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If a certain brand of beverage did opening day classics in the u21s league it would serve up a 3-3 draw between Campsie Black Watch and Knightswood Juveniles.

When the new league fixtures were announced and paired Campsie and Knightswood on the first day, last season‘s top two clubs, more than a few eyebrows were raised. The game didn’t disappoint and was a great spectacle to kick off the new season.

The champions, Campsie, kicked off the new u21s season under the blazing sun at Station Road. There was a bit of water on the park from a week of heavy rain but the Campsie staff did a great job to make it playable. The ball zipped around the park with occasional splash and made for fast and furious football.

Only a couple of minutes had passed when Knightswood struck the first goal of the season. A quick exchange on the edge of the Campsie box resulted a sliding pass to send Jamie Boyle running towards the Campsie goal with the defence on his heels. Boyle had the composure to pick his spot in the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to the visitors early doors.

Knightswood were looking up for it from the off and were winning every challenge and second ball in early stages. Gavin Stokes was looking impressive in the middle of the park for the Knightswood and Darren Miller was doing a good job of being a nuisance on the wing. Campsie were struggling to cope with the superb movement of the Knightswood attacking players and it was clear that it wasn’t going to be an easy day out for the Campsie defence.

After an opening onslaught from Knightwood, Campsie eventually had their sleeves rolled up and were working hard to claw back Knightswood’s 1-0 lead. Campsie’s new captain, Paul McGeouch, was leading by example in the engine room for champions and displayed an unnerving desire to get stuck in when the boots were flying. Before long both sides were really slogging it out in the middle of the park and their new kit was getting it‘s first bout of mud stains.

Knightswood nearly doubled their lead through a cheeky Fraser Team lob from the right wing but his effort looped over the bar. Then Campsie’s Declan Cairney sent a left footed snap-shot wide of the target after he latched onto a Herculean long throw by Gerry Watt. Moments later, Cairney tested Knightswood’s new man between the sticks, Kieran Cannon, with a curling left foot effort from 25 yards but the keeper gathered it well. A quick break saw Knightswood’s Fraser Team giving Ryan Kennedy his first ‘heart in mouth’ incident of the season when Team’s toe nearly prodded the ball home as the Campsie defender ushered the ball back to his keeper. Disaster was averted by way of a bobble and Storey scooped the ball into his welcoming gloves.

When it came, Knightswood’s second goal was feeling inevitable. A fierce 25 yard rocket stung the gloves of Storey and Gary Bell was on hand to the slam the ball into the open net from close range to make it 2-0.

Knightswood could smell blood and savagely set about mauling the Campsie defence with a cold brutality usually saved for later in a season. Campsie would have to dig deep to avoid a slaughter and to their credit, they did. Then right on the stroke of half time they produced a sucker punch of their own. Nicky Prentice turned his marker inside out before sending an absolute gem of a cross onto the head of Paul McGeouch. The Campsie captain’s header rattled the bar so hard that it bounced back onto his head and he gratefully nodded it past the stricken keeper and into the corner of the net. 2-1.

It was a tough first half, not for the feint hearted, but it was Knightswood who muscled their way into a deserved half time lead.

Half Time: Campsie Black Watch 1-2 Knightswood Juveniles


If the first half belonged to Knightswood, the second belonged to Campsie and Station Road erupted a couple of minutes after the restart when Ciaran McElroy equalised. Stephen Aitken worked hard to close down a Knightswood clearance in the box, the ball landed at the feet of McElroy who smashed it into the back of the net from the edge of the box. 2-2

Campsie had clearly upped the pace in the second half and looked hungry. Prentice and Aitken were pulling the strings on the left flank and it was one of their penetrating combinations that led to an opportunity for the hosts to take the lead. Prentice flashed the ball along the six hard box and McElroy was less than a boot lace away from finishing at the back stick. Then a powerful cross from Gerry Watt found the head of Stephen Aitken but his effort spun over.

Knightswood were on the ropes and Campsie were throwing everything they could at them. Gavin Stokes selflessly threw himself in front of a fierce Willie Whiteford drive and without doubt prevented a Campsie third. Then Prentice struck the side netting after Cairney held the ball up well and sent him into the box.

Knightswood needed to produce something special to dig themselves out of the hole Campsie had forced them in. They produced something extra special. A thing of absolute beauty came from the boot of Darren Miller when he sent a free kick into the top left hand corner of the net. It was an unsavable shot and a moment of absolute class to make it 3-2 to Knightswood.

The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Campsie and Knightswood looked to have the points sewn up. Campsie continued to ask questions however and were answered by some last-gasp challenges by the impressive Jordan McCue. But Campsie have a history of turning losses to draws and draws to victories and with moments remaining, Campsie equalised again via a great Declan Cairney goal. A slick passing manoeuvre in and around the Knightswood box resulted in a pin-point accurate finish into the top corner from Cairney. 3-3.

The full time whistle heralded the finale of an opening day classic and in the end a share of the points was about right. If this game is anything to go by it’s going to be another tight season that could go any way.

Full Time: Campsie Black Watch 3-3 Knightswood Juveniles