Winning In The Rain

Wednesday, 17 May 2017

Up The Drum

Wednesday 17th May 2017
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

Goldenhill AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Donald Dewar Leisure Centre
Garscadden Road
Drumchapel
Glasgow
G15 8SX
Kick off 7pm
Referee Mr John Campbell

Just ten days after their encounter at Glencruitten Saints and Goldenhill meet again this Wednesday night when they go up the Drum to the Donald Dewar Centre in Drumchapel. Saints 2 - 1 win at Glencruitten kept alive their slim hopes of finishing the league campaign in second place but with the points already on the board Goldenhill remain firm favourites to claim the runners-up spot behind Champions St Joseph's FP. Wednesday night's fixture is Goldenhill's final league match and victory for them would leave Saints requiring maximum points from their four remaining fixtures to clinch second place.

Perhaps more important than the league points is the requirement for both sides to maintain their momentum ahead of vital season defining cup ties. Saints have the Jimmy Marshall Trophy final to look forward to against either Easthall Star or Dunoon while Goldenhill have a Coronation Cup semi-final against Ferguslie Star this coming Saturday.

Last Season

The corresponding league fixture last season ended all square after a ninety minutes of high drama at Clydebank High School. Saints opened the scoring in the 12th minute when an excellently struck Donald Campbell shot from the corner of the eighteen yard box brought out a terrific diving save from Scott Rennie low down to his right. Unfortunately for the Gowdie the big keeper could only parry the ball into the path of Ross Maitland who coolly picked out Craig MacEwan on the six yard line with Craig tucking the ball into the net. After a number of presentable chances were spurned Saints doubled their lead in the 35th minute with the two holding midfielders Willie Gemmell and Paul Kerr combining for a rare goal for Paul. Willie sent a perfect delivery from the left towards the back post where Paul had made a late run to send a sensational header back across the goalkeeper and into the top corner of the net. Saints ended the first half seemingly well in control of the match but looking back ruefully on the missed chances which could have seen them already out of sight.

Saints didn't have long to enjoy their lead as it was wiped out in a blistering start to the second half from the home side. In the opening minute Saints conceded possession from their own throw-in on the left. Daniel Gibson raced into the inside right channel past a statuesque Saints defence and squared for James Gallagher to tap in at the back post. Barely sixty seconds later the Gowdie drew level when Gibson pounced on a speculative ball over the top splitting David McArthur and Dene Cassells. The Gowdie winger fired in a low shot which Thomas McCulloch got both hands to but couldn't keep out low down at his near post. The home side completed the turnaround in the 53rd minute when a deep cross from their left was nodded down at the back post by Daniel McKenna into the path of the unmarked James Gallagher to complete his hat-trick with a sweet right foot finish past the helpless Thomas McCulloch. The Gowdie had adopted a higher defensive line in the second half and after a couple of tight calls from Mr Hay Saints finally sprung the home side's offside trap with a perfectly timed Craig MacEwan run onto a David McArthur through ball. Craig drew the keeper and squared to Ross Maitland for a simple tap-in to restore parity. Barely a minute later Saints hit the woodwork for the second time when Ross Maitland got on the end of a Paul Kerr pass and hit the inside of the post with the ball being scrambled behind for a corner kick. Ross flighted in an excellent ball from the Saints left which eluded everyone in the centre but was well controlled by Dene Cassells at the back post who turned and fired in a shot which was blocked on the goal-line and hoofed to safety. Saints got their noses back in front in the 75th minute by once again springing the Gowdie off-side trap. Willie Gemmell began the move with a delicious curling pass setting Ross Maitland off on a run in the inside left channel. Ross won the foot race with the Gowdie full back Steven Dock and cut the ball back to Willie Gemmell who thundered in a fierce right foot shot which this time was too hot for the keeper to handle and the ball broke loose to Dean Smith six yards out who eagerly gobbled up the opportunity the restore the lead for Saints. The home side momentarily lost their heads with substitute striker Chris McGrath receiving a straight red card for aiming a kick at Jamie Graham and defender Jack Bennett picking up a second yellow for a petulant kick at Dean Smith as he lay on the ground having been brought down on the half way line. In between the two red cards Saints missed yet another chance which would have finally made the points safe. Craig MacEwan standing on the six yard line missed a Ross Maitland corner kick from the left with the ball landing at the feet of Dene Cassells who, from a tight angle, could only find the side netting with his shot through a sea of legs. With match seemingly safe Manager Alex Craik made a couple of changes replacing Ross Maitland and Dean Smith with Shaun MacIver and Allan Mackay. In the 82nd minute Craig MacEwan chased down an almost lost cause wide on the Saints left back heeling the ball on the dead ball line just before it could run out of play. Shaun MacIver did well to close down full back Steven Dock and set up Craig MacEwan for a curling shot from the corner of the box which dipped just over the junction of post and bar. With the clock ticking down and the killer fifth goal eluding them Saints seemed to panic and dropped deeper and deeper inviting the nine men of Goldenhill onto them. A succession of needless fouls gave the Gowdie the chance to lauch long balls into the box which although Saints managed to deal with their failure to fully clear their lines meant the ball kept coming straight back. It was therefore with a large dose of inevitability that the home side equalised in the 89th minute from a long throw on the Saints right level with the eighteen yard line. The Gowdie piled everybody into the box for the long throw and Damon Gray looped a free header beyond Thomas McCulloch and into the net for an equaliser for which Saints had only themselves to blame.

