RHU Amateurs boss Gordon Brodie has paid tribute to the “never-say-die” attitude of his players after watching them bring their campaign to a close with a win.

A stunning late winner from Luke Evans earned Rhu’s Caledonian League squad a 3-2 victory over Dunblane SC in front of a bumper crowd in glorious weather – ensuring players, coaching staff and supporters could end the season with smiles on their faces.

Brodie told the Advertiser: “This was exactly what the Rhu boys deserved after a long season and put a smile on everyone’s face that came down to watch this team play.

“We have a never-say-die attitude that cannot be matched from any team in the league and shows how far this team has come in a short period of time.

 

Gordon Brodie, inset, praised the attitude of his Rhu players and hailed the progress theyve made during the 2022-23 campaign

Gordon Brodie praised the attitude of his Rhu players and hailed the progress they've made during the 2022-23 campaign

 

“The future looks bright for this team and everyone is very excited as we look forward to next season.

“We would like to thank our sponsors for this season – without them the club wouldn’t be where we are.

“Thank you also to the fans that come and support up wherever we go. It’s invaluable to us and very humbling to have such great support.

 

Helensburgh Advertiser:

 

“And thank you to the players. You are a great group of boys and on behalf of myself, Alan, Paul and Jason we are very proud of what you have achieved this season and excited for what the future holds.”

Rhu started the match in their usual fashion, moving the ball about well and at pace and creating plenty of chances – but it was the visitors who took the lead after some indecisive defending in the Rhu ranks.

The loss of the opening goal didn’t deter Rhu, and the home side’s insistence on sticking to their usual free-flowing football eventually led to the equaliser, Jordan Wyllie firing in from close range after some fine build-up play.

And Rhu then took the lead just before half time with one of the best finishes of the season when Jamie Paterson scored an absolute screamer from 25yards that gave the away keeper no chance as it sailed into the postage stamp corner.

 

Helensburgh Advertiser:

 

The second half followed a similar pattern, with both teams intent on playing football; Rhu created plenty of chances at one end, but at the other Rhu’s player of the year, Craig Gemmell, was on hand to snuff out any opportunities the away side could muster.

There was little Gemmell could do, though, to stop Dunblane’s number 10 levelling the game at 2-2 with a great lobbed finish.

As the game entered the closing stages this hungry Rhu side wasn’t finished, and if the home support thought Paterson’s earlier strike was special, they had something even better to enjoy in the final minutes.

This time Evans stepped up and fought his way past three Dunblane defenders to create some space for himself before unleashing a thunderbolt from 20 yards that gave the visiting keeper no chance and sent the bumper crowd crazy as Rhu secured full points against the league’s second-placed team.

The final standings see Rhu finish fifth in the First Division with six wins and two draws from their 14 matches – though those bare statistics don’t tell the full story of a campaign which featured plenty of high points and, as reported in the Advertiser in recent weeks, included a memorable run to the semi-finals of the William Turner Challenge Cup.