Postal Comeback Secures Victory
Campbeltown Pupils 1 Postal United 2
A second half fightback by Postal United secured them a crucial victory in a game that had a draw written all over it.
The Pupils secured the lead thanks to a family affair, Sean Grumoli's header at the far post striking the underside of the bar, the resultant rebound turned home from close range by brother Gary. Unfortunately, the home side were unable to turn the screw, only showing their real potential in the latter part of a match that was blessed with two outstanding saves from the Postal goalkeeper.
Things started brightly for the home side, with young stand-in keeper Lorne Robertson virtually untested in the first forty-five minutes. However, with a strong westerly wind keeping most of the play in the visitors half of the park, the Pupils were unable to capitalise on their territorial advantage.
In the first half the Pupils passing was wayward, a lack of a constructive play that would eventually come back to haunt them. The home side failed to build any momentum on the heavy Kintyre Park surface, something, on reflection they will regret.
A slack passback in the opening minutes of the second-half resulted in a free-kick on the edge of the box, goalkeeper Robertson unable to do anything else other than gather the ball. A short pass wide of the wall created the angle for a wonderful strike, the ball finding the top right hand corner of the net to bring Postal level.
Ironically, this setback spurred the Pupils on, the final quarter of the match being their best spell of a tense match. The home side now had the upper hand and, looked the more likely to orchestrate an important victory. The Postal goalkeeper obviously had another agenda, making two outstanding saves in the space of minutes to keep his side in the match.
The first from a wonderful free-kick by Darren MaGillveray, the keeper stretching full length to turn a goalbound shot over the top - definately a candidate for save of the season!
A through pass produced his second outstanding stop in the matter of minutes, the visiting goalkeeper turning a certain goal to safety by blocking the ball with his prostrate body.
These saves were the turning point in an evenly fought match, the Pupils running out of luck when a counter-attack produced a crucial winner for the visitors. A deep cross to the far post found the unmarked striker in acres of space, his firm header flying into the net for the crucial winning goal.
Pupils mounted a last ditch seige on the visitors goal; however, these efforts failed to produce a reward. The day was lost for a young Pupils side, a group who are learning the hard way, although their day will come in the not to distant future.
Ranald wrote:You missed the Boys' fixture for this coming Saturday, going for four in a row at home to Kilbowie Union!
Late goal ends Pollock's championship bid.
Campbeltown Pupils 1 Pollock 0
A late goal from Daren McGillivray was enough to end Pollock's championship dreams. Just when everyone was settling for a draw, a long ball over the top was instantly controlled by the Pupils midfield player, who ran on to draw the keeper, before slamming the ball into the net.
This was a tense match, with neither team playing at its best. On a day of searing heat, the Pupils edged the first half exchanges and, could have taken the lead on a number of occasions.
As the game progressed, Pollock did come into the match as an attacking force, playing possesion football for almost the first time in the game. For their part, the Pupils back four stood firm as the pressure began to build, the championship ambitions of the visitors driving them forward in search of a crucial goal.
Nevertheless, the home side always looked dangerous in attack, the free running Wylie and Sinclair causing alarm every time they stepped forward. Paul McWhirter and Gary Grumoli worked tirelessly throughout, and should be commended for hunting down many a lost cause.
However, in the end the day belonged to the Pupils defence who refused to give an inch throughout the ninety minutes. Norman Thompson, Craig Colville, Sean Grumoli and Andrew Armour were almost an unmovable force, ably backed by the safe hands of Neil McKay in the home goal.
Another stout-hearted effort came from Paul Grumoli and Grant Grant in the boiler house, always scrapping for an advantage on what was the warmest day of the season.
This was a fine end to what was a poor season for the home favourites, however, the team continues to grow and will surely fare better in future campaigns.
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