After over a month of cup ties, Buffs fans finally have some league action to look forward to as St Cadoc’s visit Buffs Park in both sides’ 8th league match of the season. After a managerial change over the Summer break, St Cadoc’s have had a tough start to the season and will come to Buffs Park looking to kickstart their season.
Only founded as a senior side in 2020, ‘The Cad’s’ saw great success in their first two full seasons as a club, as they earned consecutive promotion, firing the club from the WOSFL Conference B to the WOSFL Premier Division. The club has settled well into life in the sixth tier, recording impressive third and fifth place finishes in the previous two installments of the competition.
It was a busy Summer, both on and off the pitch at St Cadoc’s, as successful manager Martin Fellows departed, which led to the appointment of under-20s manager and experienced footballer, Gary Muir. Gary oversaw a fair few incomings and outgoings during his first Summer as manager, a window which included the signings of some familiar names in the non-league football scene. Combative midfielder Jamie Wilson joined the club following a spell at Townhead Park, where he captained Cumnock for a few seasons. Andy Monk also joined The Cad’s as they looked to strengthen going forward with the signing of the creative midfielder from Beith. St Cadoc’s also completed the transfer of ex-Buffs defender Jamie Ballantyne over the break after Jamie featured often during the early part of last season at Buffs Park.
Despite some impressive business, things just haven’t clicked yet for The Cad’s this season, with the club only managing a win and a draw in the league this season. The difficult start leaves St Cadoc’s sitting rock bottom of the division after seven games, three points adrift of Beith Juniors, who currently sit directly above them in the league. Alike to The Buffs, St Cadocs’ recent schedule has been filled with cup action, with recent defeats to Pollok and Hurlford knocking them out of the Scottish and South Region Cup in the past few weeks. Gary Muir’s side did manage to pick up their first win in seven games last week, as they romped to a 7-1 victory against Newmains United in the West of Scotland League Cup. The last time the clubs met was in a friendly at the start of the Kevin Kelly era when St Cadoc’s won comfortably at New Tinto Park, however, the only time the clubs have met in a competitive fixture was back in February of 2023 when The Buffs edged The Cad’s out in a penalty shootout after it finished 3-3 after ninety minutes. Buffs talisman, Ryan Wilson, spent time with St Cadoc’s during the 2022 season, and will be hoping to add to his outstanding scoring record by getting on the scoresheet against his former side today.
Kevin Kelly will be desperate for a win as his side get back to league business for the first time in five games. The match at Buffs Park is the only fixture in the Premier Division today, so a win for The Buffs would guarantee a rise to 8th place in the league table and put them right back in the mix for a top-half spot after a strange start to the season.
