Winning In The Rain: Welcome Port

The Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

Saturday 6th April 2019
Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Second Round
Oban Saints v Port Glasgow

Glencruitten 2

Mossfield Avenue

Oban

Argyll

PA34 4EH

Kick Off 2.00pm
Referee Mr Jimmy Litster

This Saturday Oban Saints warm up for their West of Scotland Amateur Cup semi-final against Shortlees when they welcome first time visitors Port Glasgow to Glencruitten in the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy.

In just their sixth season the in Scottish Amateur Football League, during which time they lifted the 2015-16 Division One Championship trophy, Port Glasgow now stand tantalisingly close to promotion to the Premier Division. Currently top of Premier Division One with thirty five points, one ahead of nearest rivals Castlemilk, Port have four games remaining in which to gather enough points to guarantee promotion. With three of their four remaining fixtures at home to promotion rivals Castlemilk, Kings Park Rangers and Neilston Port Glasgow's fate remains firmly in their own hands.

The Premier Division One title is also still up for grabs however Castlemilk's superior goal difference plus their two games in hands may well give them the edge.

Port Glasgow are, of course, still involved in the Scottish Amateur Football League's premier cup competition, the Jimmy Marshall Trophy where a first round win over Premier Division One rivals Castlemilk set up this Saturday's clash with Saints.

After a frantic ninety minutes at Parklea where the two sides shared six goals penalty kicks were required to see who would progress to the second round. With Referee Pat O'Donnell keeping careful note it was the home side edged the shoot-out by three successful kicks to two to bag a journey to Oban.

The tie must be decided on the day with a penalty shoot-out coming into play if the sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes.

Taking charge of proceedings is experienced Lochgilphead based Referee Jimmy Litster.

Port Glasgow AFC

Port Glasgow results so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division One

25th August 2018 Ferguslie Star 3 - 4 Port Glasgow
29th August 2018 FC Argyle 3 - 1 Port Glasgow
8th September 2018 Port Glasgow 1 - 3 Claremont
29th September 2018 Hillington 0 - 1 Port Glasgow
6th October 2018 Port Glasgow 0 - 0 Hillington
27th October 2018 Lochgilphead Red Star 1 - 4 Port Glasgow
17th November 2018 Kings Park Rangers 0 - 4 Port Glasgow
24th November 2018 Port Glasgow 2 - 1 Easthall Star
1st December 2018 Claremont 2 - 3 Port Glasgow
19th January 2019 Port Glasgow 3 - 1 Lochgilphead Red Star
26th January 2019 Easthall Star 3 - 3 Port Glasgow
9th February 2019 Neilston 1 - 2 Port Glasgow
16th February 2019 Port Glasgow 4 - 3 Ferguslie Star
23rd February 2019 Port Glasgow 4 - 3 Campbeltown Pupils
2nd March 2019 Port Glasgow 4 - 1 FC Argyle
9th March 2019 Castlemilk 2 - 0 Port Glasgow

Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup

Round One
Group Section 8
18th August 2018 Port Glasgow 6 - 2 Carlton YMCA
22nd August 2018 Port Glasgow 2 - 3 Goldenhill

Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

Round One
12th January 2019 Port Glasgow 3 - 3 Castlemilk
Port Glasgow win 3 - 2 on penalty kicks

Round Two
6th April 2019 Oban Saints v Port Glasgow

Scottish Amateur Cup

Round One
1st September 2018 East Kilbride YM 7 - 2 Port Glasgow

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

Round One
Bye

Round Two
20th October 2018 Neilston 4 - 1 Port Glasgow

Port Glasgow SAFL record:-

2013-14 Premier Division Two 6th
2014-15 Premier Division Two 10th Relegated
2015-16 Division One Champions Promoted
2016-17 Premier Division Two B 3rd Promoted
2017-18 Premier Division One 10th

Port Glasgow SAFL Division One Champions 2015-16

Previous encounter Argyll & Bute Cup 2018

Oban Saints 2 - 0 Port Glasgow

Saints handed a starting place to fifteen year old Aaron McKay for their second game of the 2018 Argyll & Bute Cup campaign where two goals inside the opening four minutes were enough for the holders to see off Port Glasgow. Things might have been different had Ruaridh Horne not been guarding the far post to clear a header from a long throw-in off the goal-line in the second minute. Saints however capitalised fully by immediately breaking up the park through Player of the Tournament Lewis Cameron. James Ford latched onto Cameron's perfectly weighted pass and lifted the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net.

