So Good To Be Back Home Again

The Tourists - So Good To Be Back Home Again

Saturday 28th February 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy 2nd Round
Oban Saints AFC v Jamestown AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban, Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr John Stobo

Last Time Out

Saints were left to rue a string of missed opportunities against a battling Busby at Overlee Park last Saturday afternoon. Injuries and work commitments deprived Saints of the services of Allan Mackay, Craig MacEwan, Ross Maitland and Martin Bonar. On the plus side Myles McAuley and Ally McKerracher made welcome returns to the squad. Saints opened brightly and took the lead after five minutes through Ally McKerracher whose scuffed shot deceived veteren Busby keeper Danny Moy after good link up play from Lewis Cameron and Donald Campbell. Saints squandered five good first half chances to increase their lead restricting the home side to just one 44th minute attempt on goal which narrowly cleared the Saints crossbar. Busby showed good spirit to get back into the match in the second half and were rewarded for their endeavours when they equalised through top scorer Billy McGhee with just ten minutes remaining. With Busby looking content with a point Saints went in search of a winner but despite creating a further two excellent chances the lack of firepower up front ultimately cost the visitors two valuable league points.

Following the first round away victory at Easthall Star Saints continue their defence of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy with a home tie against Jamestown. The Alexandria club are currently bottom of Premier Division One with just three points from their opening six matches. Jamestown arrived in this season's Premier Division One on the back of two successive promotions but with five defeats already on the board they have a battle on their hands to avoid a swift return to Premier Division Two. In Jamestown's favour are the number of fixtures remaining, there are 36 points still up for grabs so survival is very much in their own hands.

This will be Saints first home fixture of 2015 and a great opportunity for the players to atone for the 5 - 2 humbling at the hands of league title favourites St Joseph's FP on their last home outing way back on 22nd November. Saints have had just four fixtures since then losing at Finnart and Harestanes, winning at Easthall Star and drawing last week at Busby. Although results have been poor the performances have, on the whole, been better than the scorelines would suggest. In particular the Scottish Amateur Cup defeat against Central Scottish Amateur League Premier Division leaders Harestanes Amateurs was very harsh on Saints who gave one of the top sides in Scotland a good run for their money. 

Saints and Jamestown met at the quarter-finals stage of last season's Jimmy Marshall Trophy at Argyll Park, Alexandria where Saints survived a late scare to progress to the semi-finals. Saints were leading courtesy of two goals from Craig MacEwan however a late strike from the home side made the closing stages very nervy for the eventual tournament winners.   

Saints have one or two injury and work related call-offs to contend with for Saturday's fixture but will welcome back to the squad Craig MacEwan who missed last week's draw at Busby and Roy McLuckie whose paternity leave has been terminated by Manager Iain Jackson.  

Jamestown's SAFL Premier Division One results so far this season:-

16th August 2014 Shawlands FP 2 - 1 Jamestown

6th September 2014 Jamestown 2 - 4 Kilbowie Union

25th October 2014 Inverclyde 4 - 2 Jamestown

1st November 2014 Jamestown 5 - 4 Hillington

6th December 2014 Goldenhill 5 - 2 Jamestown

13th December 2014 Jamestown 2 - 4 Shawlands FP

Jamestown's Cup results so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Cup

2nd Round Gallowhill 2 - 10 Jamestown

3rd Round Jamestown 1 - 1 Mill United

3rd Round Replay Mill United 2 - 1 Jamestown

West of Scotland Cup

1st Round Orchard Park Mount 0 - 5 Jamestown

2nd Round Jamestown 4 - 1 Cambusglen

3rd Round Jamestown 1 - 3 Dean

Scottish Amateur Football League Centenary Cup

1st Round Clydebank 1 - 1 Jamestown (3 - 5 on penalty kicks)

