7-0: M1s Vs Dundee Wanderers (Premiership) - 23/04/22

Following a weekend of respite after making history by reaching the Scottish Cup Final, Hillhead returned to Old Anniesland to face Dundee Wanderers in the penultimate league game of the season. The Glasgow side knew that their recent success in the cup would serve to make them targets for other teams to prove themselves against the finalists and that the visitors would be coming out all guns blazing. Wanderers were desperate for a result as they sat perilously close to the bottom of the table, alongside their fellow Dundonians Grove Menzieshill.

The last meeting between these two teams had seen Hillhead held to a 3-3 draw after leading 3-1 heading into the final quarter, with all 3 Dundee goals courtesy of their centre forward Bobby Ralph. We knew we would need to keep their target man up top from getting the same service if we were to secure Ewan Campbells 3rd clean sheet of the season (4th if you count walkovers).

From the first whistle it became apparent that their game plan was simply find Ralph as he set up camp in the Hillhead circle. Aerials and long balls were the story of the first few minutes as Hillhead struggled to build any consistent possession. The direct approach from the visitors came to naught as the Hillhead defence held strong and Keith Joss’ side began to find their feet, applying more and more pressure as a neat set play from a long corner led to Yan Adams attempting an audacious upright reverse stick volley which the Dundee keeper managed to get behind. Hillhead kept Wanderers on the back foot and found joy when a reverse stick strike from Andrew Black came off a defenders stick and into the back of the net. 1-0 Hillhead.

The men in black were playing with confidence and another long corner move straight from the training ground gave Murray Ross a quick tap-in to double Hillhead’s lead.

This lead was not yet comfortable as Wanderers threatened with numerous short corners, but all were denied by the home side. John Reid then extended the lead after an excellent interception left him in a 1 on 1 with the keeper. Proving that he doesn’t need to be able to see the goal to find it, John slipped the ball past the charging keeper’s right foot to bring Hillhead’s lead to 3-0.

Wanderers were disheartened but not defeated as their short corner tally rose with Hillhead’s remaining a round 0. One such corner was ran down by Cameron Butler who took a solid hit to the leg, just above the shinguard leaving a nasty split that would have sent a lesser mortal to the hospital but following a quick tape and bandage patch up he returned to the fray, relieving JLS of his impromptu stint at right back.

The self-titled “Bulldog™” Matt Carder had promised a hattrick before the game began and bagged his first of the game after some slick passes opened up the Dundee defences before John Reid found his second, making the score 5-0 heading into the half-time break.

The half-time team talk was a simple one, “don’t get complacent.” We’d led this team at the break before and been caught out more than once by the notorious 3rd quarter syndrome.

The third quarter saw some of Hillhead’s best play of the match, enjoying possession they fired the ball around the back, keeping the visitors moving side to side.

It was this quality of distribution that found Cameron Butler free to carry the ball into the Dundee circle and play a dangerous ball across the face of goal, catching a defenders stick and taking it over the diving keeper and hanging, invitingly in the goal mouth. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the Bulldog™, ever the innovator, flung himself into the air like a salmon and directed the ball into the back of the goal.

Even being 6-0 up the home side didn’t let up and after absorbing some pressure they found themselves breaking up the field, Murray Ross carrying with JLS ahead of him. As a sublime ball is played forward it reaches Jimmy somewhere around the edge of the circle, who can be sure if it was in or out? Despite the quality of the pass, his first touch fails him, the ball is lost under his feet and spills away, kicked into the bottom corner of the Wanderers goal. He turns to set up and defend the impending hit out as the umpire signals for a goal? The supporters on the sideline go wild and JLS raises his hand, Shearer-esque in his celebrations. Unfortunately, the other umpire has the better view, the goal is scrapped, and the lead remains 6-0.

Hillhead finally win a penalty corner which is fired home by Captain Fraser Ward for goal number 7. Anyone who’s been keeping track of the scorers will note that there are two Hillhead players on a brace and desperate to avoid the dreaded hattrick avoidance. John Reid comes closest as a square pass from Murray should leave him with a clear shot at goal however his eyes are working against each other, and he is unable to secure the pickup.

The game end 7-0 as Hillhead now look to the final league game against Uddingston then to the Cup final in Edinburgh.

MotM: Dan Hoare for his exceptional performance at the back.

DotD: JLS for inspiring mental fortitude at training and celebrating kicking the ball into the goal from outside the D at 6-0 up.