Pupils U16s are pipped at the post in Argyll derby
CAMPBELTOWN Pupils 2002s dwarfed by Dunoon’s 2001s should be proud of their never say die performance.
Two weeks ago the Pupils U16s faced arch rivals Oban Saints, from north Argyll and last Sunday it was a south Argyll derby as a physically large Dunoon team travelled west.
Almost to a man the Dunoon players were head and shoulders above the younger Campbeltown players. It did not daunt the Pupils who gave a good class in moving the ball around the park including a number of impressive back heels.
In perfect weather the visitors played with a slight wind advantage.
The first half started at a good pace with both sides looking up for the game and there were plenty of end to end attacking and goalmouth action along with some very exciting physical tackling.
The Pupils scored first but Archie Williams mistimed his run and the referee blew for offside. At the opposite end the Pupils defended well but goal keeper McKellar was called on to make a great close range save when Dunoon did break through.
The first half saw plenty of opportunities but began to look as though it would finish goalless until Dunoon broke the deadlock. It was a well taken goal, the Pupils must have been disappointed as they should have cut off the run.
The second half saw the game swing consistently as the visitors looked to get a bigger lead against a team determined to get back into the game.
The Pupils’ coaches again took Archie McKellar from goal to play up front and he was replaced in goal with Sam McAlpine as this tactic worked in their previous game.
There was plenty of end-to-end play. The Pupils pulled a goal back through a perfectly timed Calum McKillop header from an Elliott Gemmill corner kick.
The pupils were level for a short period till a Dunoon attacker got on the end of a long cross to score and restored their lead.
The Pupils tried to claw back into the game and succeeded with a wonderfully struck free-kick from Archie McKellar, who for the second game in a row has come out of goal and scored justifying the coach’s tactics. The game sat on a knife edge as both teams looked for the winner. The visitors restored their lead with a long free-kick which found its way into the home team’s net. The Pupils had some other good chances to pull the game back level, including a McKellar shot from close range that went just over the bar.
Dunoon’s keeper pulled off a great save from a McKellar freekick which looked like a certain goal.
The save denied the Pupils a point which they would have deserved.
Well done to Dunoon on their win and well done to the Pupils’ youngsters who gave a really good performance.