The goals just keep flowing for Ardencaple Amateurs after the area’s newest team scored 15 goals in their first two competitive fixtures.

Hot on the heels of netting 11 goals in a pre-season friendly against a Navy XI, Caple have begun their league and cup campaign in the Central Scottish AFL with two thumping home wins – a 7-1 defeat of Gourock Athletic in the League Cup last midweek, and then an 8-0 thrashing of Craigneuk in their opening league fixture on Saturday.

The draw for the sectional League Cup campaign handed Caple a tough task with early-season fixtures against Gourock Athletic, Greenock High School FP and local rivals St Patrick’s FP.

Following a nervous start in their first tie against Gourock last Wednesday night, Caple soon found their rhythm, and their scoring boots, and romped to a 4-1 lead at the interval.

And the hosts continued to dominate in the second half, adding three more in a very impressive performance.

Shaun Wallace led the way with five goals, with Lee Dickson and an early contender for goal of the season from Richie Hassan completing Caple’s tally.

Team: Russell, Gallagher, Dickson, Cameron, Hyslop, Hassan, Cavana, Holborn, Callander, Wallace, McKell. Subs: Jeffrey, Livingston, Cheesman, Louden.

Saturday’s opening league game in the CSAFL’s Division 1(b), against Craigneuk, followed a very similar pattern – after an untidy start Caple soon settled down and took an early lead when Ross Jeffrey was on the end of a great move and cross to head powerfully home.

That clearly got Shaun Wallace angry and he responded with yet another five goals, with Connor Hyslop and Jordan Cheesman adding one apiece.

Striker Wallace has now notched 15 goals in his last three games, and 15 for the season so far – and it’s only mid-August!

Team: Russell, Hyslop, Dickson, Cameron, Callander, McKell, Cavana, Holborn, Hassan, Wallace, Jeffrey.

Substitutes: Livingston, Cheesman, O’Brien.

The CSAFL’s president, Alex Owens, paid a visit to Ardenconnel Park in Rhu to assess the merits of Caple as its new member team and to check out the overall set-up at the Navy Pitch, leaving suitably impressed on both counts.

After Saturday’s win, Caple manager Craig Holborn commented: “All the hard work in pre-season looks to be paying off with two fantastic opening scores to get our season off to a flier.

“All credit to our players and to our coaching staff for delivering these two fabulous performances to get our season off and running.

“We sit proudly at the top of our league cup section as well as our league but we know we have a long, hard season ahead.”

Caple took on Greenock HSFP on Wednesday night, after this issue of the Advertiser went to press.

They then return to league action on Saturday, August 18, with a trip to Bothwellhaugh Park to take on Blantyre RGM, before completing their League Cup group fixtures the following midweek – and a stiff challenge is in prospect for the new team when Premier Division side St Patrick’s FP make the short trip to Rhu from Dumbarton.