Within sixty seconds of the restart Saints doubled their advantage from a good move up the right wing. Lewis Cameron, Ruaridh Horne and James Ford were all involved before Ford played a tempting cutback which Shaun MacIver gleefully lashed into the bottom corner.

Saints retained the upper hand but couldn't add to their tally with a dipping long range effort over the bar from Kerr Newbigging the closest they came before Referee Donald McCallum sounded the half-time whistle.

Continuing the theme of not troubling the Port Glasgow keeper Lewis Cameron and Kerr Newbigging both sent shots wide of target in the opening stages of the second half.

Co-Manager Donald Campbell made a brief appearance replacing Shaun MacIver up front for the final ten minutes.

Lewis Cameron eventually drew a save from the Port keeper in the thirty second minute which he held well low to his right.

The Port number one pulled off a sensational save to deny James Ford in the thirty ninth minute flinging himself to his left to parry away a right foot pile driver. Port Glasgow launched the loose ball long and pounced on a slip by Alex Craik but were thwarted by an equally stunning save from Graham Douglas to keep his clean sheet intact.

Ruaridh Horne clears off the line

Donald Campbell

Willie Gemmell

Daniel Croarkin

Player of the Tournament Lewis Cameron

Aaron McKay

Oban Saints Route to the Second Round of the SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy

Round One

At Lochgilphead Joint Campus on 26th January Oban Saints gained revenge for last season's Jimmy Marshall Trophy exit at the hands of Lochgilphead Red Star by dumping their nearest neighbours out of this season's competition in the last ever meeting of the two old rivals to be held under the auspices of the Scottish Amateur Football League.

Second half goals from Donald Campbell and Fraser MacFarlane finally broke Red Star's stubborn resistance and saw Saints progress to the second round of the competition in which they have reached the final in four of the past six seasons.

A poor first half performance left Saints Management duo Donald Campbell and Willie Gemmell far from impressed and demanding a big step up in effort from their charges for the second half.

The improvement was clear from the first whistle with Kerr Newbigging winning possession and sending James Ford racing into the Star box where Aaron Moore was on hand to help out his defence with a timely interception.

The Saints pressure eventually told when Ben Forbes, who had a good game at the centre of the Star defence, made his only mistake of the afternoon and sent Matthew Kelly sprawling in the box with a mistimed tackle from behind. Donald Campbell made no mistake from the spot sending the keeper in the wrong direction and giving Saints the lead which their second half endeavour deserved.

With thirteen minutes remaining Saints introduced Aaron McKay at the expense of David Beaton and the youngster was quickly involved linking up well with Donald Campbell who curled a delightful left foot effort inches wide of the junction of post and bar with Kalache rooted to the spot.

The big keeper was equally deceived by Fraser MacFarlane's low eighty third minute snap shot from twenty two yards which nestled in the bottom corner to seal victory for Saints.

This proved to be MacFarlane's last involvement as he and Dougal Graham, who produced a solid performance alongside Skipper Dene Cassells at the heart of the defence, were withdrawn to give Kenneth Black and debutant Keir MacLean a brief run out. MacLean took on the centre forward's mantle while Black joined the defence which continued to protect Graham Douglas to such an extent that the Saints number one didn't have a single save to make all afternoon.

Oban Saints 2018-19 SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy campaign so far:-

1st Round
26th January 2019 Lochgilphead Red Star 0 - 2 Oban Saints