Golden Years

David Bowie - Golden Years

Saturday 21st October 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 2pm
Referee Mr John McNab

After a run of cup fixtures Saints return to league business this Saturday for the first time in five weeks when they travel to Drumchapel to face the very much in-form Goldenhill. Unbeaten in all competitions so far this season, Goldenhill have been banging in the goals for fun notching sixty three in ten games. At the other end of the park the Gowdie have been equally impressive losing only nine goals with only Inverclyde and St. Joseph's FP managing more than one goal past Scott Rennie and his miserly defence.

As well as throwing down the gauntlet in the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division title race with three wins out of three, the Gowdie have already progressed to the semi-finals of the Centenary Cup where they will face either Castlemilk BC or Motherwell Thistle. Particularly pleasing for the Gowdie boys was their quarter final local derby victory over St Joseph's FP where they came from behind twice to knock out the cup holders by five goals to two securing the early season bragging rights into the bargain.

In the West of Scotland Cup 2016 runners-up Goldenhill have a fourth round home tie against Eaglesham of the Caledonian League after having seen off tricky Ayrshire opponents Tarbolton and Dailly in rounds two and three.

The Scottish Amateur Cup third round draw sends the Gowdie to the far North East to face Aberdeenshire Amateur Football Association Division Three leaders Monymusk on 4th November.

Last season's encounter

In last season's Wednesday evening encounter at the Donald Dewar Centre Saints emerged victorious by the odd goal in a five goal thriller. After concerted early pressure Saints made a deserved breakthrough just before the half hour mark when Scott Maitland made a driving run into the box and sent a low left foot shot across Ross Clark and into the bottom corner.

The home side drew level early in the second half with a wonder strike from substitute Damon Gray. Gray's rocket from the edge of the centre circle flew past Thomas McCulloch's outstretched right hand and into the top corner.

 Saints regained the lead in the sixty seventh minute after a hotly disputed throw-in award on the right touchline just inside the Goldenhill half. To the ire of Gowdie central defender Jack Bennett Referee Campbell gave the decision in Saints favour and with the home side still arguing Donald Campbell gathered the throw-in from Kerr Newbigging and played the ball up to Paul Carmichael just inside the Goldenhill box. Paul turned away from Steven Dock and fired an excellent left foot finish high into the net past Ross Clark's despairing right hand.

Martin Lawlor picked up a booking for dissent in the seventieth minute after Referee Campbell penalised Steven Dock for a foul on Paul Carmichael. The Saints free-kick came to nothing and Goldenhill quickly countered on the right. Saints appealed in vain for an offside decision against Daniel Gibson who raced away from David McArthur and sent a low cross along the six yard line. Thomas McCulloch got a hand to the cross but only succeeded in directing the ball into the path of Damon Gray who slammed it into the roof of the net for his second goal of the evening leveling the score once again. Dene Cassells' protests regarding the lack of an offside decision from Mr Campbell earned him a yellow card which was to prove very costly for the Saints defender.

Saints took the lead for the third time with fourteen minutes of play remaining with Paul Carmichael again the scorer. Remarkably similar to, but even better than his earlier strike Paul turned away from Jack Bennett and from twenty five yards arrowed an unstoppable left foot drive high into the roof of the net giving Ross Clark no chance.

Having regained the lead Saints were forced to see out the final twelve minutes with ten men after Dene Cassells picked up a second yellow card. Daniel Gibson threatened to break free again on the right with Dene receiving his marching orders for pulling back the pacy Goldenhill winger. Paul Carmichael showed his versatility by dropping back into central defence for the closing stages.

The Gibson - Gray combination almost paid off for the home side again with just four minutes remaining. Gibson briefly switched to the left skinning Matthew Kelly and firing over a cross which Thomas McCulloch palmed out to Gray. The tall Gowdie striker looked certain to complete his hat-trick with a looping effort towards the postage stamp corner only for Paul Carmichael to get back onto the line and head over the crossbar.

