A glorious summer's day welcomed the Scottish Amateur Football Association Select to Kintyre Park, a game that will be remembered for a fantastic first-half full of pace, skill and absolute commitment. Both sides served up a 'cracker' to celebrate the home sides 90th Anniversary, with the first forty-five a joy to watch and a credit to amateur football.

Scotland opened brightly, sweeping the ball around with great confidence and pace; however, the Pupils were in no mood to be over-run, the home side to a man standing firm during the early exchanges. Neil McKay in the home goal was at his confident best, ably supported by a back four who were strong and decisive throughout.

The McFadyen Construction sponsored Pupils were more than match for their illusrious oppenents and, as the game settled they came alive as an attacking force. The home side possesion play was accurate and creative, with the pace of Alan Sinclair beginning to cause the Scotland defence no end of bother.

The Pupils grabbed the lead midway through the first-half, a blistering run by Alan Sinclair taking him beyond the last defender. Paul Grumoli was first to reach the wingers accurate cutback, unleashing an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner of the net to shock the national team.

Scotland launched a number of assaults on the home goal, but they were denied by dogged defending and, a series of excellent stops by the home goalkeeper. The Pupils could be well-satisfied as the half-time whistle sounded, a lead against the best amateur players in the country a worthwhile reward for a team playing out of it's skin.

The pace of the game died a little in the second-half, understandable given the commitment of the early play. Scotland made the breakthrough from a corner-kick early in the half, a perfectly flighted ball to the near post headed firmly into the net by their tall central defender.

The Pupils were now finding it difficult to build any form of attack, although the introduction of substitutes did freshen things up for the home side. Pressure was applied by the national team, with most of the home sides play now consigned to defence. There was of course the occasional break-away; however, the use of the long ball was fast becoming a sign of desperation as Scotland tightened its grip on the game.

Scotland deservedly snatched the lead with fifteen minutes of the game remaining, a strike from close-range causing the damage with goalkeeper McKay rooted to his line.

A large crowd was regally entertained by the play of both sides, especially in a pulsating first-half. It would be unfair to single out individuels; however, it is safe to say their were no failures in the Pupils line-up. Scotland produced a very strong side, one the association can be rightly proud of.

Campbeltown Pupils would like to thank the committee of the SAFA for sending down the national side to celebrate the club's 90th year in football. A special thanks to secretary Mr Hugh Knapp for all his work and, everyone involved in organising Saturday's game.

We really appreciate the effort made by the coaching staff and players of the Scotland squad.

A BIG THANK-YOU TO ONE AND ALL.