Saints prepare for vital Scottish Cup game
‘ We know it is going to be a very difficult tie, but I’m sure the boys will be up for it’
WITH the dust only just settled on the Christmas and New Year celebrations, Oban Saints could be forgiven for looking for a gentle return to action after the festive break.
Alas, no such luxury for Alex Craik and his men as they are thrown straight in at the deep end with their biggest fixture of the season so far.
Saturday’s visitors for the crunch Scottish Amateur Cup fifth round tie are last season's beaten finalists Craigshill Thistle. The ‘Jags’ hail from Livingston and ply their trade in the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association where they currently occupy second place in the Lothian West League, four points behind leaders Redhall Star but with three games in hand.
Craigshill won last season’s Edinburgh West League with maximum points and have continued that impressive winning streak this season collecting all 24 league points available to them.
The only blot on the Jags’ copy book so far this season came in the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association Champions Cup semi-final on August 5 when they lost out on penalties to eventual cup winners Shotts Victoria.
Since that dramatic penalty shoot- out defeat, Craigshill remain unbeaten in all competitions netting an incredible 101 goals in a 16-match run.
Craigshill’s march to the Scottish Amateur Cup Final last season included the scalps of Saints Argyll rivals Campbeltown Pupils, whom they defeated 5 - 0 in Livingston at the fourth round stage, and eventual Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Divison and Jimmy Marshall Trophy winners St Joseph’s FP.
The former pupils of St Joseph’s fared better in Livingston than those from Campbeltown Grammar taking the Jags to a seventh round replay in Duntocher. However the Livingston men eventually prevailed by two goals to one leaving St Joe’s to concentrate on their league and league cup campaigns.
Craigshill’s bid for Scottish Amateur Cup glory fell agonisingly short when they lost 3 - 1 in the final at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, to Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Champions Harestanes.
Saints fans will recall that their favourites were unfortunate to exit last season’s West of Scotland Amateur Cup at the fourth round stage by an identical score line at the hands of the all- conquering Hares.
Victories Craigshill Thistle’s bid to go one better in this season’s Scottish Amateur Cup includes resounding victories over Maddiston of the Stirling and District Amateur Football Association Premier Division and Auchtermuchty Bellevue of the Fife Amateur Football Association Championship.
The Jags have also seen off more serious competition in the form of Central Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division side Drumchapel United whom they knocked out after extra time in a third round replay following a 3 - 3 draw in Drumchapel.
Saints are also on a good run recovering from a distinctly shaky start to the season where they picked up just one point from their opening three league fixtures to embark upon a ten match unbeaten run in all competitions.
This return to form has seen Saints steadily climb the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division table as well as landing the prestigious Royal National Mod Cup with a 3 - 1 victory over Glasgow Island of the Glasgow Colleges Football Association Premier Division.
Saints opened their account in this season’s Scottish Amateur Cup with a convincing second round win against Millbeg Villa of the Scottish Amateur Football League Premier Division Two on October 3. The 9 - 1 home win included five goals from Craig MacEwan, two from Donnie Campbell and one each from Dean Smith and Allan Mackay.
Having previously benefited from a first round bye, Saints were also spared a third round tie when their scheduled opponents Condorrat Club folded a few days before the tie was due to be played. Saints fourth round opponents were old friends and rivals Postal United who had left the Scottish Amateur Football League at the end of the 2012 -13 season to join the Central Scot- tish Amateur Football League. Saints edged out their old rivals by a single Donnie Campbell first half goal and had to withstand a late Postal onslaught before booking their place in the fifth round against Craigshill Thistle.
Saturday’s match will see Saints player/assistant manager Donnie Campbell line up against two of his colleagues from the Scottish Amateur Football Association Select. Craigshill’s Shaun Martin and David Swan both featured alongside Donnie in the friendly match against Airdrie in November and, like their Saints counterpart, will be looking forward to joining up with the national select squad later this month.
Saturday’s match which kicks of at 2pm at Glencruitten will be refereed by highly rated Dunbartonshire whistler James Gallacher. It promises to be a cracker with Saints pitting their wits against one of the country’s top amateur sides.
Manager Alex Craik is looking forward to the match. He said: ‘We know it is going to be a very difficult tie, but I know the boys will be up for it. I’m sure Craigshill won’t be relishing their long trip to Oban so it’s up to us to make home advantage pay. We are hoping for a good crowd to cheer the boys on.’