RHU Amateurs brought down the curtain on their Caledonian League campaign in thrilling fashion on Saturday after James Burns’ late strike secured a 3-2 win at home to St Mungo’s.

Rhu were out for revenge against the Bishopbriggs side after falling to a 9-1 defeat when the sides last met in their opening league game of the campaig, way back in August.

And the home side certainly seemed up for the fight, enjoying the better of the early exchanges with their 3-5-2 formation and taking a deserved lead when a well-worked move down the left set up Kyle Sharkey – and though his shot was well saved, Ali Maule followed up and blasted home the loose ball.

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Though St Mungo’s had already secured promotion to the top flight before Saturday’s match, they were in no mood to let slip a fine away record which had seen them lose just once on their travels since the tirn of the year.

But the visitors came into the game after the loss of the opening goal, and equalised when a cutback from Rhu’s left-hand side gave the visiting striker a tap-in from six yards.

Rhu, however, were in no mood to lie down, and both keepers were called into action in the closing stages of the half – though neither would be beaten before the break, as the half-time whistle sounded with the teams still all square.

Rhu tried to take the game to their opponents in the second half, but St Mungo’s were quick on the break, and keeper Ainslie on his debut had to make a couple of good saves to keep the hosts on level terms.

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The hosts did get their noses in front for a second time courtesy of a Kyle Sharkey penalty, but as both teams pressed forward in an entertaining second half it was still Ainslie who was the busier keeper, and he produced a couple of wonder saves to deny the visitors.

But the debutant had no chance when St Mungo’s levelled for a second time after a quick break up the park gave the visitors’ number 12 a chance he couldn’t miss.

Rhu, though, had the scent of victory in their nostrils, and with just a few minutes left Burns smashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net to give the hosts a fully deserved three points – a result which secures fifth place in the league.

Coach Stewart Maule said afterwards: “What an incredible way to finish the 2018/19 league season – a hard fought, well deserved, win in the sunshine. It’s not been easy, it’s taken a lot of hard work and sacrifice but as a squad we’ve made considerable progress from last season.

“We’ve still got some Cup games to play and we’ll be working hard to ensure that we do our best in all of them.”

Team: Ainslie, Maule, Connolly, McVey, Fagan, Gorman, Scullion, Laird, A. Sharkey, Burns, K. Sharkey. Subs: Smith, Fyffe, Fraser. all used.

Rhu return to action on Wednesday, April 17, with a President’s Cup group match away to Westerlands.