2nd Round St Joseph's FP 3 - 0 Jamestown

Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

1st Round Dunoon 1 - 2 Jamestown

Jamestown's recent record in the Scottish Amateur Football League:-

2011/12 Division 1B 3rd

2012/13 Division 1B 3rd Promoted

2013/14 Premier Division 2 3rd Promoted

Saints get ready to kick off against Jamestown at Argyll Park last season

Donald Campbell tries to force his way into a packed Jamestown penalty box

Lewis Cameron's free kick almost catches out the Jamestown keeper

The Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

#monthesaints

Pinky Blue

Pinky Blue

Saturday 21st. February 2015

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

Busby AFC v Oban Saints AFC

Overlee Playing Fields, Moray Drive, Clarkston G76 8NL 

Kick off 2pm

Referee - Mr James Rose

Last Weekend's Fixture

Saints took the first step towards a successful defence of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy with a hard fought win over Premier Division Two outfit Easthall Star at Stepford Football Centre last Saturday. Ross Maitland, Myles McAuley and Ally McKerracher were all unavailable so Alex Craik, Scott Maitland and Dean Smith all came into the starting line-up. The narrow, bumpy pitch at Stepford was not exactly to Saints liking and with the hosts giving them no time on the ball it took a while for Saints to get going. Saints looked to have a good chance to open the scoring in the 5th minute when Lewis Cameron ran onto a defence splitting pass from Donald Campbell. Unfortunately the referee ruled Lewis to be offside which can charitably described as a very close call from Mr Auld. One minute later Saints fell behind when Dean Smith lost possession in the centre circle. The ball was quickly played out wide to John MacDonald who cut in from the right wing and fired a low right foot shot into the bottom corner of the Saints net past Daniel Cassells' left hand. The tight park was making it difficult for Saints to use the flanks to good effect however they almost found some joy when Scott Maitland made a good run up the right wing and sent in a tantalising low cross which Dean Smith narrowly failed to connect with at the near post. Saints were relatively untroubled at the back and kept probing for an opening but were finding the resolute Star defence difficult to penetrate. Saints threatened on a couple of occasions from corner kicks but the Star goalkeeper kept them at bay with some unorthodox but nonetheless effective saves. Saints were back on level terms in the 35th minute thanks to a tactical switch from Manager Iain Jackson. Lewis Cameron was ordered to drop deeper into midfield to get on the ball a bit more,  a move which paid instant dividends. Lewis picked the ball up on the half way line and sent Dean Smith off on a run up the right wing,  Dean's low cross picked out Allan Mackay in the box who controlled under pressure from the Star defence before calmly rolling the ball past the keeper and into the net. Saints survived a scare in the 44th minute when, after a succession of long throws and corner kicks which the Saints rearguard of Marc MacCallum, Alex Craik and Dougal Graham repelled, the referee awarded Star a hotly disputed free kick on the edge of the Saints box. In a move straight from the training ground the ball was played to the right hand side for dangerman John MacDonald to fire in a shot which crashed off the underside of the crossbar and, fortunately for Saints back into play where it was scrambled to safety.
Saints capitalised on this slice of good fortune by proceeding to totally dominate the second half. Straight from the restart Saints were on the attack with Craig MacEwan bursting into the box only to see his shot smothered at his near post by the Star goalkeeper. In the 51st minute Dean Smith had an identical chance which the keeper turned round the post with his outstretched right foot. The Saints central midfield partnership of Paul Kerr and Donald Campbell were now well in control of the midfield and continued to create chances for the strikers. In the 56th minute a flowing move involving Lewis Cameron,  Dean Smith and Allan Mackay was rounded off by Allan stroking the ball home from just inside the box. However the referee once again gave the benefit of a very tight offside decision to the home side. Saints were becoming increasingly frustrated as it seemed the breakthrough wasn't going to come. Manager Iain Jackson elected to make some changes withdrawing Scott Maitland and Alex Craik and replacing them with Martin Bonar and Jamie Graham. In the 70th minute a Lewis Cameron corner Kick from the left was met by Craig MacEwan whose header from six yards out cannoned off the keeper's left hand post before being hooked clear. Saints then made their final change with David McArthur replacing Dean Smith. David made a quick impact on proceedings winning a 79th minute free kick a yard outside the Star box and slightly left of centre. Allan Mackay stepped up to drill a low shot past the five man Star wall and just inside the keeper's right hand post. Four minutes later Lewis Cameron was finally rewarded for his afternoon of tireless running. Lewis made a great run from deep through the inside right channel easily outpacing the tiring Star defence to bury a shot in the bottom corner of the net. One minute later Craig MacEwan was foiled once again by another excellent save at the near post from the Star goalkeeper. In the 88th minute Lewis Cameron should have doubled his tally but he shot wide of target after excellent build up play involving David McArthur and Allan Mackay. Saints completed the scoring in the 90th minute when David McArthur's shot from the edge of the box proved too hot to handle for the Star keeper who could only parry the ball into the path of the onrushing Martin Bonar. Martin who clearly has a keen eye for goal eagerly gobbled up the chance slotting home from close range to seal a hard fought but deserved 4 - 1 victory for Saints. A second round home tie against Premier Division One side Jamestown now awaits on a date yet to be decided.