With just two minutes of the ninety remaining Saints Manager Alex Craik made his only change bringing on Martin Bonar to replace Craig MacEwan. Saints were able to see out the closing stages to seal a hard earned victory but not without one final scare as Matthew Kelly made an excellent sliding challenge to halt Jonathon Dyer's late run into the box.

Goldenhill's results so far this season:-

Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division

19th August 2017 East Kilbride Rolls Royce AFC 0 - 4 Goldenhill AFC
26th August 2017 Goldenhill AFC 3 - 2 Inverclyde AFC
9th September 2017 Drumchapel Colts AFC 0 - 11 Goldenhill AFC

SAFL Centenary Cup

1st Round Group Section North 2
12th August 2017 Goldenhill AFC 9 - 0 Carlton YMCA
23rd August 2017 Barrhead Arky AFC 1 - 4 Goldenhill AFC
2nd September 2017 Port Glasgow OBU 1 - 12 Goldenhill AFC

Quarter Final
7th October 2017 Goldenhill AFC 5 - 2 St Joseph's FP AFC

Semi Final
Castlemilk BC or Motherwell Thistle v Goldenhill AFC

Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
30th September 2017 Newshot AFC 2 - 8 Goldenhill AFC

3rd Round
4th November 2107 Monymusk AFC v Goldenhill AFC

West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
16th September 2017 Goldenhill AFC 5 - 0 Tarbolton AFC

3rd Round
14th October 2017 Dailly AFC 1 - 2 Goldenhill AFC

4th Round
18th November 2017 Goldenhill v Eaglesham

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
2016 - 17 Premier Division 3rd

Goldenhill AFC line up for their 2016 West of Scotland Cup semi-final tie against Colville Park

Action from last season's encounter at the Donald Dewar Centre

Team Captains James Gallagher and Donald Campbell with Referee John Campbell

Craig MacEwan's shot is blocked by the combined efforts of Jack Bennett and Marc Morrison

Paul Carmichael

Ross Clark beats Kerr Newbigging to a Willie Gemmell free-kick 

Paul Carmichael overhead kick

Ross Clark saves from Paul Carmichael

Paul Carmichael shoots over

Donald Campbell contests a back post header with Reace Syed and Paul O'Donnell

Donald Campbell, Myles McAuley and Paul Carmichael congratulate Scott Maitland on his goal

Craig MacEwan and Steven Dock

Donald Campbell and Christopher McGrath

Paul O'Donnell slides in on Scott Maitland

Kerr Newbigging

Craig MacEwan and Jonathon Dyer

Dene Cassells and Jonathon Dyer aerial joust

Thomas McCulloch collects Reace Syed's header

Matthew Kelly and Reace Syed

#monthesaints

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Saturday 14th October 2017
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
3rd Round
Braehead AFC 0 - 4 Oban Saints AFC
Glasgow Club Drumoyne
337 Langlands Road
Glasgow
G51 4AW
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Charles Burns


Oban Saints starting line-up:-

Used substitutes:-

Daniel Croarkin
Shaun MacIver

Unused substitute:-

Peter MacCallum

Normally the threat of a trip to Braehead would fill any red bloodied male with dread as it would inevitably entail an afternoon of drudgery being dragged by his better half around the shopping malls of the Intu Braehead Shopping Centre where insult would be added to injury in the shape of a substantial credit card bill.

On this occasion however the immeasurably more enjoyable prospect of a game of football was in store for the Oban Saints lads as they traveled South to face Braehead of the Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League in the third round of the West of Scotland Cup.

Manager Alex Craik was on holiday so Assistant Donald Campbell took responsibility for team selection. Donald's options were limited when work commitments deprived him of Matthew Kelly, Myles McAuley and Craig MacEwan. Also missing through illness was David Smith. Saints lined up with Graham Douglas in goal behind a back four of Steven MacLeod, David McPhee, Craig Campbell and Craig MacMillan. Paul Carmichael, Willie Gemmell and Keith Millar patrolled the midfield with a strike force of Donald Campbell, Scott Maitland and Fraser MacFarlane. Shaun MacIver returned to the squad to join Daniel Croarkin and the ever youthful Peter MacCallum on the bench.

