School wins prestigious football tournament
A CLYDEBANK school has won a prestigious football tournament.
St Peter the Apostle High School lifted the Scottish Schools’ Football Association Senior Shield after a thrilling final against Grange Academy.
The competition includes 100 schools from all over the country.
Despite being 2-0 down at halftime, the Clydebank school mounted a sensational comeback during the second 45 minutes at Somerset Park in Ayrshire.
In the 70th minute, Ryan Shields sent over a terrific cross and St Peter’s captain Matthew Monaghan powered home a diving header at the back post to give his side hope.
Five minutes later Ryan Keegan turned home a ball from six yards out to draw his team level.
The match then further swung in St Peter’s favour when Roan Darnbrough was shown a red card after a rash challenge on Joe Burns.
And with three minutes to go the tie was prevented from going to penalties after Keegan headed home his second of the match to put the Clydebank school 3-2 up.
The match was then finished as a contest as Ryan Shields netted a fourth for St Peter’s in added time.
And Modern Languages teacher Lee Gibson, who manages the side, was keen to praise the players for the achievement.
“The boys had to go through seven rounds of fixtures to win the competition, which is a phenomenal achievement.
“We won all our matches except the semi-final against Our Lady and St Patrick’s from Dumbarton which ended in a draw and then we won on penalties.
“The team is made up of fifth and sixth-year pupils. It is the first time we have won the Senior Shield Final but most of the squad won the competition last year at the fourth-year level.
“The fact some of the boys have achieved back-to-back success is amazing.”
Lee, who has taught at St Peter’s since the school opened in 2009, is helped with the team by Physical Education teacher Andy Gair.
And he explained the close bond the players have with the coaching staff.
“I have been working with this team since most of them were in first year, so it has been amazing to see them grow as a collective,” he added.
“There is no way you could win this competition without having team spirit, which is a good lesson for the boys to learn.”