Allan Mackay with Saints first half equaliser

Alex Craik with a clearing header

Easthall Star rattle the underside of the Saints crossbar

Easthall Star keeper Andy McCunnie makes a fine save from Dean Smith

Allan Mackay shoots over

Martin Bonar makes it 4 - 1 to Saints

Saints return to league action this Saturday with a trip to Clarkston to face Busby. Busby are currently in 8th place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division with eleven points from twelve games just one point behind Saints but with four more games played. Busby's three league victories have all come at home the most notable being a 1 - 0 win over title hopefuls Thorn Athletic. Busby have also recorded creditable away draws at Finnart and Haldane United.
After a disappointing start to the league season Saints will be looking to reignite the defence of their Premier Division Crown by taking maximum points on a ground where they have not dropped a point on any of their previous visits. The poor start to the league campaign has left Saints little margin for error but with only six points separating 7th placed Saints and current league leaders Finnart it is still very much all to play for. When the sides met at Glencruitten earlier this season Saints ran out comfortable 3 - 0 winners thanks to goals from Roy McLuckie, Lewis Cameron and Allan Mackay. The Saints Management will be hoping for an equally assured performance this time around but can take nothing for granted against their highly unpredictable opponents.

Busby's league fixtures so far this season:-

Busby 3 - 6 Finnart
Busby 7 - 4 Eaglesham
Busby 0 - 3 St Joseph's
Busby 0 -  2 Campbeltown Pupils
Oban Saints 3 - 0 Busby
Kings Park Rangers 2 - 1 Busby
Haldane United 2 - 2 Busby
Busby 1 - 0 Thorn Athletic
Finnart 0 - 0 Busby
Alba 2 - 1 Busby
Busby 2 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
Campbeltown Pupils 3 - 0 Busby

Saints record against Busby:-

2007-08

Oban Saints 2 - 3 Busby

Busby 2 - 3 Oban Saints

2013-14 

Busby 2 - 9 Oban Saints

Oban Saints 2 - 2 Busby

2014-15 

Oban Saints 3 - 0 Busby

Busby AFC still in the pink?

Busby's recent SAFL record:-

2013-14 Premier Division 5th
2012-13 Premier Division One 4th Promoted
2011-12 Premier Division One 4th
2010-11 Premier Division One 7th
2009-10 Premier  Division One 3rd
2008-09 Premier Division One 5th
2007-08 Premier Division 9th Relegated
2006-07 Premier Division One Champions Promoted

Overlee Playing Fields

The Pavilion at Overlee

#monthesaints

Romance of the Cup

The Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy

Saturday 14th February 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy 1st Round
Easthall Star AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Stepford Football Centre
1514 Edinburgh Road
Glasgow
G33 4NU
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr. Michael Auld




Saints stop/start season stalled again with the cancellation of last Saturday's scheduled Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division home match against Alba Thistle from Paisley. The match was called off on Friday morning with Alba apparently unable to raise enough players to field a team. This latest disruption will have come as a bitter blow to Saints faithful home support whose wait for a home fixture now extends to twelve weeks and counting. The unfulfilled fixture will be referred to the League Committee however it's games the players want and even a "home win" committee decision will be scant reward for yet another Saturday spent kicking their heels.

