Saturday 9th December 2017
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Fourth Round Replay
Oban Saints v Greenock High School Former Pupils
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
PA34 4EH
Kick off 1.30pm
Referee Mr Peter Laing
Following last Saturday's "Desmond" at Battery Park, Greenock Saints and Greenock High School Former Pupils will try again this Saturday at Glencruitten to decide who will advance to the fifth round of the Scottish Amateur Cup. That is, of course, if the winter weather doesn't intervene which, at the time of writing looks a distinct possibility.
Saints and the High enjoy a healthy rivalry having crossed swords on many occasions over the years since Saints gained entry to the Scottish Amateur Football League in 1976. At that time the High, who last month held their 110th anniversary celebrations, had already been members of Scotland's oldest surviving amateur football league for 52 years. During that golden period the High clinched four Division One titles, three West of Scotland Cups and two Scottish Amateur Cups to cement their place as one of Scotland's top amateur clubs.
The High continued to gather trophies and in 2007 fittingly celebrated their centenary year by clinching their first Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division title. That league title success proved to be the High's final piece of Scottish Amateur Football League silverware before departing for a fresh challenge in the Central Scottish Amateur Football League in 2011 after finishing runners-up to Champions Saints the season before.
Entering the Central League at the bottom of the pyramid system, the High took just two attempts to secure promotion to the Premier Division. After a creditable Division 1B fourth place finish in their debut season the Greenock men reached the top flight by topping 2012 - 13's Division 1A. To round off a very successful season they then bagged their first Central Scottish Amateur Football League trophy with a Division 1 play-off victory over Division 1B winners Drumchapel Amateurs to clinch the Division 1 Champions trophy.
Further "domestic" success followed in the 2014 - 15 season with the capture of the Cinema Cup and a fourth place finish in the Premier Division, their highest Central Scottish league finish to date.
Success on the home front was overshadowed in May 2015 by yet another major trophy to add to the High's impressive collection. A fourth West of Scotland Amateur Cup found it's way into the Greenock trophy cabinet after a thrilling final victory over Colville Park at New Douglas Park, Hamilton elevating them to third place on the all time winners list.
After leaving the Scottish Amateur Football League the High continued their rivalry with Saints with a series of preseason friendlies the last of which was played in 2015 at the tournament to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Rhu Amateurs. On that occasion a fresh Greenock side thumped the tiring Saints by five goals to one to end the Oban men's four match winning streak stretching back to August 2011.
Preseason Friendlies
Saturday 6th August 2011 Oban Saints AFC 4 - 2 Greenock HSFP AFC
Saturday 4th August 2012 Oban Saints AFC 2 - 0 Greenock HSFP AFC
Saturday 3rd August 2013 Oban Saints AFC 2 - 1 Greenock HSFP AFC
Saturday 26th July 2014 Oban Saints AFC 3 - 2 Greenock HSFP AFC
Saturday 1st August 2015 Greenock HSFP AFC 5 - 1 Oban Saints
Despite flirting briefly with relegation the High eventually managed some small degree of recognition for their endeavours last season when young striker Jack McLarty's thirty seven goal haul earned him the Central Scottish Amateur Football League's Young Player of the Year trophy. The twenty one year-old product of the Greenock HSFP youth system has since moved on to Maryhill Juniors of the Super First Division where he will hope to continue his progress under the watchful eye of another old Saints rival Manager John Hughes.
With a fifth consecutive Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division slot secured the High endured a difficult start to the 2017 - 18 league campaign taking just two points from their opening five fixtures. However, following a 5 - 3 home reverse against league leaders Harestanes, the Greenock men embarked on a four game unbeaten run to increase their points tally to ten points before being edged out by the odd goal in three by Drumchapel Amateurs on their last league outing three weeks ago.Ten points from ten fixtures puts the High in eighth place in the highly competitive twelve team Premier Division which will undoubtedly have many twists and turns yet to come before the honours are handed out next May.
The High's progress to the Scottish Amateur Cup fourth round has seen them put seven without reply past Troon Dundonald of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association First Division in round two following a first round bye. In the third round AS Airdrie of the Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Premier Division proved a harder nut to crack with the High edging out the Lanarkshire men thanks to a successfully converted first half penalty kick from central midfielder Kevin Brown.