Saints started slowly allowing their opponents to settle and dictate the early exchanges. A sixth minute free-kick conceded by Craig MacMillan on the Braehead right gave Fraser O'Neil a chance to put a testing delivery into the Saints box. O'Neil found the head of Jason Hampsey nine yards out but his header lacked the power to seriously test Graham Douglas.

Operating in unfamiliar territory on the right of the front three, Scott Maitland won an eleventh minute free-kick for a foul by Ryan Mulholland midway inside the Braehead half. Willie Gemmell's ball pitched into the box was glanced goalward by Fraser MacFarlane whose header beat Braehead keeper Scott Fraser but also the far post.

Two minutes later a heavily disguised pass through the inside right channel from Willie Gemmell sent Scott Maitland racing into the box. Scott's shot from the corner of the six yard box was saved by the feet of Scott Fraser with Braehead Skipper Gavin McNicol making a vital block at the expense of a corner kick to prevent Paul Carmichael knocking home the loose ball. Scott Maitland's corner from the right was headed behind at the far post by Dean Kerr before Scott Fraser came through a ruck of bodies to punch clear Fraser MacFarlane's delivery from the left.

Willie Gemmell opened up the Braehead defence once again in the sixteenth minute with Donald Campbell frustrated not to have picked out the supporting run of Paul Carmichael.

Donald's frustration however didn't last long as sixty seconds later he opened the scoring with a well struck finish from twenty yards. Paul Carmichael flicked a Willie Gemmell long ball into the path of Fraser MacFarlane who helped the ball onto Donald who didn't need a second invitation to slam the ball low past Scott Fraser's despairing left hand.

Fraser MacFarlane tested Scott Fraser in the twenty first minute controlling a deep Donald Campbell cross from the right and firing in a shot which the big keeper did well to palm away.

Saints doubled their advantage in the twenty third minute with MacFarlane claiming his second assist of the afternoon. Fraser's pin point delivery from the corner flag landed perfectly on the head of David McPhee who guided his header inside the far post beating Iain McLennan on the goal-line.

A rare lapse in concentration in the Saints defence allowed Martin Wojtczak in behind with Graham Douglas having to react quickly to turn Wojtczak's effort behind for a corner. Douglas safely held Fraser O'Neil's corner kick from the left under pressure from Dean Kerr.

Scott Maitland was comimg in for some rough treatment and another heavy challenge from Ryan Mulholland gave Willie Gemmell a dead ball opportunity twenty six yards out. The suspiciously close looking Braehead wall did it's job sending Willie's effort spinning behind for a corner kick. Scott Maitland's in-swinger from the right was headed back across goal by Craig Campbell where Paul Carmichael sliced a volley wide of target.

Carmichael passed up two further presentable chances to put the tie to bed before the half-time interval with Donald Campbell also getting in on the act shooting over from twenty two yards.

Fraser O'Neil hit the top of the crossbar with a miscued cross in the forty third minute before closing the first half action with a shot wide of target after Craig MacMillan had done just enough to put the Braehead wide man off his stride.

Saints were good value for their half-time lead but two moments of slackness in an otherwise comfortable defensive performance almost undone their first half efforts. A misplaced forty sixth minute pass inside from young left-back Craig Campbell, who impressed in his first start, was pounced on by Martin Wojtczak. Keith Millar reacted well to get back and stop Wojtczak just outside the Saints box but unfairly in the opinion of Referee Charles Burns. Jason Hampsay sent the resulting free-kick just wide of the juction of post and bar.

Five minutes later a blind pass inside from David McPhee only succeeded in finding Ross Hocknull who drew a good save from Graham Douglas diving to his right to safely hold the Braehead midfielder's right foot shot.

Saints first effort of the second half came in the fifty second minute when Steven MacLeod who, although not quite the rampaging right-back of yesteryear, still managed to get forward and found himself in the Braehead box where he saw a decent effort blocked behind for a corner kick.