Goldenhill line up for their West of Scotland Amateur Cup Semi Final against Colville Park

Goldenhill's results so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

20th August 2016 Goldenhill AFC 4 - 3 Ferguslie Star AFC
3rd September 2016 Goldenhill AFC 2 - 1 St Joseph's FP AFC
15th October 2016 Goldenhill AFC 1 - 0 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
29th October 2016 Shawlands FP AFC 3 - 1 Goldenhill AFC
12th November 2015 Goldenhill AFC 1 - 2 Inverclyde AFC
26th November 2016 Campbeltown Pupils AFC 2 - 3 Goldenhill AFC
3rd December 2016 East Kilbride FC Amateurs 2 - 0 Goldenhill AFC
28th January 2017 Motherwell Thistle AFC 0 - 2 Goldenhill AFC
4th February 2017 Drumchapel Colts AFC 1 - 4 Goldenhill AFC
11th February 2017 Ferguslie Star AFC 1 - 7 Goldenhill
18th February 2017 Goldenhill AFC 2 - 1 Shawlands FP AFC
11th March 2017 Goldenhill AFC 4 - 1 Campbeltown Pupils AFC
18th March 2017 Goldenhill AFC 6 - 1 Motherwell Thistle AFC
25th March 2017 St Joseph's FP AFC 1 - 0 Goldenhill AFC
8th April 2017 Inverclyde AFC 3 - 2 Goldenhill AFC
19th April 2017 Goldenhill AFC 4 - 0 Drumchapel Colts AFC
6th May 2017 Oban Saints AFC 2 - 1 Goldenhill

SAFL Coronation Cup

1st Round Group Section 3
22nd April 2017 Goldenhill AFC 5 - 0 St Joseph's FP AFC
26th April 2017 FC Goldenhill AFC 4 - 0 East Kilbride FC Amateurs
29th April 2017 Inverclyde AFC 2 - 4 Goldenhill AFC

Semi Final
20th May 2017 Goldenhill AFC v Ferguslie Star AFC

SAFL Centenary Cup

1st Round Group Section 3
13th August 2016 Goldenhill AFC 3 - 1 Port Glasgow AFC
17th August 2016 FC Argyle 4 - 6 Goldenhill AFC
24th August 2016 Goldenhill AFC 7 - 0 Port Glasgow OBU AFC
27th August 2016 Milton of Colquhoun AFC 0 - 6 Goldenhill AFC

Quarter Final
17th September 2016 Goldenhill AFC 3 - 3 Rutherglen AFC
Rutherglen win 5 - 4 on penalty kicks

SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
10th December 2016 Rutherglen AFC 3 - 2 Goldenhill AFC

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
1st Ocotber 2016 Goldenhill AFC 4 - 4 Carluke Hearts AFC

