2pm 24 May 2014
Scottish Amateur League, Premier Two Division
Lochgilphead Red Star 4 Goldenhill 3 (att 36)
English football might be winding down for the summer but there's plenty left to watch in Scotland, although with new grounds in the Scottish Juniors few and far between at the moment I turned my attention to amateur football.
I think this was the first time I've spent a Saturday afternoon watching a "winter" amateur league game in Scotland, but if future games are half as enjoyable as this then I'll be seeing plenty more.
There wasn't a huge amount at stake, with Goldenhill already promoted, but Red Star needed a result to give themselves a chance of promotion should vacancies occur in the league's higher divisions.
They earned their three points the hard way. The visitors showed no ill effects from the long minibus journey to Lochgilphead, scoring twice in the opening minutes. Amazingly, Red Star then scored twice to make the score 2-2 after just nine minutes.
The game calmed down after that, but an error by the home goalkeeper allowed a shot to squirm through him to send Goldenhill into the half time break with a 3-2 lead. The second half was as entertaining as the first, with chances at both ends, but the home side scored twice to win the game. Their equaliser was a terrific long-range strike, while the late winner capped a great afternoon's entertainment.
Lochgilphead, in Argyll, is one of Scottish football's more remote outposts. It's a long and winding, but very scenic, drive from Glasgow. Red Star are based at Ropework Park, a basic venue surrounded by housing.
Behind one goal is a car park, with a grass bank leading down to the pitch. Players change in a rather ugly building behind the opposite goal. The pitch is enclosed, with most spectators choosing to watch from outside the low fence on the adjacent footpath. Had the game not been as exciting to watch, the views of the surrounding countryside would have more than made up for it.
This was to have been part one of a two game weekend in the Kintyre peninsula, but unfortunately Sunday's scheduled game at Tarbert didn't take place. Presumably bottom-of -the-league Rossvale Amateurs didn't fancy the long journey for what was likely to be a heavy defeat.
View Lochilphead Red Star AFC in a larger map
Scottish Amateur League, Premier Two Division
Lochgilphead Red Star 4 Goldenhill 3 (att 36)
English football might be winding down for the summer but there's plenty left to watch in Scotland, although with new grounds in the Scottish Juniors few and far between at the moment I turned my attention to amateur football.
I think this was the first time I've spent a Saturday afternoon watching a "winter" amateur league game in Scotland, but if future games are half as enjoyable as this then I'll be seeing plenty more.
There wasn't a huge amount at stake, with Goldenhill already promoted, but Red Star needed a result to give themselves a chance of promotion should vacancies occur in the league's higher divisions.
They earned their three points the hard way. The visitors showed no ill effects from the long minibus journey to Lochgilphead, scoring twice in the opening minutes. Amazingly, Red Star then scored twice to make the score 2-2 after just nine minutes.
The game calmed down after that, but an error by the home goalkeeper allowed a shot to squirm through him to send Goldenhill into the half time break with a 3-2 lead. The second half was as entertaining as the first, with chances at both ends, but the home side scored twice to win the game. Their equaliser was a terrific long-range strike, while the late winner capped a great afternoon's entertainment.
Lochgilphead, in Argyll, is one of Scottish football's more remote outposts. It's a long and winding, but very scenic, drive from Glasgow. Red Star are based at Ropework Park, a basic venue surrounded by housing.
Behind one goal is a car park, with a grass bank leading down to the pitch. Players change in a rather ugly building behind the opposite goal. The pitch is enclosed, with most spectators choosing to watch from outside the low fence on the adjacent footpath. Had the game not been as exciting to watch, the views of the surrounding countryside would have more than made up for it.
This was to have been part one of a two game weekend in the Kintyre peninsula, but unfortunately Sunday's scheduled game at Tarbert didn't take place. Presumably bottom-of -the-league Rossvale Amateurs didn't fancy the long journey for what was likely to be a heavy defeat.
View Lochilphead Red Star AFC in a larger map
Thoroughly enjoyable account of your visit to our friends and near neighbours Lochgilphead Red Star. The Ropework is certainly looking at it's best in your photos. Keep up the good work with your blog.
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