RHU Amateurs bounced back from a disappointing midweek defeat to Callander Thistle to beat Stirling University 6-1 in their final League Cup group tie on Saturday.

Having fallen to a 5-2 loss in Perthshire last Wednesday against a Callander side who raced into a four-goal lead before half-time, Rhu knew they needed a win at Ardenconnel on Saturday to have any chance of qualifying for the tournament’s knockout stages.

But despite a positive start, with a couple of early chances, the hosts suffered an early setback when Stirling took a shock lead after a defensive mix-up – and nearly added a second after a poor pass back from Maule, but Stirling’s striker saw his shot well saved by keeper Brown.

The prolific Kyle Sharkey equalised for Rhu when he followed up to find the net after his shot was saved, and then went on to add a second when he pounced on a loose ball and slotted past the Stirling keeper.

Rhu finished the half strongly but couldn’t find the elusive third goal before the break – though they didn’t have long to wait after the interval, Kyle Sharkey smashing home from 12 yards to make it 3-1.

That should have settled the game in the home side’s favour, but Stirling refused to fold and only a great save by Brown stopped the visitors scoring a second.

However, Sharkey’s second hat-trick of the season effectively ended the match as a contest when he was put through on goal and took the ball calmly round the Stirling keeper before slotting home.

Adam Sharkey made it five from the penalty spot after he was fouled in the box, and McElroy completed the scoring when he seized on a loose ball and rounded the keeper before rolling the ball home.

The result saw Rhu finish second in their League Cup group, allowing the team to switch the focus to the real stuff in the form of their opening league game away to St Mungo’s on Wednesday night, after the Advertiser went to press.

Team v Callander: Proctor, Maule, Fagan, McVey, McKay, Quinn, Scullion, A.Sharkey, K.Sharkey, Smith, Stillwell. Subs: McCaughey, Kane, Burke, Milne, McElroy.

Team v Stirling: Brown, Maule, Fagan, McVey McKay, McCaughey, A. Sharkey Gorman, Burke, Smith, K. Sharkey. Subs: McElroy, Kane, Murtagh, Scullion, Trainer.