2nd Round Replay
8th October 2106 Carluke Hearts AFC 6 - 4 Goldenhill AFC (After Extra Time)

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
22nd Ocotber 2016 East Kilbride YMCA AFC 1 - 5 Goldenhill AFC

3rd Round
17th December Blantyre Celtic AFC 2 - 4 Goldenhill AFC

4th Round
21st January 2017 Hurlford Thistle AFC 3 - 2 Goldenhill AFC

Goldenhill's recent SAFL finishes:-

2012 - 13 Division One Promoted and Coronation Cup Winners
2013 - 14 Premier Division Two 2nd Promoted

2014 - 15 Premier Division One 4th Promoted and Centenary Cup Winners
2015 - 16 Premier Division and West of Scotland Amateur Cup Runners-up

Goldenhill SAFL Centenary Cup Winners 2014 - 15

Action from last season's encounter at Clydebank High School

Scorer of Saints second goal Paul Kerr

Scorer of the opening goal Craig MacEwan

Ross Maitland swings over another cross

David McArthur launches a long ball from defence

Scott Rennie saves Willie Gemmell's free kick

Craig MacEwan congratulates Ross Maitland on drawing Saints level at 3 - 3

Dean Smith pounces on the loose ball to make it 4 - 3 to Saints

Last gasp Gowdie equaliser

#monthesaints

‪

Sunday, 14 May 2017

Into The Final

Saturday 13th May 2017
Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Semi-final
Hillington AFC 1 - 4 Oban Saints AFC
Penilee Community Centre
10 Gleddoch Road
Glasgow
G52 4BD
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Robert Doolan
Assistant Referee Mr Philip Hogg
Assistant Referee Mr Derek Milton

Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Martin Bonar

Dean Smith

Unused substitute:-

Alex Craik

Oban Saints reached their fourth Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy final in five seasons with a 4 - 1 win at a rain soaked Penilee Community Centre last Saturday. After a fairly even goalless first half Saints turned up the heat on Premier Division One opponents Hillington with Craig MacEwan netting a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to thirty six. The victory gave Saints some small measure of revenge for the agonising 2013 final penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of Hillington at Somervell Park, Cambuslang and guarantees the Saints faithful another cup final day out to look forward to.

Manager Alex Craik had the usual mixture of injuries, work and family commitments to contend with when selecting his squad for this vital cup tie. Added to the mix was Donald Campbell's one match suspension for his sending off in the Scottish Amateur Cup semi-final defeat against Colville Park.

Thomas McCulloch lined up in goal behind a back four of Jamie Graham, Captain Marc Maccallum, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland. The midfield comprised Myles McAuley, Kerr Newbiggining and Matthew Kelly with a front three of Fraser MacFarlane, Paul Carmichael and Craig MacEwan completing the line-up. The Gaffer named himself on the bench with Martin Bonar and Dean Smith for company.

Hosts Hillington kicked off in heavy rain defending the Community Centre end where, after some early sparring, Saints forced the first corner kick of the match in the third minute. Marc Maccallum played the ball up to Fraser MacFarlane who in turn fed Jamie Graham. Jamie's overlapping run to the bye-line was halted by Lee Wales at the expense of a corner kick. Craig MacEwan rose through a ruck of players at the back post to head Fraser MacFarlane's delivery back across the face of goal with Scott Gold showing a good measure of composure to control the ball and volley clear just short of the goal line.

The action swung quickly to the other end when Kerr Newbigging was penalised for a foul just inside the Hillington half. Ross Hamilton sent his deep free kick towards the back post where Gary Wilson had found space but sent his header straight at Thomas McCulloch.

Matthew Kelly was enjoying his new midfield role and got on the end of a threaded pass from colleague Myles McAuley in the fifth minute. Matthew made a run into the box but was unable to get the ball out of his feet and a good chance was lost.

Hillington had already claimed two Premier Division scalps en-route to the Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-finals and were matching up well against cup holders Saints. In the seventh minute Stuart Ashton got in behind Scott Maitland on the Hillington right and, from a tight angle, drew a smart save from Thomas McCulloch at his near post.

