RHU Amateurs’ Caledonian League team brought their winless run to an end in style with a thrilling 6-4 win away to Cambusbarron Rovers on Saturday.

Gordon Brodie’s squad have struggled in recent weeks to adjust to the loss of several key players from their 2023-24 squad to other clubs during the close season, but after six defeats on the spin, their hard work in training paid off at Mill Road Park with a battling performance and a well-earned win over their Stirling opponents at a ground that’s never an easy place to play at, or to get a result.

Ryan Jones and Lewis Campbell each bagged a brace for Brodie's men, with Jordan Wyllie and Robert Caldwell also getting on the scoresheet to bring the smiles back to the squad as they climbed two places in the First Division standings after a challenging few weeks.

It’s back to cup action for the club’s Caledonian League side this Saturday, September 21, when they play host to Lanarkshire AFC’s under-19s in the first round of the West of Scotland Amateur Cup. Kick-off at Ardenconnel Park is at 2pm.

Back on home soil, meanwhile, Rhu’s Glasgow Colleges FA team extended their unbeaten start to the season after a 1-1 draw at home to Kings Park United on Saturday morning.

It’s now four games without defeat to start the BOCA Championship campaign for Jamie Kjorstad’s squad, though they had to come from behind to claim their point after a hugely entertaining 90 minutes.

It took some time for the home side to get into their stride as the  visitors bossed the opening portion of the game, but once Kjorstad’s men settled in to their preferred game plan it was the Rhu lads who came up with the big chances.

Ross Jeffrey found himself with a great one-on-one chance to open the scoring, but it was the Kings Park keeper who came out on top, and then Murdo Burch was inches away with a looping shot that bounced off the crossbar. 

Kings Park actually had the ball in the Rhu net soon after, but the referee had already blown for offside; minutes later, though, they found a way through again, and this time there was no doubt about the validity of the goal, as their striker stroked the ball home from close range.

The loss of the game’s opening goal didn’t disrupt Rhu’s rhythm too much, with the message from the coaching team at the interval being to continue the approach that had seen them carve out the lion’s share of the first half goalscoring opportunities.

And the message clearly got through, with Rhu starting the second half on the front foot and levelling the game 10 minutes in; Jeffrey sent McConnell off down the right with a nicely weighted pass, and the resultant cross was met once again by Jeffrey who fired home.

From then on the  game flowed from end to end, with chances falling to both sides, but both were unable to put them away. 

Squad: Lewis, Thomson, McConnell, Adams, Kjorstad, Moy, Shields, Henry, Black, Brown, Molloy, Burch, Jeffrey, Milton, Young, Wilson.

Elsewhere, Rhu’s under-19s began their league campaign with a 3-2 defeat away to East Park in the SPAFA Under-19s Championship.

Rhu took the lead when a throw-in found Ali Graham in the box, and he laid off to Jack Flemming for a cool finish into the bottom right corner.

The visitors looked comfortable at half-time, but East Park were a transformed team after the break and within 15 minutes of the restart Rhu were 2-1 down courtesy of a deflected shot and a set-piece goal from a corner.

Rhu's under-19s lost 3-2 to East Park in their opening SPAFA Under-19 Championship fixture.Rhu's under-19s, pictured in their new away kit, sponsored by C. Livingston Roofing, lost 3-2 to East Park in their opening SPAFA Under-19 Championship fixture. (Image: Rhu U19s on Facebook)

Rhu were presented with a golden opportunity to level when the East Park goalkeeper was sent off for an off-the-ball kick and the referee awarded a penalty; unfortunately Taylor’s spot-kick hit the bar and the hosts were able to clear.

The visitors’ push for an equaliser was rewarded when Aaron Dougan got on the end of a Charles Livingston cross.

But in a classic counter-punch, with Rhu turning up the heat on the home goal a long ball forward caught out the defence and, despite the East Park striker looking two or three yards offside, the referee’s arm stayed down and the hosts snatched a slightly fortunate winner.

Rhu’s under-19s have a chance to put that right when they welcome East Park to Helensburgh on September 27.

Before then, the U19s are in West of Scotland Cup action themselves when they face Glasgow Athletic FC at Crownpoint this Saturday.