Campbeltown Pupils return to Premier Division

[Sport]

Well done to the Pupils who turned in a fine win to end their season on a high with promotion back to the SAFL Premier Division.

Report from the Pupils website

PUPILS RETURN TO PREMIER DIVISION.

Dunoon 1 Campbeltown Pupils 2.

After a gutsy performance on the last day of the season, supporters of the club must be left wondering why the team's recent home form had deserted them. This was an unregonisable display considering the rash of poor results that had gone before, a team that excelled in all departments when it really mattered.

The Pupils opened up a square Dunoon defence almost at will, with only poor finishing and last ditch defending keeping the score down. After a series of missed chances, a through ball sent Gary Grumoli free behind the defensive line, the striker easily bypassing the unprotected home goalkeeper to dispatch the ball into an empty net.

Dunoon made sure that the game was competitive by dragging themselves back into contention with dogged determination. The home side's number seven was a class act in the middle of the park, his probing passes eventually setting-up the equaliser with minutes of the first half remaining. Although slightly against the run of play, a one-two on the edge of the box split the Pupils defence for the forward to fire past the advancing Colville to level the scores.

The game produced a similar pattern in the second-half, with the Pupils looking more likely to score, but Dunoon more than capable of producing a killer blow to end the Kintyre team's promotion hopes. With twenty minutes remaining a break down the right flank by McWhirter produced the all important second goal. Unlucky in front of goal throughout the game, the striker's tireless running eventually produced a telling contribution. His cross from the right found co-striker Gary Grumoli racing into the box, the Pupils goal hero finding the net for the second time in the match with a powerful into the roof of the net.

The winning goal was just reward for an unselfish performance by the two front runners, who gave their all on a day of blistering heat. Craig Colville was called into action in the closing minutes when he saved brilliently with a one-handed stop at his right hand post, and, to fair to Dunoon, they threatned to the end and certainly never looked like giving up the ghost.

This was a day of celebration for the Pupils as they returned to the top division, a fine team performance by everyone on the park. It is probably unfair to single out individuals, but a tremendous workman like performance by Paul Grumoli in mid-field was the highlight of the game. His two brothers, Gary with two crucial goals and Sean in the heart of defence, were also prominent in a fine win.

[joe_ruesgen]

Congratulations to the Pupils!

Craig Colville in goal too...when did that one happen?