East Kilbride kicked off their 2001 campaign with a hard-earned win over the Birmingham Bulls. Games between these two sides are traditionally close encounters, and the early exchanges this time around indicated more of the same. Indeed, the first half came and went without any score, both defenses having the upper
hand. The Pirates managed to negate the running threat of Kofi Campbell, restricting him to a long of 13 yards. Similarly the Bulls were managing to contain Willie Brown, although his persistence did eventually see him total 73 yards on 17 carries.

Midway through the third period, with a 0-0 score line becoming more and more possible, the home side put together a decisive drive. QB Gary McNey had been connecting with Alan Street (6 catches for 84 yards) on a regular basis, and with the Pirates on 2nd & Goal at the Bulls' 8 yard line, he used Street as a decoy then found David Mooney in the endzone for the go-ahead score. This was not only Mooney's first TD for the club, but was also his first reception. McNey tagged on the extra point.

Going into the final quarter a 7-0 lead looked like it might prove to be enough, given the way the home defense was playing. However, when cornerback, Ivor Clark picked off a wayward Bulls' pass and returned it 60 yards for the score, the writing was on the wall for Birmingham. McNey pushed the PAT attempt wide right, leaving the score at 13-0 to East Kilbride. The Bulls almost came straight back into the game when Kofi Campbell returned the ensuing kick-off 49 yards. He had looked set to go all the way until one of his own team mates ran into him and knocked him over. The Bulls' last glimmer of hope soon disappeared when on 2nd and Goal at the 1 yard line, East Kilbride's Jim Dorman ripped the ball loose and Ian Nelson recovered the fumble. The Pirates then tried to run down the clock but
Birmingham had one last chance to score late in the game. Their final drive came to an end when Stuart McNeill pulled in the Pirates' third interception via the fingertips of Ross Templeton (proving that contrary to public opinion, they DO have a pair of hands between them!). With Birmingham having used all their time-outs, the clock ran out without another snap being taken, and the Pirates had a memorable victory in the bag.