Saturday 17th February 2018
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
6th Round
Shortlees v Oban Saints
Grange Leisure Centre
Beech Avenue
Kilmarnock
KA1 2EW
Kick Off 1.30pm
Referee Mr Anthony McCann
Following last Saturday's fifth round success against Woodhall Thistle, Oban Saints remain on West of Scotland Amateur Cup duty this weekend with a trip to Kilmarnock to face 2016 cup winners Shortlees.
Saints and Lees last met in a thrilling Scottish Amateur Cup quarter-final tie at Glencruitten on 19th March 2016. A Willie Gemmell free-kick gave Saints a thirty eighth minute lead which the visitors cancelled out just after the hour mark. After being felled in the box by a rash tackle from second half substitute Myles McAuley, Shortlees danger man Keir Knapp dusted himself down and slotted the penalty kick underneath the despairing dive of Thomas McCulloch to bring the visitors level. The much fancied visitors pushed hard for a winner however the Saints defence remained firm setting up Donald Campbell for a deadly eighty eighth minute counter attack. After leaving the Shortlees defence trailing in his wake Campbell calmly tee'd up Allan Mackay to slot home what turned out to be the winning goal sending Saints through to a semi-final meeting with Leven United.
Despite being devastated after the narrow Scottish Amateur Cup defeat Shortlees soon got over their disappointment and kicked on in the closing weeks of the season to clinch a sensational treble. The Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup and First Division Championship trophies brought their domestic trophy haul to three in two seasons before Goldenhill were edged out at New Douglas Park to land the West of Scotland Amateur Cup.
After a claiming the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association James Scott Trophy and a creditable fourth placed finish in their first Premier League season Shortlees have resumed their relentless pursuit of trophies again this season which see's them in contention for silverware on five fronts.
Currently in fourth place in the Premier League, thirteen points behind perennial Champions Hurlford Thistle but with three games in hand, Shortlees are very much still in the thick of the battle to dethrone the mighty reigning Champions. With the solitary league defeat to fellow title challengers Hurlford back in August still the only reverse Shortlees have suffered in all competitions so far the Lees remain well placed to exploit any potential title run-in slip ups from the Champions.
On the domestic cup front Shortlees are already through to the quarter finals of the James Scott Trophy and the semi finals of the Ayrshire Cup and will be desperate to make similar progress in the 'majors'. During the course of the next two weeks the Lees will discover whether or not those particular ambitions are to be realised when they play their last sixteen ties against Oban Saints in the West of Scotland Cup this weekend and Dumbarton Academy FP in the Scottish Amateur Cup on Saturday 3rd March.
With the Lees intimidating home venue at Burnpark Road, Shortlees currently unplayable this Saturday's tie will be played at their slightly less "Hell Raising" temporary home at the Grange in the shadow of Kilmarnock F.C.'s Rugby Park stadium. The tie must be played to a finish on the day with extra-time and penalty kicks coming into play to decide the winner if the two sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes. Taking charge of proceedings is experienced Referee Anthony McCann.
The winners will go into the hat for the quarter finals draw which takes place at the Western District Executive meeting at Hampden Park on Monday 19th February.
