Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School under-15s win 15-goal epic

Dec 9 2011 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School 9

Johnstone High School 6

Scottish Schools Under-15 Cup, round three

YOU might think this was a rugby match, looking at the scoreline.

But no – the football teams of Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School and Johnstone High School really did share 15 goals, with the Dumbarton team triumphant.

The game’s astonishing scoring pattern began when the home side notched three quick early goals, two of them from Shipcott and then one from Vance.

But the dynamic of the game changed when OLSP centre half John Crawford was sent off for deliberate handball in the box.

The referee deemed that he had denied a goalscoring opportunity midway through the first half, leaving OLSP to battle on with 10 men.

The penalty was converted with total conviction and thereafter Johnstone were transformed, with the score eventually reaching 6-6.

However, the visitors ultimately couldn’t bridge the gap and the home side’s early goal blitz proved decisive.

The later goals came from McFarlane, Clark, a hat-trick by McNaught and a stunning shot from his own half by Shaun Ronald.

But both sides could head for the changing room reflecting that they had conspired together to produce an enthralling football match.

Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School: Davenport; Curley, Doleman, Crawford, Ronald, Larkin, Clark, McFarlane, Black, McNaught, Vance, Joyce, Mairs, Moffat.