in behind and lift the ball over Thomas McCulloch and into the net. The home side were using the strong wind to good advantage and Saints Gaffer Alex Craik made some tactical changes to counter the home sides aerial threat. Up front Saints more measured approach eventually bore fruit with Craig MacEwan and Donald Campbell linking up in the eighty first minute to create the opening which would lead to Saints second goal. MacEwan showed good strength to hold off Johnny Dunlop and hook the ball over his head for Campbell to run on to. Donald made his way into the box where his run was held up by Evan Armstrong. Donald turned and ran across the box drawing an injudicious challenge from Armstrong which sent Donald sprawling in the mud. Mr Nicholls had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot from where Craig MacEwan gave Saints the lead beating McKelvie's right hand tucking the ball neatly into the bottom corner. The relief among the Saints contingent was tangible however there was still plenty of time left for Tarbolton to try and force a second equaliser. Craig MacEwan had a shot just wide of target before Referee Nicholls announced four minutes of stoppage time. The added minutes gave the hosts some renewed hope however that was quickly snatched away from them when they conceded the second penalty kick of the afternoon. Donald Campbell sent the every willing Brian Mackay racing up the left wing and into the edge of the box where he was hauled down by the unfortunate Evan Armstrong. Craig MacEwan once again made no mistake from the penalty spot to finally calm the nerves on the sidelines and send Saints through to the last sixteen.

Round Seven

The seventh round took Saints to the Fair City to face Perthshire Amateur Football Association top dogs Letham. The reigning First Division Champions were unbeaten in twenty six matches in all competitions and looked well on course for a clean sweep of Perthshire silverware. The tie proved to be a thriller requiring 180 minutes to separate the two well matched teams with Saints eventually going through by the odd goal in nine. In a goalless first half at Seven Acres Park Saints squandered two gilt edged chances to open scoring but had stand in goalkeeper Graham Douglas to thank for a stunning save from a spectacular Sean Ferrie overhead kick. The Letham Skipper however was not to be denied and opened the scoring for the home team nodding home from close range from a fifty eighth minute corner. In an already high tempo match Saints had to find an extra gear to get themselves back into the match. Craig MacEwan hit the post with header before Letham goalkeeper Steven McEwan produced two fine saves to deny Willie Gemmell. With just five minutes remaining Saints were awarded a penalty kick when second half substitute Daniel Mathew handled in the box. Craig MacEwan levelled from the spot to set up a tense closing period. The pace remained relentless with both sides trying to force a last gasp winner. Mr Taylor, who had an excellent game, allowed an additional four minutes which had nerves jangling on the side lines. Letham launched a series of long balls into the Saints box which were repelled finally setting up a ninety fourth minute breakaway lead by Brian Mackay. Brian nipped in front of Gavin Anderson to intercept a long throw on the Saints eighteen yard line and raced to the half way line. Faced by Michael Rylance Brian sprayed a diagonal pass to David McArthur who carried the ball to edge of the Letham penalty area electing not to shoot but to play in Dean Smith. The Saints bench willed the net to bulge alas Letham keeper McEwan spread himself well to stop Dean's left foot shot from nine yards much to the relief of his team mates and the majority of the massive crowd.

