Defensive mistakes created 12-goal thriller
When last did the Pupils score five goals at home and eventually manage to lose the match? The simple answer to the question is never. Readers will be rubbing their eyes in disbelief, but the self destruct button was firmly pushed last Saturday and the home side weren’t alone in a gift strewn afternoon. Both teams seemed determined to outdo one another in a goal fest of biblical proportions. As both sets of coaches closed their eyes in horror, a sizable crowd was entertained as both nets rippled and bulged at regular intervals. With only four league games on it was the perfect opportunity for the winner to go top, an achievement that looked well and truly on when a double from the departing Sary Rahma put the Pupils in pole position. It wasn’t to be the ideal parting gift for the Pupils’ top scorer, a game that could have taken on the guise of a classic, was down to two 11s unable to defend as units and not as the score suggests the failings of respective defences. It was a crazy match from start to finish; the visitors taking an early lead only to be pegged back immediately by Rahma. Neilston restored their lead minutes later, but the McFadyen sponsored Pupils returned to the other end and the game was level once more from a Grumoli strike. The Pupils got their noses in front when Robbie Dudley followed up his own header to score from close range; with just 14 minutes on the clock. Although the game was stretched throughout, it wasn’t devoid of quality. The home side’s finishing was clinical in the early stages. Three each and only half way through – the referee’s whistle brought the first half to a close and allowed time for everyone to draw breath. Sary Rahma put the home side ahead with 25 minutes to go and celebrated in some style – possibly his last goal for the home team and maybe the winner? The dream finish to a successful stay eluded him, as the home side collapsed in the final quarter to surrender the initiative and points. The extraordinary game also had a thumping free kick from Martin McCallum that almost demolished the cross bar, before he rounded the keeper to narrow the deficit with five minutes left. In the final minutes the Pupils were denied what seemed a stonewall penalty. Who knows what the score would have been if it had been given and converted. Looking forward to a better team performance, Campbeltown Pupils travel to play Easthall in the league tomorrow.