GORDON BRODIE hailed a “tremendous” performance from his Rhu Amateurs players after the club’s Caledonian League squad recovered from a red card to secure a fine three points on the road on Saturday.

Brian Cameron saw red while Brodie’s men were locked at 2-2 away to Callander Thistle – but Rhu made light of the disadvantage to go on to win 4-2.

Rhu took the lead with a first half goal out of the very top drawer from Karl Johansson, who found the net with an absolute screamer into the top corner from more than 20 yards, giving the Callander keeper no chance.

But the home side hit back to level almost straight away – and despite Rhu controlling much of the play the teams went in level at the break.

Rhu, however, were in no mood to let their dominance go unrewarded, and Brodie’s side regained the lead early in the second half, captain Lewis Campbell finishing from close range after some great football from the visitors.

Again, though, Callander refused to buckle, and the hosts levelled for a second time – though they owed their second equaliser to a stroke of good fortune after being awarded an extremely soft penalty, and though keeper Craig Gemmell saved the first attempt, the rebound was fired home to make it 2-2.

But Rhu’s hopes looked to have suffered a major blow when the referee missed what looked like a clear penalty for the visitors, with Cameron handed his marching orders for his role in the melee that followed.

But with the way Rhu were playing Brodie and his coaches decided to keep pressing forward in spite of Callander having an extra man, and the positive approach paid off when Danny Johns powered in a header which gave the Thistle keeper no chance to make it 3-2.

Numbers were then evened up when Callander were also reduced to 10 men after a horrendous challenge from their right-back – before Rhu finished the game as a contest when Ryan Jones Cooley converted from close range to give the hosts all three points.

Brodie said afterwards: “This was a tremendous performance from us with some great football being played throughout the game.

“The boys can be proud of how they played and showed great fight and determination despite having to play the game in difficult circumstances.”

Rhu’s Caledonian League squad return to home turf this Saturday, March 4, when they face Premier League leaders East Kilbride YM in the quarter-finals of the Douglas Smith League Cup.

Kick-off at Ardenconnel Park is at 2pm.