It's the romance of the cup for Saints this Valentine's Day as they begin their defence of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy with a tricky away trip to Stepford Football Centre to face Easthall Star. Star currently occupy 5th place in Premier Division Two with 19 points from 13 games. After picking up only one point from their opening four matches Star have lost just one game which was away from home at runaway league leaders Drumchapel Amateurs Colts. This run of good league form includes away victories at Dunoon Athletic and Lochgilphead Red Star, and highly creditable away draws at fellow promotion contenders Motherwell Thistle, Ferguslie Star and Drumchapel Amateurs Colts.
Formed in 1991 as a Sunday league team Easthall Star enjoyed a reasonable amount of success racking up ten trophies in a fourteen year period between 1993 and 2007. During this successful period they also made two semi-final appearances in the Sunday Scottish Amateur Cup. After a two season sabbatical Easthall Star reinvented themselves as a Saturday team joining the Scottish Amateur Football League for season 2012-13 where they won Division 1B at the first time of asking. With only 4 points separating the teams in second and sixth place in the this season's SAFL Premier Division 2 a second promotion in three seasons is still very much up for grabs for Star.
With their national cup ambitions ended for another season Saints can now focus on getting back into the league tittle race and defending the Jimmy Marshall Trophy which they won for the first time last season. Due to work and other commitments Saints have a number of players unavailable for selection on Saturday however Manager Iain Jackson can still name a strong squad for what will be a tough match on the notoriously difficult playing surface at Stepford. The match must be played to a finish on the day and will go straight to a penalty shoot-out if the teams are level after 90 minutes.

Stepford Football Centre

Easthall Star's League Fixtures So Far:-

16th August 2014 Easthall Star 2 - 5 South Camlachie YP
27th August 2014 Easthall Star 2 - 4 Motherwell Thistle
30th August 2014 Easthall Star 0 - 0 Lochgilphead Red Star
6th September 2014 Easthall Star 3 - 4 Ferguslie Star
13th September 2014 Paisley 3 - 6 Easthall Star
20th September 2014 Centre 1 - 2 Easthall Star
11th October 2014 Dunoon Athletic 1 - 3 Easthall Star
8th November 2014 Drumchapel Amateurs Colts 2 - 1 Easthall Star
29th November 2014 Easthall Star 4 - 0 Clydebank
6th December 2014 Lochgilphead Red Star 0 - 1 Easthall Star
10th January 2015 Motherwell Thistle 5 - 5 Easthall Star
24th January 2015 Easthall Star 4 - 4 Drumchapel Amateurs Colts
7th February 2015 Ferguslie Star 3 - 3 Easthall Star




Easthall Star's record in the Scottish Amateur Football League:-

2013/14
Premier Division Two 5th

2012/13
Division 1B Champions (Promoted)

Easthall Star's most recent trophy success

Easthall Star pictured after winning their first ever trophy in season 1994

For those of you slightly upset by the choice of team colours in the previous picture this also happened in 1994

Oban Saints AFC SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners 2014

#monthesaints

Welcome Home

Crowds gather at Glencruitten for Saints first home game for eleven weeks

Peters & Lee - Welcome Home

Saturday 7th February 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division
Oban Saints AFC v Alba Thistle AFC
Glencruitten 2, Mossfield Avenue, Oban, Argyll PA34 4EH
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr David Stirling

Last Time Out

Saints prepare for last Saturday's proposed trip to face Easthall Star

Last Saturday's Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy first round match against Easthall Star was called off when a Friday afternoon pitch inspection found the playing surface at Stepford Football Centre to be under a blanket of snow. A revised date for this fixture has yet to be announced. 