Thomas had the slightly easier task of gathering a long range effort from Ian McFadyen in the eighth minute which lacked the power to seriously test the Saints number one.

Another run forward from Matthew Kelly in the thirteenth minute was halted by a mistimed tackle from Scott Gold twenty eight yards from goal. With Willie Gemmell missing due to work commitments Kerr Newbigging assumed responsibility for the dead ball but sent his free-kick eighteen inches over Paul McGuire's crossbar.

Hillington had the ball in the net in the eighteenth minute when Gary Wilson stole in behind Dene Cassells from another deep Ross Hamilton free-kick but Assistant Referee Philip Hogg raised his flag for offside and Referee Robert Doolan disallowed the goal.

Five minutes later on the opposite touchline Mr Doolan's other Assistant Derek Milton raised his flag against Kerr Newbigging to deny Fraser MacFarlane a tap-in at the back post. Kerr went fractionally too early on the left to get on the end of a Craig MacEwan pass and was flagged offside before delivering an inviting ball across the face of goal which MacFarlane would surely have buried had play been allowed to continue.

The deep free-kick from central defender Ross Hamilton once again presented a problem for Saints with Ian McFadyen making a good run behind the Saints defence to glance a header on target which fortunately flew straight into the hands of Thomas McCulloch causing sharp intakes of breath on the sidelines.

The offside flag was up again in the twenty eighth minute this time against Paul Carmichael who was enjoying a fascinating physical battle with Ross Hamilton. Matthew Kelly battled well in the centre circle to win possession and laid off to Kerr Newbigging whose well weighted ball sent Paul racing through on goal but Mr Milton judged that Paul had started his run from an offside position.

Hamilton stopped Carmichael unfairly on the corner of the Hillington box two minutes later but redeemed himself to beat Paul in the air and head Kerr Newbigging's free-kick clear of the danger area.

A thirty fourth minute run along the Saints eighteen yard line from William Mitchell was well matched by Marc Maccallum allowing no way through for the Hillington midfielder with the Saints Skipper eventually making a decisive challenge to snuff out the danger.

As the half wore on Saints began to gain the upper hand in the vital midfield area but still struggled to get in behind the home defence thanks in no small part to a solid display from young centre half Stuart Aitken.

Saints tried a change of free-kick taker with Matthew Kelly taking over to allow Kerr Newbigging to add his aerial presence in the box. From a free-kick on the right won by Paul Carmichael, Matthew's delivery was charged down at the near post however Saints kept the pressure on through Scott Maitland and Craig MacEwan with Craig eventually winning another free-kick on the opposite flank. Matthew gained more height with his second delivery but unfortunately too much for intended target Paul Carmichael and the ball drifted behind for a goal kick.

Saints came within inches of opening the scoring just before the interval when Paul Carmichael held off a strong challenge from Nicholas Baird and burst through into the box only to be denied a goal by the outstretched left foot of Hillington keeper Paul McGuire which deflected the big Saints striker's net bound shot wide of target. Before the corner kick could be taken Mr Doolan took the name of Nicholas Baird for his challenge on Paul Carmichael. Fraser MacFarlane's delivery from the corner flag was headed behind for another corner by Baird who was guarding the back post. From the opposite flank Fraser put in another good delivery to the back post where Ross Hamilton once again emerged victorious from his aerial duel with Paul Carmichael before Mr Doolan blew the half-time whistle.

Saints had the benefit of the breeze for the second half which would steadily increase in strength as the half progressed. Much to the relief of the hardy band of spectators the rain also eased off for the start of the second half which Saints kicked off attacking the Park end.

The second half was only one minute old when Matthew Kelly had the first strike on goal which was deflected wide of Paul McGuire's right hand post for a corner kick. Having had little success with his first half deliveries into the box Fraser MacFarlane opted to roll the ball back to Myles McAuley whose shot from the corner of the eighteen yard box was palmed away and collected at the second attempt by the Hillington keeper.

Saints were already showing signs that they would go on to dominate almost the entire second half with Craig MacEwan skinning Lee Wales on the Saints right before sending a ball into the box which was tantalisingly out of reach for Fraser MacFarlane allowing Paul McGuire to thump clear.

