MORE than seven months since their last competitive fixture, Rhu Amateurs were back with a bang on Saturday thanks to a 6-1 win at home to Rothesay Brandane in their opening match of the 2020-21 Caledonian League campaign.

In difficult conditions, with persistent rain throughout and a playing surface which got increasingly heavy as the game went on, Shaun Wallace's header and Kyle Sharkey's cool strike had Rhu 2-0 ahead at the break, though the young Rothesay side competed well and were unlucky not to score themselves.

But after a tactical switch by the Rhu coaching team. the second half belonged to the home side – and in particular to big striker Callum Smith, who bagged four goals, one of them a penalty, before Rothesay captain Shaun Lawrence netted a consolation for the visitors, also from the penalty spot.

Rhu coach Stewart Maule said after the game: "It was a solid performance with flashes of what this squad is capable of once they have played together more.

"Great credit goes to Rothesay for making the journey and playing in such a hard-fought match in those conditions without being able to use the changing facilities."

* More from Saturday's match in the next print edition of the Advertiser – on sale from Thursday, October 8.