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CAMPBELTOWN Pupils’ interest in the Scottish Cup was short-lived as they crashed out at the first hurdle last Saturday against East Kilbride YM. However, it was a very entertaining game for the good crowd of spectators who turned up.
The Pupils were missing a few players from the squad and they were handicapped further with both goalkeepers - Neil McKay and Graham Cook - unavailable. The Pupils’ captain Craig Colville took over the role between the sticks.
The visitors, who play in the elite Caledonian Premier League, were a decent side but they were matched by the Pupils for much of the game. However, they scored the crucial third goal at the right time after the sides had been level 2-2 at half time.
Paul Grumoli had given the Pupils an early lead from the penalty spot after Fraser Wylie was fouled in the box.
East Kilbride equalised minutes later with Brown side-footing the ball into the net after hesitation in the Pupils’ defence. They went 2-1 ahead in the 31st minute from a free kick that deflected off the Pupils’ defensive wall past Colville.
The Pupils scored a deserved equaliser in the 40th minute – James Morris forcing the ball home after a goalmouth scramble.
Midway through the second half East Kilbride took the lead again. A long free kick played into the Pupils’ box was missed by the defence and Brown scored his second of the match.
The Pupils pushed forward and pinned the visitors back as they tried for an equaliser, throwing bodies into the box at every opportunity.
Gary Grumoli saw his shot come crashing back off a post and the keeper pulled off some excellent saves aided by desperate defending.
They somehow survived and hit the Pupils with a sucker punch in the 81st minute. A long through ball caught out the Pupils and Hay ran through to score past Colville to make the final score 4-2.
Tomorrow, Saturday, 6 October, the Pupils travel to play Dunoon in a Jimmy Marshall Trophy first round match. The Pupils and Dunoon met back in August in a league match at Kintyre Park – the Pupils winning 4-1.