Hillington lost the services of influential midfielder Scott Gold to an ankle injury after just four second half minutes. Gold was replaced in the middle of the park by Gary Wilson.

Kerr Newbigging's ball up the right wing for Paul Carmichael saw the Saints man turn Ross Hamilton and dig out a cross from the bye-line which just evaded Craig MacEwan at the near post and ended up in the grateful hands of Paul McGuire.

Newbigging sent Carmichael through again in the fifty third minute but a well timed sliding interception from Lee Wales took the ball off Paul's toe and through to the keeper.

Hillington's first meaningful second half foray into Saints territory earned a free-kick on the right which Thomas McCulloch palmed away launching a counter attack on the right which Stuart Aitken halted at the expense of a throw-in and foot injury for himself which required some treatment before he could continue.

Saints won another corner kick after fifty eight minutes when Craig MacEwan's shot was defelected wide of Paul McGuire's left hand post. Myles McAuley had space and time to take down Fraser MacFarlane's deep cross but his shot through a ruck of players was blocked on the six yard line.

On the hour mark Ross Hamilton picked up the second yellow card of the match when he felled Paul Carmichael wide on the right after a good turn from the Saints striker. From Matthew Kelly's delivery onto the six yard line Craig MacEwan somehow managed to direct a header towards goal despite having Nicholas Baird's arm across his throat. Marc Maccallum coming in behind bundled the ball over the line and wheeled away in celebration however his joy was short lived as Mr Hogg flagged for a hand-ball against the Saints Skipper. Worse was to follow for Marc when his protestations that the ball had come off his chest earned him a place in Referee Doolan's notebook.

A foot race up the right wing with Paul Carmichael for Stuart Aitken when the young defender managed to nick the ball out for a throw-in proved to be his last involvement. Paul took the throw quickly to Fraser MacFarlane whose low shot was well saved by Paul McGuire before Aitken signaled to the Hillington bench that he was unable to continue.

The Saints back four, assisted by the strengthening wind, remained comfortable and on a rare occasion when Stuart Ashton got the better of Scott Maitland on the Hillington right Marc Maccallum was quickly across to snuff out the danger.

Maccallum's central defensive partner Dene Cassells was instrumental in setting up Saints opening goal in the sixty seventh minute. Dene made a decisive interception on the half-way line and charged forward into the Hillington half playing the ball up to Paul Carmichael. With his back to goal Paul deftly flicked the ball on with the outside of his right foot to Craig MacEwan who wrong footed Paul McGuire and stroked the ball into the net to give Saints the lead.

Saints were back on the attack almost immediately from the restart with McGuire saving with his right foot to deny Fraser MacFarlane. From MacFarlane's corner kick from the left Paul Carmichael climbed above Ross Hamilton and Kyle Young and was a matter of inches over the crossbar with his header.

Controversy surrounded Saints second goal in the seventy fourth minute. A wind assisted goal kick from Thomas McCulloch was expertly brought down on the left by Craig MacEwan and curled high into the net past a rooted to the spot Paul McGuire. Saints celebrations of a wonderful goal from Craig were curtailed by an offside flag from Mr Hogg. However after a brief discussion with his Assistant Mr Doolan, who was clearly otherwise minded, pointed to the centre circle awarding the goal to Saints.

This was the cue for Saints Manager Alex Craik to make a double substitution replacing Matthew Kelly and Fraser MacFarlane with Martin Bonar and Dean Smith.

Further chances for Saints to put the result beyond any doubt came and went with Martin Bonar and Paul Carmichael both sending headers inches wide of target.

Both substitutes were heavily involved in Saints third goal. With Hillington pushing forward desperately looking for a way back into the game Saints broke forward with Dean Smith holding the ball up well and releasing Martin Bonar on the right wing. Martin's run was supported by Jamie Graham who popped up in the inside right channel taking the ball into the box and squaring to Craig MacEwan. Craig's low shot struck the inside of the post and bounced into the path of the luckless Christopher Flannery who tried to control the ball but only succeeded into turning it into the unguarded net.

