Deans’ spectacular second spares Pupils
THIS was a game reminiscent of those usually reserved for cupties, a ‘blood and thunder’ affair where both sides settled for a share of the spoils.
The home side in particular showed a willingness to stroke the ball about and at times were a sheer joy to watch.
For the third game running, the McFadyen-sponsored Pupils struck early scoring from a penalty in the game’s first minute. A flowing move released Ryan Deans in on goal, and when he side-stepped the goalkeeper he was chopped to the ground for a blatant spot kick.
Last week’s hat-trick hero, Ryan McConnachie, made no mistake from 12 yards and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
In the first 20 minutes the Pupils dominated possession with neat inter-passing that had the opposition chasing shadows all over the park.
Ferguslie Star; however, were not in Campbeltown just to make up the numbers. Sticking doggedly to their task, they had thoughts of another Argyll scalp after defeating Oban the previous week.
Half-time was reached with the Pupils one ahead – so an intriguing second half was in prospect.
The second period was more open, with both teams countering at pace.
With Keith Mitchell showing up prominently on the left flank, a wonderful run to the edge of the opposition box ended with the Pupils’ fullback hacked down. The free kick, though, was fired into a wall of defenders and the chance was gone.
At the other end, disaster struck when the visitors’ left winger cut inside the box only to be impeded by a late challenge from Grant. The resultant penalty looked at first as if had come from the school of ‘Billy Elliot’, but there was definite contact and, despite the winger’s embellishment, the referee called it correctly. It was time for Ferguslie to celebrate, as their centre-half lashed the ball high into the net for the equaliser.
With 10 minutes remaining the home side could have been forgiven for thinking ‘not again’. A corner into the heart of the box was dispatched with determination by the visitors’ incoming central defender.
Behind for the first time, the Pupils launched attack after attack on the Ferguslie goal, with a tremendous Deans strike bringing out the best in the visitors’ keeper. Then it was the turn of Souden, as he outpaced the defence on the left to send a tantalising cross just beyond the reach of the incoming McConnachie.
But despite late nerves, all would end well when the best move of the game produced a spectacular equaliser. Mitchell jinked his way past a number of despairing tackles to reach the dead-ball line. His clever cutback found Deans and the youngster fired home a vicious drive for a share of the points.
Campbeltown Pupils are on cup duty tomorrow (Saturday). They travel to play Forthbank in the West of Scotland Cup second round.