The Old Campbellian Society

Saintfield, well and truly put the reins on Campbellians' charge towards the Senior 2 title at Belmont on Tuesday evening.

The visitors reached the Home circle and subsequently found the back of the Campbellians net on just three occasions (once in open play, and twice from penalty corners).

The remainder of the fixture was effectively a story of total Campbellians domination. But this only resulted in an equal number of goals (John Rea with a gem of a sweep past the keeper; Conor Bannister with a scrambled push in at a penalty corner; and Joel Easlea with a drag flick from another penalty corner).

Undoubtedly, one of the visitors' penalty corner goals should have been disallowed, as the ball was clearly stopped inside the circle; however the umpire involved refused to listen to all and sundry (including the advice of his colleague) and allowed the goal to stand.

Having said that, Saintfield thoroughly deserved their share of the points, with a stoic defensive performance; the heroics of 'keeper Alister Patterson (and a bit of luck when it mattered).

Campbellians meanwhile had only themselves to blame for the result; and can only hope that their title hopes will not be defined by the total of FOURTEEN penalty corners squandered during this fixture.