Welcome Home

After an eleven week absence Saints return to Glencruitten with a league match against Alba Thistle from Paisley. Alba Thistle currently occupy ninth place in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division with five points from six matches. Like Saints Alba have endured a stop/start first half of the season with only six league games played and early exits from the major cup competitions making it difficult for them to get into any kind of rhythm. Alba's form however would appear to be improving with a 4 - 4 away draw at Finnart in their last outing which came the week after Finnart had defeated Saints 4 - 1. Alba considered themselves to be the better team on the day and were disappointed not to pick up maximum points. Prior to that Alba secured their only league win of the season so far at home to Busby which was preceded by a narrow defeat against league leaders Thorn Athletic in a hard fought local derby.
Saints won the corresponding fixture last season 2 - 0 thanks to second half goals from Donald Campbell and Allan Mackay. Saints can expect another tough game and will have to quickly shake off their ring rust if they are to record the victory they so desperately require to remain in this season's league title race. Manager Iain Jackson has something approaching a full squad available for selection which should give him some interesting choices to make. Despite the weather Glencruitten would appear to be holding up reasonably well which is extremely good news as the 3G at Oban High School is already fully booked for the month of February ruling it out as an alternative venue.



Alba Thistle's league season thus far:-

16th August 2014 Alba Thistle 0 - 2 Haldane United
23rd August 2014 St Joseph's FP 3 - 0 Alba Thistle
30th August 2014 Alba Thistle 1 - 1 Kings Park Rangers
20th September 2014 Alba Thistle 2 - 3 Thorn Athletic
20th November 2014 Alba Thistle 1 - 1 Busby
13th December 2014 Finnart 4 - 4 Alba Thistle



Alba Thistle's recent league history:-

2007/08 Paisley and District Division Two Champions (Promoted)
2008/09 Paisley and District Division One Champions
2009/10 Paisley and District Division One Champions (Undefeated)
2010/11 SAFL Division Three Champions (Promoted)
2011/12 SAFL Division Two Champions (Promoted) (Undefeated)
2012/13 SAFL Division One Champions (Promoted)
2013/14 SAFL Premier Division 8th


Saints league record against Alba Thistle:-

12th October 2013 SAFL Premier Division Oban Saints 2 - 0 Alba Thistle
29th March 2014 SAFL Premier Division Alba Thistle 4 - 5 Oban Saints

In Other News

Saints striker Allan Mackay and his partner Claire Smith announced their engagement last Saturday. It is rumoured that future Father in Law Pop Smith only agreed to Allan's request for his daughter's hand in marriage when Allan pledged to join the rest of the Smith family in supporting Heart of Midlothian Football Club.

#monthesaints

Out Of The Sinking

Paul Weller - Out Of The Sinking

Saturday 31st January 2015
Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy 1st Round
Easthall Star AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Stepford Football Centre
1514 Edinburgh Road
Glasgow
G33 4NU
Kick off 2pm
Referee Mr. Gordon Kelso

