Saturday 3rd November 2018
The Scottish Amateur Football Association Challenge Cup Competition
Third Round
Lowson United v Oban Saints
Forfar Community Campus
Kirriemuir Road
Forfar
DD8 3TG
Kick off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Derek Folganan
This Saturday afternoon Oban Saints make the long journey to Forfar to face Lowson United in the Scottish Amateur Cup third round. The 270 mile round trip to the birthplace of legendary AC/DC front man Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott will be a major test of Saints Scottish Amateur Cup ambitions as hosts Lowson United have made a very impressive start to the 2018-19 season.
Last season's First Division runner's up spot behind champions Montrose was enough to secure a return to the Midlands Amateur Football Association Premier Division for Lowson after a two season absence. Six wins from seven games so far sees the Forfar men in second spot in the top division, two points behind leaders Lochee United but with two games in hand. Early pace-setters Lochee are the only side to have taken league points from Lowson claiming a 2 - 0 victory in the clash at Forfar Community Campus on 22nd September.
Twenty league eight goals scored and only nine conceded gives Lowson the Premier Division's best goal difference as they look to add the Premier Division title to that of the First Division title secured in 2013-14.
Scottish Amateur Cup
Lowson's rich vein of goal scoring form has continued in the Scottish Amateur Cup. After being held to a 1 - 1 draw in their home first round North of Tay regional section tie against Cairdy Thistle, Lowson rediscovered their scoring touch firing eight without reply beyond the hapless Dundee Saturday Morning Football League Premier Division outfit.
In the "all in" second round draw Lowson received home advantage against Caledonian League Division 1A strugglers Symington Tinto. Unfortunately for the South Lanarkshire men their league woe's followed them into the cup and they were soundly beaten 14 - 0 by a rampant Lowson setting up a third round clash with Saints.
Unlike almost every other cup competition in amateur football the Scottish Amateur Cup includes replays therefore a re-match will follow at Glencruitten in seven day's time if the two sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes.
In charge of proceedings is experienced Referee Derek Folganan of the Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association.
Lowson United's Fixtures so far this season:-
Scottish Amateur Cup
1st Round
1st September 2018 Lowson United 1 - 1 Cairdy Thistle
1st Round Replay
8th September 2018 Cairdy Thistle 0 - 8 Lowson United
2nd Round
6th October 2018 Lowson United 14 - 0 Symington Tinto
North of Tay Cup
1st Round
Bye
2nd Round
17th November 2018 Lowson United v Menzieshill
Midlands Amateur Football Association Premier Division
25th August 2018 Lowson United 6 - 1 Invergowrie
29th August 2018 Fintry 2 - 4 Lowson United
15th September 2018 Arbroath HSFP 0 - 5 Lowson United
22nd September 2018 Lowson United 0 - 2 Lochee United
13th October 2018 Lowson United 5 - 0 Morgan Academy FP
20th October 2018 Lowson United 6 - 4 Montrose
27th October 2018 Carnoustie Panmure YM 0 - 2 Lowson United
Midlands Amateur Football Association League Cup Section 1
11th August 2018 Lowson United 3 - 4 Lochee United
15th August 2018 Lowson United 1 - 1 Montrose
22nd August 2018 Tayside Fire Brigade 2 - 4 Lowson United
Lowson United's recent Midlands Amateur Football League finishes:-
2011-12 Division One 8th
2012-13 Division One 3rd
2013-14 Division One Champions (Promoted)
2014-15 Premier Division 5th
2015-16 Premier Division 11th (Relegated)
2016-17 Division One 3rd
2017-18 Division One 2nd (Promoted)
Oban Saints Route To The Second Round
Round One
Oban Saints renewed acquaintanceships with former Scottish Amateur Football League rivals Gartcosh United at Eastgate, Gartcosh where three goals in a scintillating six minute first half spell saw Saints progress to the second round of the Scottish Amateur Cup. Having recovered from an early Gary Pettigrew strike Saints roared into a 3 - 1 through goals from Lewis Cameron, Craig MacEwan and James Ford. Although unable to add to their tally Saints were good value for the win over their very useful Central Scottish Amateur Football League opponents despite a stoppage time counter from another old acquaintance, former Pollock striker, Steven Williams.
Round Two
Round two saw Saints drawn at home against Perthshire Amateur Football Association Division One title chasers St Johns. The visitors had made a blistering start to the 2018-19 campaign slamming home an incredible seventy-nine goals in twelve matches and, with the only black mark on their otherwise perfect record being a 3 -1 home league defeat to reigning champions Letham, an exciting cup tie looked to be in prospect for the Glencruitten faithful. Unfortunately injuries and holiday commitments left the visitors short of some key players giving Saints a far more straight forward afternoon than they might reasonably have anticipated.
A brace from James Ford set Saints on their way to a five goal half-time lead with two own goals and a Donald Campbell strike putting Saints on easy street.
Perhaps understandably given their five goal cushion, Saints were slow out the blocks for the second half and gave the visitors a glimmer of hope when Mark McNiven knocked home from close range in the sixty second minute. Any hopes of a comeback for St Johns were extinguished just three minutes later when Lewis Cameron restored Saints five goal advantage. Second half substitute Fraser MacFarlane added a seventh before Craig MacEwan beat the overworked Ryan Stewart in the St Johns goal with a twenty five yard free-kick. Leading goal scorer Lewis Cameron saved the best until last with the pick of the bunch in the eighty second minute expertly taking down a Dougal Graham cross from the left before turning away from Craig Rattray and lashing the ball into the net for what would prove to be the final goal of the match.
Oban Saints 2018 - 19 Scottish Amateur Cup Campaign
1st Round
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