To their credit Hillington kept plugging away and Saints were indebted to Thomas McCulloch for a fine save low down to his left to keep out a Kyle Young header in the eighty sixth minute.

A miserable afternoon for Christopher Flannery was rounded off with two minutes of normal time remaining. Paul Carmichael charged through the tiring Hillington defence once again and was scythed down twenty eight yards from goal by Flannery with Referee Doolan reaching to his back pocket and producing his red card.

The left of centre position of the free-kick would have been ideal for Willie Gemmell but in his absence Kerr Newbigging grabbed the ball. The instructions from the sidelines for Kerr to hand the ball to Craig MacEwan were baffling as nobody could remember Craig ever having taken a free-kick before however the decision proved to be an inspired one. Craig curled the ball around the wall and past the despairing left hand of Paul McGuire to seal his hat-trick with a delightful finish which would certainly have earned the mark of approval of dead ball expert Gemmell.

Some of the shine was taken off an excellent all round Saints performance when they conceded a last minute consolation goal after switching off at a hotly disputed throw-in. Hillington took full advantage of a fortuitous award quickly working the ball down the left and into the box for the unmarked Gordon Phillips. With the Saints defence appealing in vain for an offside flag second half substitute Phillips planted his header low inside Thomas McCulloch's left hand post denying Saints a long sought after clean sheet.

Referee Doolan brought proceedings to a close after three added minutes confirming Saints place in the final where their opponents will be either Easthall Star or Dunoon both also of Premier Division One.

Team Captains Paul McGuire and Marc Maccallum with Referee Robert Doolan

Scott Gold clears Craig MacEwan's header off the line

Dene Cassells beats Nicholas Baird to fire over a cross

Paul Carmichael and Ross Hamilton

Dene Cassells

Thomas McCulloch

Kerr Newbigging

Fraser MacFarlane

Scott Maitland with Stuart Ashton in pursuit

Stuart Aitken blocks Paul Carmichael's shot

Paul Carmichael heads over

Martin Bonar heads wide

Paul McGuire can't get anywhere near Craig MacEwan's free-kick

Craig MacEwan is congratulated on sealing his hat-trick

#monthesaints

Friday, 12 May 2017

Semi Preview

Saturday 13th May 2017
Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy
Semi-final
Hillington AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Penilee Community Centre
10 Gleddoch Road
Glasgow
G52 4BD
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Robert Doolan
Assistant Referee Mr Philip Hogg
Assistant Referee Mr Derek Milton

This Saturday Saints defence of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy takes them to Penilee Community Centre to face 2013 winners Hillington. The tie gives Saints an opportunity to exact some revenge on their hosts for the agonising 2013 final penalty shoot-out defeat at Somervell Park, Cambuslang. After a goalless ninety minutes in which they lost Dene Cassells and Asen Gaydardzhiev to serious head injuries and goalkeeper Daniel Cassells with a ruptured rotator cuff, Saints were edged out in the penalty shoot-out. Four successfully converted spot kicks each effectively took the shoot-out to sudden death where Donald Campbell had his effort saved by the outstretched foot of the Hillington keeper before Saints stand-in keeper Alex Craik was beaten for the fifth time confirming Hillington as the winners.

Hillington have already claimed two Premier Division scalps in an impressive run to this season's semi-finals. After a first round bye and a comfortable away win at Premier Division 2B Carlton YMCA Hillington were on their travels again in the third round with a short trip to Seedhill, Paisley to face Premier Division Ferguslie Star. After a thrilling 4 - 4 draw Hillington booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 4 - 2 penalty shoot-out victory. The quarter-finals draw took Hillington to North Lanarkshire to face Motherwell Thistle in another high scoring encounter from which they emerged victorious by four goals to two.

In a break with tradition this season's Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-finals are not being played at neutral venues but rather were subject to a draw which gave Hillington home advantage. Saturdy's tie must be played to a finish on the day with penalty kicks to decide the winner if the sides cannot be separated after ninety minutes. The other semi-final will be contested by Easthall Star and Dunoon and is due to be played on Saturday 20th May at Stepford Football Centre. The venue for the final has not yet been set however it is likely to be played on Saturday 10th June.