Unfortunately for the High they have been unable to replicate their Scottish Amateur Cup form on other cup fronts and have already slipped out of both the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Cinema Cup and the West of Scotland Amateur Cup at the hands of Steins Thistle and GSC Jordanhill respectively.
Saturday's trip to Greenock will see Saints face the High on their home turf for the first time since August 2009. On that particular occasion it was the home side who prevailed by the odd goal in three to land an early blow in what was to prove an epic league title race. Saints gained their revenge in the reverse fixture at Glencruitten emerging 4 - 1 victors to inflict Greenock's only defeat of the season. That result was to prove pivotal with Saints eventually pipping the High by a single point to land their first ever Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division title.
With both sides off the pace in their respective league title races extending their interest in the national cup competition beyond the festive shutdown would provide a welcome boost. An enthralling afternoon's entertainment is therefore in store at Glencruitten where the Saints faithful will enjoy their fifth home cup time of the season and their second replay in this the national cup competition.
The two old rivals must slug it out to a finish on the day with extra time and penalty kicks coming into the reckoning if a winner can't be found after ninety minutes.
Greenock HSFP Central Scottish Amateur Football League Finishes:-
2011 - 12 Division 1B 4th
2012 - 13 Division 1A Winners and Division 1 Champions
2013 - 14 Premier Division 7th
2014 - 15 Premier Division 4th
2015 - 16 Premier Division 6th
2016 - 17 Premier Division 9th
Greenock HSFP results so far this season:-
Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
12th August 2017 Greenock HSFP 3 - 3 Bannockburn
19th August 2017 Eastfield 3 - 0 Greenock HSFP
21st August 2017 Greenock HSFP 2 - 2 St Patrick's FP
26th August 2017 Greenock HSFP 2 - 3 Colville Park
9th September 2017 Greenock HSFP 3 - 5 Harestanes
7th October 2017 Cambusnethan Talbot 1 - 4 Greenock HSFP
21st October 2017 Greenock HSFP 1 - 1 Southside
28th October 2017 Greenock HSFP 8 - 1 Gourock Athletic
11th November 2017 Campsie Minerva 3 - 3 Greenock HSFP
18th November 2017 Greenock HSFP 1 - 2 Drumchapel
Central Scottish Amateur Football League Cinema Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
2nd September 2017 Craigneuk 3 - 6 Greenock HSFP
3rd Round
14th October 2017 Steins Thistle 5 - 4 Greenock HSFP
Central Scottish Amateur Football League Cup
1st Round - Group Section 6
23rd August 2017 Greenock HSFP 0 - 7 Southside
30th August 2017 Greenock HSFP 0 - 2 St Patrick's FP
Scottish Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
30th September 2017 Greenock HSFP 7 - 0 Troon Dundonald
3rd Round
4th November 2017 Greenock HSFP 1 - 0 AS Airdrie
4th Round
2nd December 2017 Greenock HSFP 2 - 2 Oban Saints
4th Round Replay
9th December 2017 Oban Saints v Greenock HSFP
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
16th September 2017 GSC Jordanhill 3 - 0 Greenock HSFP
After leaving the Scottish Amateur Football League the High continued their rivalry with Saints with a series of preseason friendlies the last of which was played in 2015 at the 120th anniversary celebrations of Rhu Amateurs. On that occasion a fresh Greenock side thumped the tiring Saints by five goals to one to end the Oban men's four match winning streak.