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| Shortlees Ayrshire Amateur Football Association James Scott Trophy Winners 2016 |
Action from the Saints v Shortlees 2016 Scottish Amateur Cup tie at Glencruitten
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| Craig MacEwan finds his path to goal blocked by William Mason |
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| Donald Campbell shapes to shoot |
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| Shortlees keeper Garry Murdoch |
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| Ross Maitland |
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| Willie Gemmell gives Saints the lead |
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| Willie Gemmell is mobbed by delighted Saints players, substitutes and the Manager! |
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| Scott Maitland |
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| Dean Smith, Ross Maitland and Donald Campbell prepare to get the second half underway |
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| Donald Campbell with William Mason and Jim Caldwell |
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| Keir Knapp nets from the penalty spot to bring Shortlees level at 1 - 1 |
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| We all live in a mental housing scheme |
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| Donald Campbell wheels away in celebration after setting up Allan Mackay for Saints winning goal |
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| Allan Mackay is congratulated by his team mates on his winning goal |
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| Myles McAuley misses a last minute opportunity to score a third |
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| Saints ball Ref! |
Shortlees season so far:-
Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League
12th August 2017 Shortlees 3 - 3 Tarbolton
19th August 2017 Kilbride Thistle 0 - 4 Shortlees
23rd August 2017 Hurlford 5 - 1 Shortlees
26th August 2017 Carrick 0 -7 Shortlees
9th September 2017 Shortlees 12 - 1 Cumnock
23rd September 2017 Shortlees 4 - 0 Dirrans Athletic
7th October 2017 Hurlford Thistle 4 - 4 Shortlees
11th November 2017 Shortlees 5 - 5 Kilbride Thistle
6th January 2018 Galston 1 - 2 Shortlees
23rd August 2017 Hurlford 5 - 1 Shortlees
26th August 2017 Carrick 0 -7 Shortlees
9th September 2017 Shortlees 12 - 1 Cumnock
23rd September 2017 Shortlees 4 - 0 Dirrans Athletic
7th October 2017 Hurlford Thistle 4 - 4 Shortlees
11th November 2017 Shortlees 5 - 5 Kilbride Thistle
6th January 2018 Galston 1 - 2 Shortlees
Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Ayrshire Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
2nd September 2017 Shortlees 5 - 1 Hurlford
3rd Round
16th December 2017 Shortlees 4 - 1 West Kilbride
Quarter Final
27th January 2018 Glenburn MW 0 - 1 Shortlees
2nd Round
2nd September 2017 Shortlees 5 - 1 Hurlford
3rd Round
16th December 2017 Shortlees 4 - 1 West Kilbride
Quarter Final
27th January 2018 Glenburn MW 0 - 1 Shortlees
Ayrshire Amateur Football Association James Scott Trophy
1st Round
21st October 2017 Shortlees 12 - 0 Bellfield Lochan
2nd Round
28th October 2017 Largs Thistle 2 - 6 Shortlees
Quarter Final
Shortlees v Ardrossan CR
2nd Round
28th October 2017 Largs Thistle 2 - 6 Shortlees
Quarter Final
Shortlees v Ardrossan CR
Scottish Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
30th September 2017 Shortlees 8 - 3 Bellfield Lochan
3rd Round
4th November 2017 Shortlees 3 - 2 Cambusnethan Talbot
4th Round
2nd December 2017 Shortlees 3 - 0 Cambria
5th Round
13th January 2018 Shortlees 5 - 1 Cupar Hearts
6th Round
3rd February 2018 Shortlees 8 - 0 Mill
7th Round
3rd March 2018 Shortlees v Dumbarton Academy FP
7th Round
3rd March 2018 Shortlees v Dumbarton Academy FP
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
16th September 2017 Glenmuir Thistle 0 - 3 Shortlees
3rd Round
14th October 2017 Firhill United 0 - 9 Shortlees
4th Round
18th November 2017 Galston United 1 - 8 Shortlees
5th Round
10th February 2018 Shortlees 7 - 1 Milton
6th Round
17th February 2018 Shortlees v Oban Saints
Shortlees recent Ayrshire Amateur Football Association finishes:-
2011 - 12 Fourth Division 4th
2012 - 13 Fourth Division 3rd (Promoted)
2013 - 14 Third Division 4th (Promoted)
2014 - 15 Second Division Champions (Promoted)
2015 - 16 First Division Champions, Ayrshire Cup Winners, West of Scotland Cup Winners
2016 - 17 Premier League 4th
Oban Saints 2017-18 West of Scotland Amateur Cup campaign so far:-
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
16th September 2017
Oban Saints AFC 9 - 0 Cambusnethan Talbot Community AFC
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| Craig MacEwan turns Willie Gemmell's free-kick past Robert Lofferty to open the scoring |
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| Scott Maitland sets up Craig MacEwan |
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| Ryan Airth on the goal-line can't keep out Craig MacEwan's second goal |
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| Craig MacEwan beats the offside trap and keeper Robert Lofferty |
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| John Hill can't stop Craig MacEwan's hat-trick goal |
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| Fraser MacFarlane's diving header makes it 4 - 0 |
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| Donald Campbell nets Saints fifth goal |
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| Donald Campbell tucks away his second |
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| Donald Campbell heads home Craig MacEwan's cross to seal his hat-trick |
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| Craig MacEwan tucks away Myles McAuley's cut-back for goal number eight |
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| Craig MacMillan keeps the pressure of Robert Lofferty |
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| Craig MacEwan rounds Robert Lofferty |
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| Craig MacEwan lifts the ball into the roof of the net to round off the scoring |
3rd Round
14th October 2017
Braehead AFC 0 - 4 Oban Saints AFC
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| David McPhee heads home Saints second goal from Fraser MacFarlane's corner kick |
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| Centre halves Craig Campbell and David McPhee share a joke |