Any hopes of a comeback for the home side were snuffed out just before the hour mark when Willie Gemmell notched Saints third. Paul Carmichael forced a corner kick on the right which Scott Maitland sent into the six yard box for David McPhee. The big centre-half was denied a second goal of the afternoon by Iain McLennan who stopped McPhee's header on the goal-line with his right arm giving Mr Burns an easy decision to award Saints a penalty kick. Saints recent record from twelve yards has been patchy but Willie Gemmell showed no nerves grabbing the ball and slamming it emphatically into the postage stamp corner giving Scott Fraser absolutely no chance.

Braehead made a change in the sixty eighth minute replacing Iain McLennan at right-back with Nick Espie. Epie's first involvement was to scythe down Paul Carmichael twenty eight yards from goal. Donald Campbell's free-kick looped off the three man Braehead wall into the box where Paul Carmichael controlled the bouncing ball and sent a left foot shot inches over the crossbar.

Saints made their first change in the seventy third minute replacing Craig MacMillan with Shaun MacIver. Shaun joined the attack with Scott Maitland returning to his more familiar left-back slot.

Only some excellent work by Skipper Gavin McNicol and keeper Scott Fraser kept Saints at bay in the seventy fifth minute. A Willie Gemmell free-kick was flicked on by Fraser MacFarlane into the path of Donald Campbell who raced into the box and delicately lifted the ball left footed over the head of Scott Fraser. With the big keeper well beaten Gavin McNicol somehow got back to hook the ball off the goal-line but his goal saving clearance sat up nicely in the six yard box for Paul Carmichael. From point blank range Fraser saved Carmichael's shot with his right leg and was quickly up on his feet to turn Shaun MacIver's effort on the follow-up around his left hand post.

Carmichael's good midfield shift alongside the ever dependable Willie Gemmell and Keith Millar came to an end with twelve minutes remaining when he was replaced by Daniel Croarkin.

The fresh legs of Shaun MacIver were proving a handful for the home defence and, with ten minutes remaining, a powerful run from the half-way line ended with Willie Gemmell looping a shot from edge of the box into the gloves of Scott Fraser.

The Braehead keeper had similarly easy saves in the eighty third and ninetieth minutes. A good run from Keith Millar set up MacIver for a shot from the edge of the box and a Willie Gemmell free-kick onto MacIver's head both brought comfortable saves from Scott Fraser. 

MacIver finally got the goal he so desperately wanted in the third minute added on by Mr Burns. Willie Gemmell and Daniel Croarkin linked up well on the right with Croarkin claiming the assist as MacIver rifled an unstoppable volley from sixteen yards over the head of Scott Fraser and into the roof of the net.

Mr Burns blew for full time immediately after the restart sending Saints through to Tuesday's fourth round draw.

Saints return to Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division business next Saturday with an extremely difficult away trip to the very much in form Goldenhill.

   

Team Captains Donald Campbell and Gavin McNicol with Referee Charles Burns

Fraser MacFarlane glances a header wide of the post

Gavin McNicol makes an important block to deny Paul Carmichael

Scott Fraser punches clear

Paul Carmichael, Fraser MacFarlane and Scott Maitland congratulate Donald Campbell on his opening goal

David McPhee heads home Saints second goal from Fraser MacFarlane's corner kick

Centre halves Craig Campbell and David McPhee share a joke

Graham Douglas collects a cross

Scott Maitland tries to get past Ryan Mulholland

Steven MacLeod header

Graham Douglas keeps an eye on Jason Hampsay's free-kick

Gavin McNicol heads clear at the back post

Willie Gemmell smashes his penalty kick beyond Scott Fraser for Saints third goal

Donald Campbell and Scott Maitland congratulate Willie Gemmell on his goal

Craig MacMillan

Donald Campbell lifts the ball over Scott Fraser

Gavin McNicol hooks Donald Campbell's lob off the line

Scott Fraser saves from Paul Carmichael

Scott Fraser saves from Shaun MacIver

Shaun MacIver and Ryan Mulholland

Willie Gemmell and Fraser O'Neil

Nick Espie slides in on Fraser MacFarlane

Shaun MacIver's spectacular volley rounds off the scoring

The Saints players celebrate Shaun MacIver's goal

#monthesaints

Shopping

Pet Sop Boys - Shopping

Saturday 14th October 2017
West of Scotland Amateur Cup
3rd Round
Braehead AFC v Oban Saints AFC
Glasgow Club Dromoyne
337 Langlands Road
Glasgow
G51 4AW
Kick Off 2pm
Referee Mr Charles Burns