Preseason Friendlies
Saturday 6th August 2011 Oban Saints AFC 4 - 2 Greenock HSFP AFC
Saturday 4th August 2012 Oban Saints AFC 2 - 0 Greenock HSFP AFC
Saturday 3rd August 2013 Oban Saints AFC 2 - 1 Greenock HSFP AFC
Saturday 26th July 2014 Oban Saints AFC 3 - 2 Greenock HSFP AFC
Saturday 1st August 2015 Greenock HSFP AFC 5 - 1 Oban Saints
Greenock HSFP Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions 2006 - 07
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| Greenock HSFP 2017 - 18 |
Action from some past Oban Saints v Greenock HSFP encounters
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| Allan Mackay's terrific diving header brings Saints level at the 2015 Rhu tournament |
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| Donald Campbell tries his luck July 2014 |
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| Alex Craik joins the attack July 2011 |
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| Willie Gemmell and Donald Campbell helped Saints to a 3 - 1 Scottish Amateur Football League Victory over Greenock High School FP at Glencruitten in November 2010 |
Oban Saints 2017 - 18 Scottish Amateur Cup Campaign
1st Round
2nd September 2017 Oban Saints 4 - 0 Mauchline United
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| Shaun MacIver's shot flies past Andrew Clark to opening the scoring |
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| Craig MacEwan and Fraser MacFarlane congratulate Shaun MacIver on his opening goal |
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| Graham Douglas collects a free-kick |
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| Craig MacEwan slots away Ally McKerracher's through ball to double the lead |
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| Ally McKerracher and Craig MacEwan celebrate Saints second goal |
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| Shaun MacIver with Ryan O'Donnell and David Howat in attendance |
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| Andrew Clark saves from Ally McKerracher |
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| Andrew Clark saves Willie Gemmell's free-kick |
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| Craig MacEwan seals his hat-trick and rounds off the scoring at 4 - 0 |
2nd Round
30th September 2017 Oban Saints 6 - 0 Plains
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| Fraser MacFarlane opens the scoring |
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| Fraser MacFarlane celebrates his goal |
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| Donald Campbell nets the first of his three goals |
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| Donald Campbell, Craig MacEwan, Keith Millar, Scott Maitland and Fraser MacFarlane celebrate Saints second goal |
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| Matthew Kelly hurdles a challenge from Anthony Traynor |
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| Donald Campbell adds his second goal |
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| Donald Campbell celebrates his second goal |
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| Donald Campbell lifts the ball over Darren Hunter to seal his hat-trick |
3rd Round
4th November 2017 Falkirk Community 3 - 3 Oban Saints
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| Team Captains Donald Campbell and Jack Stickler with Referee Joseph Todd |
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| Marc Maccallum |
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| Steven MacLeod and James Stevenson |
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| Graham Douglas |
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| Alex Craik and Callan Kerr |
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| Willie Gemmell and Callan Kerr |
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| Shaun MacIver and Ryan Donnelly |
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| Campbell Geddes saves Willie Gemmell's free-kick |
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| Craig MacEwan heads home Shaun MacIver's corner kick to level the scores at 1 - 1 |
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| Craig MacEwan and Shaun MacIver celebrate Craig's goal |
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| Shaun MacIver comes off worse in a clash with Scott Wright |
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| Steven MacLeod and Ryan Donnelly |
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| Scott Wright heads wide |
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| Myles McAuley |
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| Donald Campbell brings Saints level at 2 - 2 |
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| Craig MacEwan and Willie Gemmell congratulate Donald Campbell on his goal |
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| Donald Campbell puts Saints into a 3 - 2 lead |
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| Donald Campbell |
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| Craig MacEwan and Donald Campbell celebrate Donald's second goal |
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| Grant Plenderleith's stoppage time cross evades Alex Craik, Blair Lockhart and Graham Douglas and ends up in the net to level the scores at 3 -3 and force a replay |
3rd Round Replay
11th November 2017 Oban Saints 3 - 2 Falkirk Community
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| Silence of remembrance |
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| Team Captains Donald Campbell with Referee Tony McCann |
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| Craig MacEwan holds off Brayden Docherty |
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| Paul Carmichael |
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| Saints legend Ross Maitland tussles with Falkirk full back Brayden Docherty |
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| Myles McAuley hits the post in the build up to Saints opening goal |
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| Craig MacEwan opens the scoring |
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| Paul Carmichael congratulates Craig MacEwan on his opening goal |
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| Falkirk's Man of the Match Stuart MacFarlane heads clear |
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| Scott Maitland |
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| Ross Maitland skips away from Ryan Donnelly's sliding challenge |
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| Scott Maitland fails to find the target with a diving header |
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| Alex Craik renews hostilities with Falkirk's lively front pairing of James Stevenson and Callan Kerr |
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| Keith Millar |
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| Willie Gemmell beats Stephen McKinnon from the penalty spot to bring Saints level at 2 - 2 |
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| A delighted Myles McAuley and Willie Gemmell after Myles had restored Saints lead |
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Myles McAuley is congratulated by his team mates after his winning goal
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4th Round
2nd December 2017 Greenock HSFP 2 - 2 Oban Saints
#monthesaints
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