Winning In The Rain: To Dunoon And Back

Saturday 9th February 2019

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

Dunoon v Oban Saints
Dunoon Stadium
Argyll Road
Kirn
Dunoon
Argyll
PA23 7RL
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

Oban Saints travel to the Cowal Peninsula on Saturday to face Dunoon Amateurs in a rearranged Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division tie following the previous week's weather enforced postponement.

In the reverse fixture back in August braces from Lewis Cameron, James Ford and Matthew Kelly, together with strikes from Craig MacEwan and Matt Rippon, gave Saints an almost perfect start to their league campaign with Jamie Robertson's first half counter to briefly level the scores and deny Graham Douglas a clean sheet being the only black mark.

Since gaining promotion thanks to last season's third place Premier Division One finish behind Barrhead Arky, Dunoon have struggled to adapt to life in the top flight and currently prop up the Premier Division with just one point from their eleven fixtures so far. The opening day 8 - 1 reverse at Glencruitten was a baptism of fire for the Cowal men setting the tone for a run of seven defeats which was finally ended with a share of the points at home to reigning Premier Division One Champions Barrhead Arky.

Sadly for Dunoon making their first impression on the points tally proved not to be the turning point hoped for and remains their only point to date as a further defeats to Inverclyde, North Glasgow Colts and Barrhead Arky have left them cut adrift at the foot of the table.

Cup Competitions

Any hopes Dunoon may have harboured of an extended cup run to take their minds off their league predicament were dealt a particularly cruel blow when the Scottish Amateur Cup first round draw saw them paired with Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Premier League high fliers Stewarton United. The Cowal men made their opponents work hard for their 4 - 2 win at Dunoon Stadium which set the Ayrshire men off on an impressive run which was finally halted in the sixth round by St Joseph's FP.

It was Ayrshire Premier League opponents again in the West of Scotland Amateur Cup when another very difficult first round draw sent Dunoon to Stevenston to play Ardeer West Recreation. Dunoon's miserable luck on the road continued with another heavy defeat to leave them to concentrate fully on league survival.

In charge of proceedings for the 2 pm kick-off at Dunoon Stadium is Lochgilphead based whistler Jimmy Litster where Saints will definitely be without the suspended Donald Campbell but will hope for more positive news from injury victims Steven MacLeod, Daniel Croarkin, Matt Rippon and Lewis Cameron.

Dunoon celebrate their 2016 Argyll & Bute Cup win after edging out Saints in a penalty shoot-out

Dunoon Amateurs results so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

18th August 2018 Oban Saints 8 - 1 Dunoon
9th September 2018 St Joseph's FP 6 - 0 Dunoon
29th September 2018 Motherwell Thistle 4 - 0 Dunoon
6th October 2018 Dunoon 2 - 5 Inverclyde
27th October 2018 Goldenhill 6 - 0 Dunoon
3rd November 2018 Rutherglen 1 - 0 Dunoon
10th November 2018 Dunoon 3 - 5 Alba Thistle
17th November 2018 Dunoon 1 - 1 Barrhead Arky
24th November 2018 Inverclyde 3 - 1 Dunoon
8th December 2018 Dunoon 2 - 4 North Glasgow Colts
19th January 2019 Barrhead Arky 5 - 2 Dunoon

Scottish Amateur Cup

Round One
1st September 2018 Dunoon 2 - 4 Stewarton United

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

Round One
15th September 2018 Ardeer West Recreation 5 - 1 Dunoon

Dunoon Amateurs' recent SAFL record:-

2006-07 Premier Division 2 2nd Promoted
2007-08 Premier Division One 7th
2008-09 Premier Division One 9th Relegated
2009-10 Premier Division Two 8th
2010-11 Premier Division Two 6th
2011-12 Premier Division Two 7th
2012-13 Premier Division Two 6th Promoted
2013-14 Premier Division One 6th
2014-15 Premier Division One 6th
2015-16 Premier Division One 4th
2016-17 Premier Division One 4th
2017-18 Premier Division One 3rd Promoted