League hopefuls’ first-half double deflates Pupils
Campbeltown Pupils put on another battling show last Saturday but were bested again by West of Scotland Football League Division Four hopefuls and former SAFL rivals Finnart.
Starting against the wind, a first-half double took the wind out of the Pupils’ sails at a blustery Kintyre Park, and despite a sustained effort with the second-half wind behind them, their opponents stood firm to claim three precious league points. A healthy crowd of almost 100 turned out in dreadful conditions, with gusts topping 35 miles per hour and intermittent sheets of freezing rain greeting those spectators who arrived to support the team.
Refreshingly, though, a group of youngsters were amongst the entourage travelling with the north Glasgow visitors, and they soon felt at home, happily mixing with the Pupils' own young supporters and joining in song.
First, an attempted Pupils clearance found its way to Finnart’s number 10, who kept his composure to slot home a close-range finish and make it two goals in two games against the Pupils.
Then, a header from a swirling cross from Finnart’s lefthand side couldn’t be kept out, despite the efforts of Alasdair Ferguson in goal.
The Pupils’ Rhys Casci did go close with a one-on-one effort in the first half after being freed by a low pass from midfield, but the Tarbert-based player opted to shoot early and the keeper got his body in front of the effort and gathered at the second attempt.
After the interval, the McFadyens-sponsored Pupils hoped to use the westerly tailwind to put pressure on the visitors’ goal, but it was a quieter half than the hosts would have liked.
Finnart battled to repel the Pupils, limiting them to two dangerous efforts from outside the box, first from Casci who forced a save from the away keeper to tip his low shot round the post for a corner, and then from Scott Souden whose deflected effort forced the keeper into a save.
The Feathers Inn-sponsored Pupils made some changes late on with youngster Andrew Renton and right-back Michael McKinlay making a return from injury, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide of the game and the visitors took all three points, to leave themselves two points behind leaders Kilsyth Athletic with two games in hand.
Conversely, the Pupils are three points adrift at the foot of the division, but importantly have two games in hand themselves.
In the aftermath of the game, the Pupils’ management team stated they were satisfied with the effort and performance level of the squad, acknowledging that the difference between the sides on the day, despite the polar difference in league positions, was the conversion of chances.
This is something which
Finnart has made an art form of in winning games against sides around them who perhaps play more expansive football.
Sure enough, this was the case against the Pupils, for the fourth time this season.
Tomorrow (Saturday), the Pupils are on their travels, playing Glenvale FC at Ferguslie Park, Paisley. Kick off is at 1.30pm.