RHU Amateurs battled back from the loss of two first half goals to claim their first points of 2019 courtesy of a fine 5-2 win away to Stirling University on Saturday.

With several players missing, Rhu had to rejig their team, and following home defeats to East Kilbride YM and Westerlands in their first two matches of the new year, the early signs weren't good for the visitors.

Stirling made hay as Rhu took time to adjust early on: the hosts' first goal came after 20 minutes when Stirling’s number nine got the break of the ball and fired past keeper William Brown, and just five minutes later it was two when the hosts’ number six broke through and found the bottom corner of the net.

But the visitors stormed back in style in the last 15 minutes of the half, hitting their hosts with a quick-fire treble to go in at the break 3-2 up.

Patrick Scullion fired home after exchanging passes with Kyle Sharkey, and Sharkey set up the equaliser with a cross to the back post which was headed back into the danger zone by Gary Stillwell and fired home by Ali Maule.

And the visitors completed their comeback moments before the interval with a classic strike, when Adam Sharkey was picked out by a Gerard McKay cross and played a great one-two with his brother Kyle before thumping the ball into the roof of the net.

Stirling came out in the second half determined to get back into the game, and keeper Brown had to make a couple of important saves to keep Rhu in front, but the visitors were still causing their hosts plenty of problems, and it was no surprise when they added a fourth, Maule setting up Kyle Sharkey for the finish.

And when Brown picked out Stillwell on the left, and his pass to Adam Sharkey was quickly moved on to Kyle Sharkey for his second of the day, it rounded off a really good performance after a nervy start.

* This Saturday, February 1, Rhu host Rothesay Brandane at Ardenconnel Park with a 2pm kick-off.