Three points for travelling Pupils U17s

Campbeltown Pupils YFC 2005s (under-17s) returned to Kintyre with three points last Saturday, after a fine away win to Rossvale Thistle.

Played on a narrow 4G pitch at the impressive Huntershill Sports Hub in Bishopbriggs, the visitors knew it was going to be a tough fixture with the home side sitting fourth in the table and the Pupils managing to narrowly beat Rossvale 3-1 earlier in the season in Campbeltown.

As expected, the game got off to a frantic start with both sides playing excellent passing football on the slick surface.

The Pupils claimed the lead on the 19th minute; under pressure, a cross ball was claimed by Lorne Paterson in goal who sent a long ball on to Ryan Shields to knock on.

Confusion between the Rossvale keeper and defender allowed Calum Ellis to nip in and score and make it 1-0 to the young Ardshiel Hotelsponsored side.

Rossvale equalised seven minutes later when a good passage of play sent CJay Breen through on goal and he scored with a fine 16-yard strike.

Ellis restored the lead once again when Ciaran Gibson intercepted play and slotted the ball through to the Pupils number three to score.

Play continued to race from one end to the other, with Scott Graham and Shields unlucky not to add to the scoring and the Pupils defence of Ryan Harding, Kyle Paterson, Josh Arkell and Finlay Kerr standing firm.

The young Campbeltown side turned in another fantastic second half performance as Stuart Phillips and Ruaridh Green were introduced.

Phillips scored in the 74th minute to give just reward for the Pupils’ dominance.

It came after a darting run by Ellis into the box and a cutback to Phillips, who showed great composure to hammer the ball home, giving the visitors a two-goal lead.

Ellis would round off the scoring with seven minutes remaining when he secured his 39th goal of the season.

‘This was a fantastic result and performance by the 2005s, arguably their finest of the season and puts a sixpoint gap on Rossvale with a game in hand,’ said a club spokesperson.

On Sunday, the Pupils are on their travels again as they play Finnart on Glasgow Green with an expected noon kick-off.