The replay at Glencruitten was equally as exciting with Saints taking the lead in the second minute through Paul Carmichael and then missing an opportunity from the penalty spot to make it two when Craig MacEwan fired wide of the junction of post and bar after Brian Mackay had been brought down by Sean Ferrie. A calamitous five minute period from Saints completely undone their own good start and handed the initiative firmly to the visitors. A long throw from the left from Alan Cunningham bounced across the Saints box where Willie Gemmell inexplicably threw out an arm to control the ball giving Mr Gilchrist an easy decision to award a penalty kick to Letham. The chance to bring his team back into the match was grabbed with both hands by William Carle who succeeded where Craig MacEwan had failed in finding the postage stamp corner. Two minutes later Saints again failed to deal with the long throw-in allowing the ball to bounce in the box with Aaron Galletly nipping in at the near post to bundle home from six yards and turn the scoreline on it's head. Things turned from bad to worse in the twenty seventh minute when Saints were carved open down their right hand side once again. Dale Smart turned the ball across the face of goal for strike partner William Carle to knock past the hopelessly exposed Thomas McCulloch leaving Saints a mountain to climb to get back into a game which they had been firmly in control of just five minutes earlier. Saints reached base camp in the thirty second minute with a trademark Willie Gemmell free kick. Aaron Galletly fouled Donald Campbell twenty eight yards from goal and slightly left of centre. Willie who had drawn two good saves low down to his right from Steven McEwan from similar positions in the first match decided to go up and over the wall on this occasion. In classic Beckhamesque style Willie curled the ball over the three man wall and into the bottom corner to bring Saints roaring back into the game. Saints assent of the mountain reached a crucial stage five minutes before the interval. Scott Maitland made good ground on the Saints left and rolled a pass up to Craig MacEwan who quickly sent Brian Mackay spinning in behind Gavin Smith and into the box. Benn Blyth came across to block Brian's progress with the Saints man forced to turn the ball back to Scott Maitland. Scott fed Donald Campbell in space ten yards out from where Donald curled a delicious finish into the bottom corner past Steven McEwan's left hand.The topsy turvy first half ended all square with Saints definitely the happier of the two teams to have clawed their way back into a game which had threatened to run away from them.

The second half was an entirely different proposition with Saints dominating almost entirely limiting their opponents to occasional counter attacks. However, despite their domination, Saints were unable to turn their superiority into goals with a mixture of poor finishing and good goal keeping ensuring the tie remained in the balance until the closing minutes. With six minutes of the ninety remaining and extra time looking a distinct possibility Saints finally reached the summit of the mountain they had given themselves to climb. Donald Campbell made a surging run into the box holding off the close attentions of Michael Rylance to reach the bye-line. Donald's cut back was frustratingly just behind Paul Carmichael on the six yard line however Paul Kerr was on hand to rifle the ball home from eight yards beating Steven McEwan low down at his near post.

Quarter-Final

Saints Gaffer Alex Craik celebrated his XX (removed on legal advice) birthday by guiding his side into their second consecutive Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final overcoming Barca-Milton 97 at the Jewel, Edinburgh. Definitely not the "Jewel In The Crown" of Edinburgh's playing surfaces, the Jewel was a tight, bumpy pitch with long grass and well worthy of the old "the pitch was a leveller" tag. In front of a crowd of approximately 150 spectators, including a good number of Saints fans, Barca-Milton and Saints served up an entertaining cup tie on a challenging surface with Saints eventually running out deserved winners. Barca-Milton keeper Neil McArthur made three excellent first half saves to keep out Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan with his forty third minute flying effort to deny Craig being the pick of the bunch.

Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association Championship title hopefuls Barca-Milton battled manfully but finally had their defences breached in the fifty fifth minute. Donald Campbell pounced on a moment of hesitation in the home defence who appealed in vain for an offside flag but Assistant Referee Joseph Fox correctly kept his flag by his side. Donald once again saw his shot saved by Neil McArthur however the keeper's luck ran out when Donald gathered the rebound and rolled it into the net despite the efforts of Steven Adams on the goal-line.

With the home side committing more men to attack Saints Gaffer Alex Craik introduced Dean Smith to the action replacing Paul Carmichael. Dean's fresh legs gave the tiring Barca-Milton defence a new problem with his perseverance playing a vital part in the second goal. By now in the ninety third minute Smith and MacEwan had the ball by the corner flag once again and worked their way into the Barca-Milton box. A Steven Adams attempted clearance was charged down by Smith breaking kindly for MacEwan who, from the corner of the six yard box, drilled a right foot shot past Neil McArthur and into the bottom corner to finally kill the tie.