Normally the threat of a trip to Braehead would fill any red bloodied male with dread as it would inevitably entail an afternoon of drudgery being dragged by his better half around the shopping malls of the Intu Braehead Shopping Centre where insult would be added to injury in the shape of a substantial credit card bill.

On this occasion however the immeasurably more enjoyable prospect of a game of football is in store for the Oban Saints lads as they travel South to face Braehead of the Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League in the third round of the West of Scotland Cup.

After receiving a first round bye, Saturday's opponents booked their place in the third round with a victory by the odd goal in seven over Darvel Victoria of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association Second Division. Two goals down after twenty minutes, Braehead got back into the match with a Jamie McKean strike to half the deficit before the half-time interval. The home side were an entirely different proposition in the second half and raced into a 4 - 2 lead thanks to a quick fire Callum Craig hat-trick during a scintillating ten minute spell. The Ayrshire men rallied and pulled on back but, despite a late push, they were unable to find a fourth goal to force extra-time.

Braehead also received a first round bye in the Scottish Amateur Cup however this time failed to overcome the significantly more difficult hurdle of an a way trip to Caledonian League Premier Division high flyers Dumbarton Academy FP. The 1971 Scottish Amateur Cup winners have a 100% record so far in the highly competitive Caledonian League and ran out comfortable 6 - 0 winners leaving Braehead to concentrate their major cup efforts on the West of Scotland Cup.

On the domestic cup front Braehead have notched three victories from four in their League Cup qualifying section which should be good enough to see them progress to the next stage. Impressive away wins at Premier Division AFC Columba and Renfrew were followed by a home win over Glasgow Islay, also of the Premier Division. The only defeat of their League Cup campaign so far came at home against fellow Division One side Blantyre where Braehead were edged out by the odd goal in seven.

Last Saturday Braehead finally got their Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League campaign under way with a convincing 4 - 1 win away at Bridgend Amateurs. Gavin McNicol gave Braehead the lead from the penalty spot after thirty minutes. Jamie McKean doubled the lead before Bridgend pulled one back just before the interval after minutes after seeing a penalty kick of their own tipped round the post. A sending off early in the second half left Bridgend up against it with Braehead capitalising on their numerical advantage to notch a second from the penalty spot from Gavin McNicol and a late fourth goal from second half substitute Jason Hampsay. 

With the originally planned venue of St James Playing Fields in Paisley being declared unplayable Saturday's tie, which must be played to a finish on the day including extra-time and penalty kicks if necessary, will now take place on the 3G surface at Glasgow Club, Drumoyne.



Braehead results so far this season:-

Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League Division One

7th October 2017 Bridgend Amateurs 1 - 4 Braehead


Strathclyde Saturday Morning Amateur Football League Cup Qualifying Competition

1st Round
19th August 2017 AFC Columba 0 - 2 Braehead
30th August 2017 Renfrew 1 - 2 Braehead
2nd September 2017 Braehead 5 - 3 Glasgow Islay
9th September 2017 Braehead 3 - 4 Blantyre



Scottish Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
30th September 2017 Dumbarton Academy FP 6 v 0 Braehead


West of Scotland Amateur Cup

1st Round
Bye

2nd Round
16th September 2017 Braehead 4 - 3 Darvel Victoria






Braehead Glasgow and District Saturday Morning League Record

2012-13 Division Two 4th (Promoted)
2013-14 Division One 10th
2014-15 Division One 10th (Relegated)
2015-16 Division Two 4th (Promoted)
2016-17 Division One

Braehead AFC

Oban Saints AFC in their new kit once again generously sponsored by D&K Lafferty Contractors Ltd.

#monthesaints