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| Willie Gemmell smashes his penalty kick beyond Scott Fraser for Saints third goal |
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| Donald Campbell and Scott Maitland congratulate Willie Gemmell on his goal |
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| Shaun MacIver's spectacular volley rounds off the scoring |
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| The Saints players celebrate Shaun MacIver's goal |
4th Round
18th November 2017
Red Star 2 - 3 Oban Saints (After Extra Time)
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| Team Captains Willie Gemmell and Gary McLean with Referee Willie McCulley |
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| Steven MacLeod |
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| Ally McKerracher finds the bottom corner to draw Saints level at 1 - 1 |
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| Ally McKerracher digs out a shot under pressure |
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| Keith Millar and Paul Shaw |
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| Matthew Kelly and Robert Rankin |
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| David Hosie |
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| Myles McAuley |
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| Matthew Kelly |
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| Ally McKerracher with Darren Ruddick and Robert Rankin in attendance |
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| Steven MacLeod heads clear at the near post |
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| Graham Douglas |
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| Craig Campbell and Sam Donald |
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| Robert Rankin shepherds the ball back to David Hosie with Paul Carmichael in attendance |
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| David Hosie saves from Keith Millar |
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| Craig Campbell hooks over |
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| Scott Maitland turns Ally McKerracher's cross into the side netting |
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| David Hosie saves Willie Gemmell's penalty kick |
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| Craig Campbell heads over |
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| David Hosie can't get near Willie Gemmell's free kick to draw Saints level at 2 -2 |
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| Willie Gemmell's dipping strike gives Saints a 3 - 2 lead |
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| Matthew Kelly, Andrew Moore and Paul Carmichael congratulate Willie Gemmell on his winning goal |
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| Paul Carmichael holds off Raymond Cooney |
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| Jamie Campbell heads a late chance over the Saints crossbar |
5th Round
10th February 2018
Oban Saints 8 - 0 Woodhall Thistle
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| The rare luxury of a strong squad meant no boots were required for either the Gaffer or Coach Peter MacCallum |
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| Referee James Gallacher |
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| Graham Douglas collects a Woodhall Thistle corner kick |
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| Neither Daniel MacCuish nor Paul Carmichael can get a head to Willie Gemmell's corner kick |
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| Never a dirty game there was no requirement for the air ambulance |
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| Dominic Greenhorn and Referee James Gallacher in the heavy first half rain |
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| Not quite jumpers for goal posts but close |
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| Matthew Kelly |
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| Myles McAuley narrowly fails to extend his recent hot goal scoring streak |
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| Daniel MacCuish turns in Matthew Kelly's cut-back for Saints second goal |
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| Daniel MacCuish |
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| Myles McAuley and Matthew Kelly congratulate Daniel MacCuish on his goal |
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| Shaun MacIver |
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| Graham Douglas |
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| Donald Campbell |
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| Scott Maitland holds off the challenge of Jody Agnew |
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| Scott Maitland and Joseph McDonald |
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| Craig MacEwan |
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| Shaun MacIver tucks away Craig MacEwan's cross for Saints fourth goal |
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| Alan Rennie saves from Lewis Cameron |
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| Alan Rennie denies Lewis Cameron again |
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| Shaun MacIver skips away from Alan Rennie's challenge |
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| Shaun MacIver rolls home his hat-trick goal |
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| Connor Howe |
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| Donald Campbell makes it 6 - 0 from the penalty spot |
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| Craig MacEwan goes past Christopher Gallagher |
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| Alan Rennie saves from Craig MacEwan |
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| Lewis Cameron slams Craig MacEwan's cut-back into the roof of the net for Saints seventh goal |
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| Lewis Cameron rounds off the scoring |
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| Lewis Cameron, Craig MacEwan and Connor Howe |
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| Lewis Cameron and Jodie Agnew |
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| Alan Rennie |
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