Cups

In the Scottish Amateur Football League's other cup competitions Hillington failed to negotiate the Centenary Cup first round group sections finishing in fourth place in group section one behind eventual finalists Alba Thistle, Premier Division 2B Champions Arkleston Barrhead and Premier Division Shawlands FP.

In the Coronation Cup Hillington require to beat Easthall Star and hope that group leaders Ferguslie Star slip up in their final group section four match, also against Easthall Star, if they are to progress to the semi-finals.

In the major cup competition Hillington fell at the first West of Scotland Amateur Cup hurdle losing out 3 - 2 to Eddlewood of the North and South Lanarkshire Amateur Football Association.

Hillington put together a decent Scottish Amateur Cup run with three successive thumping home victories before falling short of extending campaign beyond the Christmas and New Year break. Castlemilk of Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division 2A, Erskine Town of Glasgow Colleges Amateur Football Association Division Two and Northern United of Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Division Two North were all easily swept aside at home before a first away trip of the competition to Falkirk. Stirling and District Amateur Football Association Division 1A title hopefuls Pennies however put paid to Hillington's Scottish Cup ambitions with a convincing 5 - 1 win leaving Hillington to concentrate on silverware on the "domestic" front.

League

Hillington rounded off their Premier Division One league campaign three weeks ago with a 2 - 2 draw away at Dunoon. The draw confirmed third place for Hillington behind East Kilbride Rolls Royce and league champions Alba Thistle. Hillington are currently on thirty one points, thirteen points behind Alba Thistle, but for their final points tally will have to wait for the verdict of the league committee on their abandoned home fixture against Easthall Star.

Vital to Hillington's third place finish has been their excellent home form which saw only Champions Alba Thistle return home with full points.

Hiilington's fixtures so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division One

24th August 2016 Neilston 1 - 0 Hillington
17th September 2016 Hillington 2 - 2 Dunoon
8th October 2016 Alba Thistle 5 - 2 Hillington
15th October 2016 Hillington 4 - 1 Duncanrig FP
29th October 2016 Easthall Star 4 - 5 Hillington
12th November 2016 Kings Park Rangers 3 - 3 Hillington
10th December 2016 Duncanrig FP 0 - 3 Hillington
17th December 2016 Hillington 4 - 1 Rosehill Star
7th January 2017 Hillington 1 - 0 Neilston
28th January 2017 Hillington 2 - 2 Rutherglen
18th February 2017 Hillington 2 - 0 Kings Park Rangers
25th February 2017 East Kilbride Rolls Royce 3 - 1 Hillington
11th March 2017 Hillington 1 - 5 Alba Thistle
25th March 2017 Rutherglen 3 - 5 Hillington
1st April 2017 Rosehill Star 1 - 2 Hillington
8th April 2017 Hillington 3 - 1 East Kilbride Rolls Royce
22nd April 2017 Dunoon 2 - 2 Hillington

Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup

Group Section 1

13th August 2016 Hillington 0 - 1 Arkleston Barrhead
17th August 2016 Hillington 2 - 3 Alba Thistle
20th August 2016 Carlton YMCA 1 - 7 Hillington
27th August 2016 Shawlands FP 4 - 1 Hillington

Scottish Amateur Football League Coronation Cup

Group Section 4

3rd May 2017 Hillington 2 - 3 Ferguslie Star
6th May 2017 Neilston 1 - Hillington

Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

First Round
Bye

Second Round
19th November 2016 Carlton YMCA 2 - 7 Hillington

Third Round
21st January 2017 Ferguslie Star 4 - 4 Hillington
Hillington win 4 - 2 on penalty kicks

Quarter Final
19th April 2017 Motherwell Thistle 2 - 4 Hillington

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

First Round
Bye

Second Round
22nd October 2016 Eddlewood 3 - 2 Hillington

Scottish Amateur Cup

First Round
3rd September 2016 Hillington 5 - 1 Castlemilk

Second Round
1st October 2016 Hillington 13 - 0 Erskine Town

Third Round
5th November 2016 Hillington 10 - 0 Northern United

Fourth Round
3rd December 2016 Pennies 5 - 1 Hillington

Hillington AFC Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners 2013

Oban Saints path to the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy Semi-Final

