Ardencaple AFC retained second place in the league thanks to a 7-4 win over BSC Glasgow at Petershill Juniors’ ground on Saturday.

Caple started brightly, but were guilty in the early stages of playing too much football in their own half, with an intricate passing game deployed in areas of the pitch that posed no real threat to the opposition.

And BSC took the lead against the run of play, capitalising on slack passing to win a free-kick which was curled round the wall and past Russell in the Caple goal – before a clever lob over the keeper after Caple gave away possession in their own half left the hosts 2-0 up with just 15 minutes on the clock.

But the visitors showed great resilience to overturn that deficit before the break: a great strike from outside the box by Harkin and a powerful finish from Wallace, after a wonderful, flowing move involving Marshall, Cavana and Jeffrey, made it 2-2.

Caple were moving the ball forward much earlier and much quicker than in the early stages, and deservedly took a 3-2 lead into the interval courtesy of a 25-yard free kick from Wallace.

Another fantastic effort from Harkin, who turned and struck the ball into the top corner from distance, made it 4-2 early in the second half, before Jeffrey’s pace took him beyond the BSC defence to latch on to a delicate Holborn pass and calmly guide home the fifth.

But with a three-goal cushion, Caple suddenly lost concentration and two opportunistic goals from the home side reduced the visitors’ lead to 5-4 and set up a tense finish to the game.

But again, Caple dug deep into their reserves of resilience and determination to hold off the hosts’ threat, upping the gears and adding two more through an expertly executed left foot shot from Mallett and then a late strike from skipper Cavana.

Team: Russell, Livingston, Cameron, Marshall, Hyslop, Angus, Cavana, Holborn, Harkin, Wallace, Jeffrey. Subs: Mallet, McAreavey.

Three more valuable away points keep Caple in contention at the top of the table ahead of the team’s first home match in six weeks this Saturday, November 10 – a second-round M&M Cinema Cup tie against Eastfield. Kick-off at the Navy pitch in Rhu is at 2pm.

Meanwhile, Rhu Amateurs’ league game at home to Westerlands last Saturday fell victim to the weather.

Rhu are at home to Viewfield Rovers this Saturday – kick-off is at 2pm at Ardenconnel Park.