A DAZZLING double was completed by a Irvine church football team after they produced the ultimate comeback.
The Fullarton United Church of Scotland team won the Athol Cup for the first time in their history earlier this season.
And they went into their final match in the Strathclyde Evangelical Churches League, knowing that a point against Greenbank would land them the title.
However they made the worst possible start and trailed 4-1 at half-time.
But a stern interval talking-to from coach Jason Hollas, who was also a regular player in the team at the age of 56, helped them win the match 5-4 and clinch what was their second league title in six years.
Jason said: “We were actually going for the treble and lost in the final of the Fraser Trophy.
“It felt pretty good. The boys were over the moon to win two trophies although a bit disappointed we never won the treble.
“It was a slog with games on Wednesdays and Saturdays each week. The boys worked really hard for one another and worked well as a team.
“We have not lost a home game since August and were only beaten twice in the last 16 or 17 games and one of those was the final of the Fraser Trophy.
“We were down 4-1 in the last league game and it was our poorest first half of the season.”
Asked if prayer helped them through, the coach said: “I had a few words with the players at half-time, it was a stern talking to and we came back really well.”
The team included Peter Martin, grandson of former Fullarton Parish Church minister, the Rev PG Thomson. The players range in ages from 20 to 56.
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