'Well Come Back

Saturday 19th August 2017
VSN Sport Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Motherwell Thistle AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

This Saturday Saints welcome Motherwell Thistle back to Glencruitten where they will hope for a better result than last season's narrow defeat at the hands of the South Lanarkshire men.
The Jags inflicted a 3 - 2 reverse on Saints last April and were one of just two sides to come away from Oban with a result during the 2016 - 17 season.
Saints took an early lead when Donald Campbell's chipped left foot cross from just short of the bye-line took a deflection off William McMaster which sent it spinning away from the despairing dive of Paul Aiton in the Thistle goal.
Saints good early work was undone in the thirteenth minute when, seemingly under no pressure, goalkeeper Thomas McCulloch misplaced a hurried pass from the edge of his box straight to the feet of Thistle striker Mark Begg who gleefully curled the ball past Thomas and into the empty net.
The visitors capitalised on a bizarre free-kick award by Referee Dickinson on the right touchline midway inside the Saints half. Still complaining about the decision Saints missed several chances to clear with Colin Gillies eventually forcing his way into the box via a lucky break off Dene Cassells. With only the keeper to beat Gillies curled a delightful left foot finish past Thomas McCulloch's right hand and into the net to give Thistle a thirty sixth minute lead.
Thistle extended their advantage seven minutes into the second half. Paul Aiton quickly launched a ball upfield where Christopher McEwan beat David McArthur rather too easily on the corner of the Saints eighteen yard box. McEwan made for the bye-line pursued by McArthur and cut back for the unmarked Mark Begg whose good left foot finish made it 3 - 1 for the visitors.
Saints forced their way back into the match in the sixty fifth minute when Matthew Kelly and Dean Smith linked up to create an opening for Paul Carmichael. Matthew closed down and dispossessed second half substitute Daniel Young on the half-way line and raced forward on the right. Matthew picked out Dean Smith's run into the box but the retreating Thistle defence prevented Dean from getting a shot away. Instead he found Paul Carmichael eight yards out who turned and lashed a right foot shot into the postage stamp corner giving Paul Aiton in the Thistle goal no chance.
Despite enjoying the majority of possession Saints were unable to unlock the stubborn Thistle defence again and succumbed to a second home defeat of the season effectively ruling them out of the Premier Division title race.
The win helped Thistle to a sixth place finish in their Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division debut season confirming their place in the top flight for another term. A solid start to life in the top flight also saw the South Lanarkshire men reach the quarter-finals of the Jimmy Marshall Trophy and the semi-finals of the Centenary Cup.

Thistle have hit the ground running this season opening their 2017 - 18 campaign with convincing Centenary Cup wins over Kings Park Rangers and Duncanrig FP meaning that they need only avoid defeat in the their final group game against Busby to progress as Group Section South 2 winners. The Jags will look to continue their excellent start to the new season with another victory at Glencruitten this Saturday.

Following last week's opening day defeat at the hands of newly promoted Hillington, a win is also high on the priority list for Saints. Manager Alex Craik has his fingers crossed for some encouraging news on the injury front which will hopefully see a few experienced faces return to the squad for this important fixture. An exciting afternoon's viewing is therefore in prospect as the Saints home faithful catch their first glimpse of their favourites in competitive action.

Motherwell Thistle

Motherwell Thistle AFC fixtures so far this season:-

SAFL Centenary Cup

1st Round Group Section South 2
12th August 2017 Motherwell Thistle 3 - 1 Kings Park Rangers

15th August 2017 Duncanrig FP 0 - 5 Motherwell Thistle

Motherwell Thistle's recent SAFL record:-

2013-14 Division 1B Champions (Promoted)

2014-15 Premier Division Two 5th (Promoted)

2015-16 Premier Division One 3rd (Promoted)
2016-17 Premier Division 6th

Action from Motherwell Thistle's visit to Glencruitten last season

Team Captains Stuart Hunter and Marc Maccallum with Referee Matthew Dickinson

    

Ross Maitland

   

Jamie Graham

Brian Mackay and David Knight

Saaf El Zubaidi and Myles McAuley

Colin Gillies smiles and waves for the camera

Donald Campbell's deflected cross gives Saints an early lead

Donald Campbell beats Christopher McEwan in the air

Paul Aiton makes an excellent save to deny Donald Campbell

Dene Cassells beats Antony Mitchell in the air

Myles McAuley and William McMaster

Matthew Kelly

Paul Carmichael nets Saints second goal

Paul Carmichael

Dean Smith

Stuart Hunter keeps his eyes on the ball

Martin Bonar and Gary Tomlinson

Dean Smith beats Daniel Young but finds Paul Carmichael in an offside position

Donald Campbell has his path to goal blocked by Daniel Young

Paul Aiton shows good handling under pressure

In Other News

Saints have been drawn at home in both of the major cup competitions. In the Scottish Amateur Cup first round Saints will host Mauchline United of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association First Division. The tie is scheduled for Saturday 2nd September.

In the West of Scotland Amateur Cup Saints received a first round bye and received a home draw in round two against Cambusnethan Talbot Community of the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Championship A. This tie is scheduled for Saturday 16th September.

#monthesaints