4-0: M3s vs Strathclyde University 2s (WD1) - 30/10/21

Hillhead slow learners against Stubborn Strathclyde University

After an impressive outing last Saturday which saw Hillhead rattle in 11 unanswered goals, the team were in a buoyant mood as they travelled east along the M8 to play Strathclyde University’s second team.  Strathclyde University were bottom of the league whilst Hillhead alongside Rottenrow were the only two sides yet to lose.  If you were partial to a flutter a strong bet pre match would have been on a comfortable away win. 

Hillhead had a fairly unsettled squad with last weekend’s goal scorers Vijay Trivedy, James Prowse and Charlie McCarthy unavailable, as well as Nick Hamilton, Ben Graham, Roberto Muscatelli and Andrew Hilton.  In their place came Alan Baxter, George Smith, Greg Dunlop, Adam Gillespie, Euan Simpson, Andrew McGucken, Graeme Etheridge and Steve Pollock.  Regulars Gregor Chambers, Alan Meikle and Colin Melia remained.

Hillhead began the match cautiously feeling out their opponents and by and large trying to keep their feet on a treacherous Millerston turf.  Like playing on a filthy ice rink we were going to have to summon our inner Torvill to get through this game unscathed.  It was clear from the start that the home team were much more accustomed to the conditions and played a slower and more measured game.  Considering all the above Hillhead took longer than normal to settle but despite were still dominant and created more chances.  This was to be the pattern of the first half with Hillhead enjoying large swathes of possession and carving out chance after chance, albeit none were necessarily gilt-edged.  With thoughts turning to memorable sporting upsets such as Leicester’s Premier League win and the Cherry Blossoms slaying of the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup, as every moment and chance came and went there was undoubtedly some tension in the Hillhead ranks.  With just over 5 minutes of the third quarter remaining, and having passed up innumerable chances, Hillhead finally got a deserved breakthrough, with Ronan McGeoch volleying the ball over the impressive keeper’s head and assisted by some excellent umpiring.  A massive relief but still work to be done with 1-0 far from job done with 20 minutes still to play.

Thankfully and much to the relief of the near capacity crowd, Hillhead’s superior fitness and efficiency on the ball came to the fore, with further goals for ‘goal a game Chambers’ with a fierce reverse smash and two more for youngster Ronan McGeoch to complete an excellent hat trick.  One from open play for McGeoch and another after a clever penalty corner routine.

Hillhead certainly made hard work of things but can be more than pleased with the perseverance and patience shown and the excellent hockey played up until the final quarter of the pitch.  Another clean sheet, another 3 points and summiting the league table with Rottenrow dropping points.  The win proof that you need to be able to perform on a cold Tuesday in Stoke. 

Final Score:  Strathclyde University 0 – 4 Hillhead