A YOUNG Rhu Amateurs team was taught a harsh lesson on Saturday when a 5-1 defeat to Dumbarton side St Patrick's FP saw the local team dumped out of the Scottish Amateur Cup.

The hosts, from the Central Scottish Premier League, got off to a perfect start, and apart from a 20-minute spell at the start of the second half, they controlled the game.

Rhu went behind after just 10 minutes when a misplaced pass at the back allowed Kevin McElroy the easy task of placing the ball in to the corner of the net.

Five minutes later another pass went astray and again McElroy pounced to make it two.

This unsettled Rhu as they tried in vein to get into the game.

Saints were dominant and it was no surprise when they made it three and it was McElroy again who struck to complete his hat-trick.

He broke in from the right with 10 minutes to the break and slotted the ball home.

With the half almost over, St Pat’s added a fourth after a fine passing movement, with Joe Cullen finishing.

It had been a dismal first half for Rhu, but a few stern words at the break finally got a response.

They came close when St Pat's cleared the ball off their goal line, but Rhu’s persistence was rewarded when Eddie Bell found fellow youngster Brandon Pitt at the edge off the box, Pitt beat a defender before firing the ball into the net.

Rhu’s revival was short lived, however, as Saints soon got number five.

Ciaran McElroy drifted in from the left and gave Rhu goalkeeper Kyle Proctor no chance.

Rhu Amateurs: Proctor, Burke, Milne, Hanley, E.Bell, George, Pitt, Holburn, Mullholland, Stillwell and McCulloch.

Subs: Mitchell, Scullion, Alden, A.Bell and Munro.

Rhu return to Caledonian League duty this Saturday, November 11, with an away fixture against East Kilbride YM.