Saints Are Sunk In Kirkintilloch

Saints West of Scotland Cup hopes were sunk in Scotland's canal capital last Saturday afternoon in an entertaining match far closer than the final scoreline would suggest. The snow capped Kilsyth Hills and Campsie Fells in the distance were a good indication of why this tie had already been twice postponed so full credit to Harestanes for procuring the 3G pitch at Merkland to ensure the match was played at the third time of asking. Manager Iain Jackson had a strong squad to choose from and named a starting line up of Daniel Cassells in goal; a back three of Captain Marc MacCallum, Paul Kerr and Dougal Graham; a midfield of Ross Maitland, Ally McKerracher, Myles McAuley, Donald Campbell and Craig MacEwan; and a strike force of Lewis Cameron and Allan Mackay.
The Hares kicked off with the advantage of the slight breeze and playing into the sun which, bar one heavy shower of rain towards the end of the first half, made for a pleasant afternoon's football for the small crowd. The opening exchanges were very tight with both teams probing for openings which were to prove very hard to come by against the respective defences who were restricting their opponents to shots from distance. Saints first effort came in the fourth minute from Ally McKerracher but the youngster blazed his shot high and wide from the edge of the box after a good knock down from Allan Mackay. The Hares first sight of goal came after 17 minutes when Mark Fitzsimmons fired a low free 20 yard free kick narrowly wide of Daniel Cassells' right hand post. Saints forced their first corner of the match in the 20th minute after good link up play down the right touchline involving Donald Campbell, Ross Maitland and Allan Mackay. Ross Maitland's corner kick from the right was well held by Hares goal keeper Conor O'Boyle who looked very assured throughout. Saints only other attempt of note came after 40 minutes when Allan Mackay held the ball up well on the edge of the Hares box to create a shooting opportunity for Donald Campbell. Unfortunately Donald was unable to keep his shot down and the ball sailed high and wide of target. The Hares also sent their only other attempts of the first half over the cross bar. Firstly full back Stuart McClune failed to keep a long range shot on target then left winger Craig Young headed over from a corner kick.
Saints started the second half strongly and had much the better of opening twenty minutes or so. In the 47th minute Craig MacEwan headed a Donald Campbell free kick inches wide of the goalkeeper's right hand post. In the 59th minute Allan Mackay came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when he fired wide from ten yards out following good link up play involving Ally McKerracher and Lewis Cameron. In between those two chances Daniel Cassells pulled off a comfortable save from a Craig Young shot from just inside the Saints penalty area. In the 60th minute Craig MacEwan finally hit the target for Saints only to see his header from a Ross Maitland  free kick well saved by Conor O'Boyle in the Hares goal. Saints best chance of the match from open play came in the 70th minute after some excellent wing play from Craig MacEwan. Craig beat full back David Black to send over a tempting cross which found Ally McKerracher in the six yard box. Unfortunately, with the goal gaping, the youngster appeared to be caught in two minds and the chance was lost. Three minutes later, and against the run of play, Saints fell behind. Referee Colin Simpson, who handled proceedings well, awarded Hares a hotly disputed in-direct free kick for hand-ball 26 yards from goal. Substitute Ewan McRae rolled the ball to the side for Hares top scorer Mark Fitzsimmons to fire in his 32nd goal of the season so far beating Daniel Cassells just inside his right here and post. Saints were quickly back on the attack and came close again in the 81st minute when Allan Mackay won a free kick twenty-five yards from goal and slightly left of centre. Allan took the free kick himself and struck the outside of the junction of post and bar with the keeper rooted to the spot. Just one minute later Saints finally got the reward their play deserved when Ally McKerracher was brought down inside the Hares box. With Referee Colin Simpson pointing for a penalty kick Ally appeared to fancy his chances from the penalty spot. Probably mindful of the recent Kevin Mirallas and Leighton Baines incident at Goodison Park, Saints skipper Marc MacCallum was having none of it and demanded that regular penalty taker Allan Mackay assume responsibility. Allan was his usual deadly self from the spot and calmly dispatched the kick sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Almost immediately from the restart Saints fell behind in extremely unfortunate circumstances. A cruel ricochet in the Saints midfield caught out the defence and set Hares Jamie Broadfoot through on goal. The lethal winger dispatched the ball past Daniel Cassells to restore the Hares lead and undo all of Saints good work. Just two minutes later it was game over, danger man Jamie Broadfoot cut in from the left touchline before thumping an unstoppable shot low into the bottom left corner of the Saints net. Saints carved out their final opportunity in the 87th minute and arguably could have had their second penalty kick. Allan Mackay forced his way into the Harestanes box and appeared to be fouled causing him to send his 16 yard shot over the bar. Much to Allan's bemusement his appeals were dismissed and a goal kick was awarded. Saints Manager Iain Jackson made his one and only change in the 88th minute withdrawing Allan Mackay who had lead the line well against a resolute Hares defence and replacing him with Dean Smith. The match finished without further incident and once again Saints were left to reflect on what might have been. As was the case in the Scottish Amateur Cup against Giffnock North earlier in the season Saints acquitted themselves very well against top class opposition losing out only by the finest of margins. Manager Iain Jackson will be encouraged by what was an excellent all-round performance, especially after a seven week lay-off, which will hopefully prove a catalyst for a serious assault on the league title and Jimmy Marshall Trophy.

