Pupils edged out in a hard-fought match
St Joseph’s FP 3 Campbeltown Pupils 1
CAMPBELTOWN Pupils were outgunned - but not outclassed last Saturday in their 3-1 loss to newly crowned SAFL Premier champions St Joseph’s. It means the Kintyre Park side need three wins from their final trio of matches to ensure their SAFL premier survival for a fourth consecutive season. The McFadyens-sponsored Pupils battled hard in Duntocher but could not prevent their hosts taking three points, and the SAFL title.
After an encouraging opening 15 minutes there was disappointment for the visitors.
A St Joseph’s striker latched onto a flick-on header to deftly loop the ball into the net away from the grasp of keeper Craig Lamont.
However, the Pupils persevered and were soon rewarded with an equaliser. Ellis Robertson played a long ball forward which was only cleared by the St Joseph’s defence as far as John McCallum.
Making his first appearance since early September after working in Portugal, McCallum controlled the ball and looped in a half-volley from 25 yards out, beyond the reach of the St Joseph’s keeper.
With this lift, the Pupils matched their hosts in an open contest and deservedly went in at half time on 1-1.
There was huge disappointment for the visitors only 10 minutes into the second half as a quick twogoal salvo from St Joseph’s, who only needed a draw to seal the title, threatened to put the match beyond the Pupils.
It was a mixture of the ridiculous and the sublime as centre back Paul Grumoli attempted to clear a low cross from the right flank, but miskicked due to a freak bounce from the parched grass pitch, which was followed by a precise right-footed finish into Lamont’s bottom left-hand corner from 12 yards out, to make it 2-1.
Still fresh from going behind, the Pupils failed to clear their heads - and their lines and a misplaced lateral pass which exposed the defence created a twoon-one situation, and veteran St Joe’s striker Ryan Halpin rolled the ball into an empty net.
Stunned at falling two goals behind, the Feathers Inn-sponsored Pupils withstood waves of attack from their now emboldened hosts, but as the game wore on the visitors competed well.
With only 11 players in the squad, some carrying knocks from the previous game, it proved difficult for the Pupils to take control of the game and carve out meaningful chances.
Despite the match finishing 3-1, leav- ing the Pupils need- ing maximum points from their last three matches, such a showing should be encouragement ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday) must-win clash with Motherwell Thistle, kick off 2pm.
The venue is expected to be Kintyre Park.