Pupils take the crown in Kings Park victory
THE RESISTANCE of old rivals, Kings Park, was finally overcome in the last 20 minutes of a very competitive encounter at Kinloch all–weather facility last Saturday.
It was a match in which the home side dominated the exchanges, but were stubbornly held at bay through a combination of tenacious defending and the brilliance of the visiting goalkeeper.
Although second best for most of the match, the visitors were not without a threat going forward, and the Pupils were rudely awakened when a Kings Park forward appeared to be held in the box.
The referee, who was right up with play, had no hesitation in awarding a penalty kick. The home side and faithful supporters were forced to hold their collective breath midway through the first half.
However, Robert Coffield, starting his first match in six months, pulled off a great save by diving to his left to turn the ball round the post for a corner kick.
Conveniently relieved, the home side poured forward in pursuit of the first goal, the same arriving right on cue with eight minutes of the half remaining.
A resurgent Martin McCallum was on the end of a sweeping move to steer the ball wide of the advancing goalkeeper into the bottom corner of the net.
Kings Park continued their resistance in the second half, but by now they were being mercilessly torn apart by the pace of Sary Rahma.
However, the heroics of the visiting goalkeeper and exceedingly fast surface combined to deny the home side a crucial second goal.
Donald McCallum was next to zone in on a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, but the move ended with the ball driven against the last line of defence.
The move of the match almost brought the long-awaited breakthrough, a sweeping interchange of passes that should have brought a better reward, but the game’s defining goal was only delayed as Sary Rahma rammed the ball home from close range much to the frustration of the visiting keeper.
It was time for the icing on the cake, proof that playing the ball early to feet is the way to conquer any artificial surface.
The last move was a joy to watch, an interchange of passes that ended with Donald McCallum sweeping the ball home from close range to claim a deserved three points.
With possibly the youngest squad in the division, the Pupils continue to grow in stature, not quite the finished article, but one ready to post their intention if successful against Claremont at Kintyre Park this com- ber 2), kick-off 2pm. ing Saturday (Septem- Please look for local information posters if weather is inclement.