Ross Maitland takes on Hares full back Stuart McClune

Craig MacEwan

Craig MacEwan Heads Narrowly Wide

Allan Mackay Converts From The Penalty Spot

This Weekend's Fixture

Oban Saints AFC SAFL Jimmy Marshall Trophy Winners 2013 - 14

Saints begin their defence of the Scottish Amateur Football League Jimmy Marshall Trophy this Saturday with a tricky away trip to Stepford Football Centre to face Easthall Star. Star currently occupy 5th place in Premier Division Two with 18 points from 12 games. After picking up only one point from their opening four matches Star have lost just one game which was away from home at runaway league leaders Drumchapel Amateurs Colts. This run of good league form includes away victories at Dunoon Athletic and Lochgilphead Red Star, and highly creditable away draws at Motherwell Thistle and Drumchapel Amateurs Colts. Formed in 1991 as a Sunday league team Easthall Star enjoyed a reasonable amount of success racking up ten trophies in a fourteen year period between 1993 and 2007. During this successful period they also made two semi-final appearances in the Sunday Scottish Amateur Cup. After a two season sabbatical Easthall Star reinvented themselves as a Saturday team joining the Scottish Amateur Football League for season 2012-13 where they won Division 1B at the first time of asking. With only 4 points separating the teams in second and sixth place in the this season's SAFL Premier Division 2 a second promotion in three seasons is still very much up for grabs for Star.
With their national cup ambitions ended for another season Saints can now focus on getting back into the league tittle race and defending the Jimmy Marshall Trophy which they won for the first time last season. Due to work and other commitments Saints have one or two players unavailable for selection on Saturday however Manager Iain Jackson can still name a strong squad for what will be a tough match on the notoriously difficult playing surface at Stepford. The match must be played to a finish on the day and will go straight to a penalty shoot-out if the teams are level after 90 minutes.


Easthall Star's League Fixtures So Far:-

16th August 2014 Easthall Star 2 - 5 South Camlachie YP
27th August 2014 Easthall Star 2 - 4 Motherwell Thistle
30th August 2014 Easthall Star 0 - 0 Lochgilphead Red Star
6th September 2014 Easthall Star 3 - 4 Ferguslie Star
13th September 2014 Paisley 3 - 6 Easthall Star
20th September 2014 Centre 1 - 2 Easthall Star
11th October 2014 Dunoon Athletic 1 - 3 Easthall Star
8th November 2014 Drumchapel Amateurs Colts 2 - 1 Easthall Star
29th November 2014 Easthall Star 4 - 0 Clydebank
6th December 2014 Lochgilphead Red Star 0 - 1 Easthall Star
10th January 2015 Motherwell Thistle 5 - 5 Easthall Star
24th January 2015 Easthall Star 4 - 4 Drumchapel Amateurs Colts




Easthall Star's record in the Scottish Amateur Football League:-

2013/14
Premier Division Two 5th

2012/13
Division 1B Champions (Promoted)

In Other News

Congratulation to Roy and Gillian McLuckie on the birth this week of their first child Louis George McLuckie. Hopefully the new arrival will follow in the footsteps of his father and late grandfather George in representing the mighty Oban Saints.

Louis George McLuckie

Roy McLuckie

Oban and District League Champions 1972
George McLuckie back row 4th from left

#monthesaints

Third Time Around

DENNIS - Third Time Around

Saturday 24th January 2015

Colville Park Country Club West of Scotland Cup 4th Round

Harestanes Amateurs FC v Oban Saints AFC

Waterside Park

Gray Street

Kirkintilloch

G66 3LL

Kick Off 1.30pm

Referee Mr Kevin Nolan

Alternative venue:-

Merkland Recreation Centre

Merkland Place

Kirkintilloch

G66 3SN

Last Saturday's second attempt to play this fixture failed to escape the bad weather which decimated the amateur football card throughout the country. Clearly keen to exploit any chance of an overnight thaw Harestanes delayed their pitch inspection until 8 am on Saturday morning but with the pitch at Waterside Park under six inches of snow there was no option but to postpone the fixture for a second time. This Saturday the Hares have the 3G pitch at Merkland Recreation Centre as a back up venue should Waterside Park once again prove unplayable. However with low temperatures forecast for the weekend there is a risk that too may be frozen off as was the case when this fixture was first due to be played on 13th December. Once again it's a case of fingers crossed and hope for the best. 

