6-3: M1s vs Uddingston 1s (Premiership) - 19/03/2022
With Hillhead still undefeated this half of the season, the boys were looking to bounce back after a disappointing draw in the previous week against a determined Dundee Wanderers side. It all starts with a nice and early meet at GHK in the sun, with everyone keeping their eyes on the meet time to avoid fines. We were all happy and ready to go, but then El Presidenté, aka Robert Maxwell, showed up with his money bag and took home around £1000 in match fees, acting like Smaug with his gold. An excellent start to the morning and setting the team’s morale high.
With having a high volume of matches in recent weeks, it is starting to take a toll on some of the players, and a call up for some 2s players was needed for this game due to covid and injuries. Warm-up underway, and with no Vijay this week, it was an eerie warm-up with no music getting played; also, having to deal with avoiding the water cannons while stretching makes the warm-up much more dynamic. The drama starts with the team in disarray. Grant MacMillan gets a special delivery of his shin pads, glove, and water bottle at the side of the pitch. Also, the team disagrees on what colour of hockey ball to use; Ewan Campbell (GK) says we should use a yellow ball on a sunny day; he’s on thin ice.
Onto the match, the game starts with a Uddingston side looking for redemption after still feeling the hangover of getting knocked out of the Scottish Cup by us. We have a solid game plan and look to start the game by keeping the ball. Sixty seconds into the game and Sean Horgan gets clomped in the head by a child. Adjustment required. A good 10-minute play by Hillhead follows and the ball finds it’s way through to the D and gets to Chris Wilson, who looks across and plays a dubious ball to Murray Ross, who manages to slot it in the goal on his reverse. 1-0 Hillhead. An early goal for Hillhead always means a comfortable game, right?
The pressure continues from Hillhead, and a nice bit of play comes down the left-hand side of the pitch, and a lovely ball goes across the goal to a diving Tom Cole, who has an open goal to score, manages to hit the post, and the ball slowly trickles out for a 16. Coach Keith’s blood pressure rises, keeping his cool but with his head in his hands. Nevertheless, Tom is back for a second chance and manages a lovely bit of skill down into the D, beating three Uddingston defenders to slot the ball home. 2-0 Hillhead.
Solid displays from our defenders, although for Andrew Sinclair, thinking if he couldn’t win the ball off the opposition, he could throw his stick at players instead. Hillhead lose a bit of concentration. Uddingston attacks our D and manages to get a shot off at goal, and the ball hits the bottom corner. 2-1.
Hillhead keeps creating chances, and they win a short corner just before halftime. It is straight to the top of the D for Fraser Ward to flick at the keeper, a bit of a scramble, and it somehow ends in the back of the goal. No one is claiming the goal; Fraser will gladly add that to his tally this season.
Halftime 3-1.
The boys are getting PTSD to last week because they are in the same position in the Wanderers game, being 3-1 up at halftime to end drawing it. A motivational talk from Keith and Fraser to make sure we don’t make the same mistake.
A good start in the third quarter sees Hillhead dominate in parts of the play. Starting with Fraser driving to the top of the D to take a shot at the goal for it to be blocked, Fraser reacts well to the ball’s rebound and slots the ball past the keeper. Keith will sleep well tonight as we finally get a rebound goal. 4-1. Back on the attack again, attacking down the left-hand side of the pitch, a ball Is played to Graeme Campbell, who turns and looks up, slotting the ball through the goalie’s legs. 5-1.
A really good bit of ruthlessness play from Hillhead should hopefully see this game out easily… The youthful Uddingston side doesn’t give up without a fight though. They attacked our D and managed to get a shot off at our goal, passing Ewan Campbell. 5-2. With the momentum on Uddingston’s side, they win a short corner. Straight to the top and slipped left to slot down the side of the post. 5-3.
No time for silly mistakes. But with the help of a solid performance from both Iain and Craig Hilton, making sure that no one is slacking. We get a bit of relief and a good bit of attacking play to win a short corner. From the top for Fraser to slot home. 6-3. To think that the drama ends there, Ewan Campbell does another dive for the cameras, someone just give him an Oscar already, gets a knock and lets Iestyn sub on and come in goals for the last 30 seconds of play left.
MOM: Iain Hilton – His solid display at the back
DOD & Match Report: Murray Ross – Everyone was jealous that he has a love life