Pupils lose out in games of two halves

BSC Glasgow 3

 

Campbeltown Pupils 1

 

WOSFL, Division Four

 

After an enforced four-week break, Campbeltown Pupils Football Club appeared to have no ill effects at half time against well-known opponents BSC Glasgow.

 

Leading by a Rhys Casci converted penalty on 40 minutes, the Kintyre Hire-sponsored side looked to have adjusted admirably to the long lay-off while playing well within themselves against opponents who have made a good start to the current league campaign.

 

Yet, despite the home team going down to 10 men on the stroke of half time, the visitors appeared jet-lagged in a disjointed second half, a costly period in which lack of game-time in previous weeks finally caught up with them.

 

Everyone at the club will be extremely disappointed to have let three points slip from their grasp, especially after a first half in which the visitors' goal was completely untroubled.

 

With neither side dominating play, Scott Graham reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the box and a late lunging challenge brought him to the ground. Penalty kick.

 

Up stepped Casci to send the keeper the wrong way, the ball dispatched with precision to give the visitors a welcome half-time lead.

 

Cue the second half, a game that was turned on its head by two quick-fire home goals.

 

Credit must go to BSC for starting the second period on the front foot, launching forward to grab the initiative with a quick-fire double to knock the Pupils out of their stride.

 

Nevertheless, the second goal will cause the Pupils management a little concern. The visitors failed to react to a corner kick and, with the first ball lost, it was no surprise when it ended in the back of the net.

 

The McFadyen-sponsored Pupils resisted the opposition for the rest of the second half and, with the margin so tight, anything could have happened.

 

However, with five minutes remaining, the same mistake was repeated at a corner kick, an innocuous in-swinging cross that was turned home to put a little gloss on the home side’s victory – for the most part, a defeat accepted by all as self-inflicted.

 

The team will be keen to restore some faith when they meet old rivals, Thorn Athletic, in the Strathclyde Demolition Cup at Kintyre Park tomorrow (Saturday), with a 2pm kick-off. Spectators are being asked to note that season tickets will not be valid for this match as it is a cup tie.

 

Thorn, like the Pupils, were highly successful at amateur level, with both sides last meeting as members of the Scottish Amateur Football League.

 

The home side look forward to renewing acquaintances with old friends and rivals in the new, highly competitive, West of Scotland Football League structure, albeit under cup conditions.