Here's another chance to read last week's match preview:-

This Saturday Saints face their biggest test of the season so far with a trip to Kirkintilloch to face Harestanes Amateurs in the West of Scotland Cup fourth round. The four time winners of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division currently sit in second place in the top flight of the Central Scottish league set-up, level on points with leaders Colville Park with a game in hand but with a slightly inferior goal difference. Saints come into this fixture smarting from back-to-back league defeats against St Joseph's F.P. and Finnart which has dealt a serious blow to their hopes of a successful title defence. However with their last fixture a very distant seven weeks ago Saints will be looking on this fixture as a fresh start and an opportunity to re-ignite their season. In sharp contrast to Saints indifferent form the Hares are on a ten match unbeaten run in all competitions and are widely considered to be the top amateur team in Scotland at present. If Saints are to progress in the competition they must blunt a prolific Harestanes attack which has already racked up ninety nine competitive goals this season. Saints can draw some encouragement from their last away trip to face Central Scottish Amateur Football League opposition in season 2102 - 13. On that occasion Saints recorded a highly creditable 2 - 2 draw against Colville Park in the Scottish Amateur Cup 7th round before ultimately succumbing to a 3 - 1 replay defeat against the eventual losing finalists.
Saints and Harestanes previously met in the second round of the 2007 - 08 Scottish Amateur Cup. After a 1 -1 draw at Glencruitten Saints were eventually edged out in the replay by two goals to one by the 2002 and 2003 Scottish Cup winners.
This Saturday's tie was originally scheduled for Saturday 13th December but with the Saints boys already on the mini-bus and about to depart the news came through from the Hares that the grass park at Merklands and the 3G at Kirkintilloch High School were both unplayable bringing 2014 to a frustratingly premature end for Saints. Following the Scottish Amateur Football League festive period shutdown and more severe weather disruption this will be Saints opening fixture of 2015 and they could scarcely have asked for a tougher fixture to begin the year with. The 2009 - 10 West of Scotland Cup was the last of an incredible fifteen major trophies won by Harestanes Amateurs in a fourteen season purple patch which they have been striving ever since to recreate. The Hares now look to be on the brink of reaching those dizzy heights again therefore a victory for Saints is an extremely tall order. Under West of Scotland Cup rules the tie must be played to a finish on the day with extra-time and penalties to decide the winner if required. Saints have proved in the past that they can mix it with the big boys so, although they are strong favourites the Hares should take nothing for granted. Whatever the final outcome the tie presents Saints with an ideal opportunity to test themselves against a team of the highest quality and to kick start what has been a faltering season so far with a good all round performance. The match must be played to a finish on the day with extra time and penalties to decide the winner if required. The winners will have an away trip in round five to face either Bannockburn of the Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division of Duntocher of the West of Scotland Amateur Football League Premier Division.

Harestanes Amateurs FC 2014

How the two teams have fared in this season's West of Scotland Cup:-

2nd Round
Harestanes Amateurs 13 - 1 Blantyre Soccer Acadamy
Glenburn Athletic 1 - 7 Oban Saints

3rd Round
Harestanes Amateurs 4 - 0 MLS Leeds
Rosehill Star 1 - 7 Oban Saints

Harestanes Amateurs West of Scotland Cup Winners 2009 - 2010

From the Archives - The Saints squad for the Scottish Amateur Cup match against Harestanes Amateurs at Glencruitten on Saturday 6th October 2007

In Other News

In a very welcome boost for the club Saints welcomed Dene Cassells back to training this week after an absence of thirty seven weeks. Dene's last appearance for Saints was in the Jimmy Marshall Trophy semi-final victory over Thorn Athletic at McKenna Park, Glasgow on 7th May 2014 where he sustained a broken leg. Hopefully it won't be too long before Dene is pushing for a place in the starting XI.

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