1st Round

Bye

2nd Round

21st January 2017 Port Glasgow OBU 0 - 6 Oban Saints

Paul Carmichael slides in at the back post to turn in Brian Mackay's cut-back

3rd Round

25th February 2017 Arkleston Barrhead 1 - 3 Oban Saints

Craig MacEwan rounds off the scoring

Quarter Final
22nd April 2017 Oban Saints 4 - 1 Port Glasgow

Dene Cassells heads home Saints second goal

#monthesaints

Thursday, 4 May 2017

Hi Ho Silver

Jim Diamond - Hi Ho Silver

Saturday 6th May 2017
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

Oban Saints AFC v Goldenhill AFC
Glencruitten 2
Mossfield Avenue
Oban
Argyll
PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr Gary Train

This Saturday at Glencruitten Saints enter the final month of the league season with one third of their fixtures still to be completed. With a Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final and possible final also to be squeezed in Saints face a hectic May fixture schedule starting with the visit of second placed Goldenhill. St Joseph's FP confirmed their second Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division title in three seasons with last Saturday's 3 - 1 win over Campbeltown Pupils at William Street leaving Saints to battle it out with Goldenhill and last season's Champions East Kilbride FC Amateurs for the runners-up spot.

The Gowdie are very much in pole position to finish their second Premier Division campaign in second place and need only avoid defeat in their two remaining league fixtures home and away to Saints to finish in the sliver medal position. On their first ever visit to Glencruitten last April Goldenhill inflicted a humiliating 6 - 2 defeat on Saints keeping up the incredible momentum which had taken them to the West of Scotland Amateur Cup final. Sadly on the following Friday evening the Gowdie lost out narrowly to the very impressive Shortlees in the West of Scotland cup final but can be justifiably proud of their achievement in reaching the final.

Despite being out the running for the Premier Division trophy both Saints and Goldenhill have their eyes on silverware in the Scottish Amateur Football League's cup competitions. Saints have a Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final tie with 2013 winners Hillington next Saturday while Goldenhill await the winners of group section four in the Coronation Cup semi-final after topping group section three with convincing wins over St Joseph's FP, East Kilbride FC Amateurs and Inverclyde.

Should they successfully negotiate the semi-finals, potential Coronation Cup final opponents for Goldenhill include Premier Division One Rutherglen who dumped the Gowdie out of both the Centenary Cup and Jimmy Marshall Trophy.

In the major cup competitions Goldenhill fell at the first hurdle in the Scottish Amateur Cup losing out to North South Lanarkshire Amateur Football Association Premier Division high fliers Carluke Hearts in a high scoring encounter. After a 4 - 4 draw at home the Gowdie were beaten by six goals to four after extra time in the replay at Carluke.

Goldenhill's bid to reach a second consecutive West of Scotland Amateur Cup final also came to a disappointingly early end. After a first round bye and a comfortable away win against this season's Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division 2A runners-up East Kilbride YMCA the Gowdie were drawn away from home again in the third round. The trip to South Lanarkshire to face Blantyre Celtic of Central Scottish Amateur Football League Division 1A was a tricky one and the 205-16 runners-up had to come from two goals down before rattling in four without reply to progress to round four. The draw once again saw them come second out of the hat and was particularly unkind pairing them with two time Scottish Amateur Cup winners Hurlford Thistle. The Gowdie had defeated the Ayrshire men in a quarter final penalty shoot-out on the way to last season's New Douglas park final however this time around it was Hurlford Thistle who prevailed winning a close encounter by the odd goal in five.

Goldenhill line up for their West of Scotland Amateur Cup Semi Final against Colville Park

Goldenhill's results so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

SAFL Coronation Cup

SAFL Centenary Cup

SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
10th December 2016 Rutherglen AFC 3 - 2 Goldenhill AFC

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
1st Ocotber 2016 Goldenhill AFC 4 - 4 Carluke Hearts AFC

2nd Round Replay
8th October 2106 Carluke Hearts AFC 6 - 4 Goldenhill AFC (After Extra Time)