Debutant Eammon Moy was Rhu Amateurs’ hero with a last-gasp leveller on Saturday – but coach Russell Makeham admitted he was still gutted his team didn’t secure the win.

Rhu’s Greater Glasgow Premier League team showed plenty of fighting spirit to battle back from two goals down to secure a thrilling 4-4 draw away to Eastwood Parkmount – but Makeham said his side were the better team throughout the game, and but for a couple of moments where they shot themselves in the foot at the back, could – and probably should – have been celebrating a first league win of the season.

Despite the sun overhead, a dry pitch and strong wind made quality football difficult, and the early stages tested the touch of the players and the patience of both sets of coaches.

Rhu arguably started stronger but received a warning when Eastwood’s right midfielder cut inside and fired in a vicious 25 yard shot which left keeper Craig Gemmell’s crossbar reverberating – and worse was to follow after 10 minutes when a poorly struck corner somehow squirmed through to the back post where an Eastwood attacker gleefully smashed home as the Rhu defence remained static.

Rhu responded well and McFall shot narrowly over from 12 yards before Gorman came close twice – first with an effort tipped on to the bar by the Eastwood keeper and then with a free kick that missed the target by inches.

However, as has happened too often during a challenging season, Rhu then conceded a goal while appearing on top, when an incisive move down the left set up Eastwood’s centre forward for a clinical finish to put the hosts 2-0 up at the break.

Ryan Grant came on at left back at the break, and went on to produce a composed and assured performance, while manager Sam Gemmell tweaked the formation from a 4-4-1-1 to a more traditional 4-4-2, pushing Strang up front in support of Jones.

And by the hour mark Rhu had achieved parity: firstly Strang outmuscled his marker to get a glancing header on a wind-assisted throw from the impressive McVey, then with a moment of outstanding technical skill Gorman found the net from 25 yards with a left-footed free kick that dipped over a five man wall into the keeper’s top left corner. A goal that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the following evening’s El Classico fixture.

Rhu’s joy was short lived as they conceded a sloppy third within a couple of minutes when an Eastwood attacker was left unmarked to head home a corner from six yards.

But the visitors showed a level of resilience that belied their league position, and Strang bundled in from a narrow angle at the back post to make it 3-3, the referee waving away Eastwood’s pleas for offside.

Everything seemed to be pointing towards a comeback win for Rhu – but instead Eastwood hit back on the counter, their winger beating two men on the left before sending in a cross which was sidefooted home from close range.

But while a debilitating blow, it wasn’t a knockout punch for Rhu – and with the hosts using every opportunity to slow the game down the referee correctly added on several minutes of injury time.

Veteran club captain Douglas Black made a lung bursting run from right back to the edge of the opposition area where he was unceremoniously dumped to the ground.

From the resulting free-kick Gorman tried to repeat his earlier wonder strike – and while this time his effort wasn’t as well struck, it was still on target, and Eastwood’s keeper was only able to bundle the ball away for Moy, following up diligently after being introduced just 10 minutes earlier, to slot the deserved equaliser through a ruck of defenders and low into the corner with the last kick of the game.

Makeham said: “I was gutted for the lads who were available for us this week. We were the better team throughout and only the weekly issue of shooting ourselves in the foot stopped us from getting the victory.

“Coming back from two down showed great character and although young Eammon’s goal was only the equaliser it was celebrated like a win as we have been on the opposite side of those feelings this season.”

Squad: Gemmell, Black, Meader, McVey, McKell, McFall, Gorman, Rennie, Caldwell, Strang, Jones, Grant, Moy, Kjörstad.

This Saturday, March 26, Rhu’s Greater Glasgow team travel to Eaglesham, while the club’s Caledonian League squad – who hosted Goldenhill in a friendly on Saturday, after their league match with Rothesay Brandane was postponed – take on Callander Thistle at the DCF Park. Kick-off in both matches is at 2pm.