Goals galore in Campbeltown Pupils U17s’ Clydebank clash
Campbeltown Pupils 2005s travelled to Clydebank on Sunday to play Kilbowie Union in their Glasgow and District Youth Football League fixture and notched up another three points on the road.
Playing on the impressive 4G pitch at Mountblow, the Ardshiel Hotel-sponsored Pupils were 1-0 up within two minutes when a cross from Lorne Paterson was prodded home at the back post by Andrew Semple.
The Pupils continued to dominate and were 3-0 up after 15 minutes after striker Calum Ellis added two more goals.
Ethan Parker added a fourth when be bulleted home a header before making it 5-0 with his eighth goal of the season.
Fine work at the edge of the box by Ellis played Parker through and he made no mistake from 12 yards, smashing the ball home past the helpless Kilbowie Union keeper.
With only 12 players able to travel, it was an opportunity for quick-fire changes with experienced players Ellis, Scott Graham, Josh Arkell, Euan Dott, Ryan Shields and Kyle Paterson all being substituted during the game and a number of players playing in different positions.
The only black mark on the first half was conceding a goal. A needless free kick was given away 25 yards out, but credit to the Kilbowie Union midfielder who unleashed an unstoppable, inch-perfect strike past
Scott Oman in the Pupils goal. Half-time: 5-1 to the Pupils. Kilbowie started the second half brighter and contained the threat of the Pupils’ attack.
Likewise, the Pupils’ defence of K Paterson, Dott, Shields and Ryan Harding stood firm, with Harding turning out another fine performance at left back.
The 2006 from Lochgilphead has been a stalwart in the Pupils’ under-17s team, travelling from Mid Argyll to train and play for the last five seasons.
It took until the 62nd minute for the visitors to score another. Fine play from L Paterson saw him make a strong run into the box, beating four Kilbowie players before cutting the ball back for Stuart Phillips to hammer the ball home.
Kilbowie pulled one back to make it 6-2 in the 70th minute with a fine individual goal.
Ellis grabbed his hat-trick with 10 minutes to go as he bustled his way past last-ditch tackles to calmly stroke the ball home and continue the young striker’s impressive record of scoring in every game this season.
Phillips rounded up the scoring in the dying minutes when the Pupils were awarded a penalty. Phillips was denied from the penalty spot with a breath-taking save from the young Kilbowie keeper but was fortunate – and aware enough – to pounce on the save to slam the ball home for his third goal in three games in 2022.
The Pupils 2005s have another huge game this weekend when they welcome Southside Star to Campbeltown for the first time on Sunday. The Glasgow side is flying high in the league, sitting three points off the top.
Kick-off is 2.15pm on the 3G all-weather pitch, Kinloch Green.