Hillhead make history
Another busy weekend for Western Lettings Hillhead and Sunday was a day I will never forget. I have a lot of fantastic memories from my 25 years at Hillhead and this is up there as one of the best, even if it was from the sidelines.
Hillhead rarely do it the easy way, something that regular supporters would surely agree with, but we certainly do like to entertain the crowd. The cup run itself is testament to that - penalty strokes against Uddingston and despite a slow start against Glasgow University, the five goals scored in the last two quarters against the GU students probably made it slightly easier watching than normal.
The 1st XI definitely started as underdogs on Sunday, especially after Edinburgh University despatched fellow capital side Watsonians 6-1 in their Scottish Premiership match the day before while Hillhead stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Kelburne. However, you could forgive the Hillhead boys for having one eye on the semi final match.
All the prep was done, the plan was in place and with the National Hockey Centre still closed due to Covid, Keith Joss delivered his final key points in the car park. Just like the pros.
Hillhead started the game well, and created a number of early chances, however, it was Edinburgh University that opened the scoring with a deflection taking the ball past a sprawling Ewan Campbell. A second would soon follow after an Edinburgh University forward flopped to the ground under pressure from Cameron Butler. Hillhead charged down the initial penalty corner but were helpless on the second attempt, with the students finding the bottom corner.
Two-nil down at the end of the first quarter… Time to re-evaluate that gameplan then!
Hillhead pushed on in search of a way back into the match, testing the Edinburgh University resolve as the second quarter progressed. Graeme Campbell rolled back the years and was giving Edinburgh University the run around in midfield and upfront, anywhere basically. Chances were spurned by both sides but it would be Hillhead who found the net. A penalty corner was stopped on the line by the Edinburgh University defender, penalty stroke awarded. Hillhead Captain Fraser Ward stepped up, set himself, and found the top corner with a powerful flick… The crowd celebrates, “Average” says Iain Duke.
Hillhead held on until half time and the students look rattled - here. we. go…
Both teams were creating chances by the bucket load, with brave defending on show from both sets of players as bodies were put on the line to block shots and passes. Hillhead went down to ten players as Vijay received a yellow card but still, the defence could not be breached.
Back to eleven players and Hillhead win a penalty corner, Fraser Ward drags the ball powerfully down to the keepers left, there’s a huge touch by a defender, does Graeme Campbell get the final touch as the ball rolls over the line? No! Post game VAR confirmed that it would be Fraser’s second of the day!
At this point, my phone was lighting up. The messages of support were rolling in from those following the Instagram highlights. Alan Meikle has found wifi in Fuertaventura and is pacing in circles awaiting the next bit of news.
Edinburgh University are denied by Hillhead’s resolute corner defence team and then again by the post. Keith Joss was incensed by a heavy tackle near the sideline and another break down in the middle off the pitch as Hillhead are now very much in control of the game.
But are the legs going? Sugar is required and Dan Hoare provides the Jelly Babies. We’ve got six to share and Graeme, Yan and John Reid snap them up before the final quarter gets underway. John spurned an early chance after losing his footing at a crucial moment, Yan Adams was next up, driving strongly into the circle and lining up the reverse, only to be denied by an excellent tackle by the defender.
We’ve got three minutes to go now. Yan is driving towards the circle again and finds John on the baseline. It’s time for redemption. John fires the ball across and it cannons off the Edinburgh University stick into the top corner of the goal. There’s chaos in the stand…or there would be if it was open, there’s chaos on the gravel instead!!
Edinburgh University get the game underway and immediately earn a chance but it slides past the post. Fraser scoops the ball upfield to John who finds Murray Ross over by the corner. With some nice skills on show and some slick interplay, Hillhead see out the game in the corner and reach their first ever Scottish Cup final.
It was a special moment for everyone in the team, in the crowd, and for those who couldn’t make it on the day, we even managed to get Alan on video call to join the celebrations pitchside.
Commiserations to Edinburgh University who have had a fantastic league season so far, and provided an amazing opposition for this Scottish Cup semi final.
Congratulations to Keith Joss and the team for reaching the Scottish Cup final for the first time in our history. After a tough start to the season, the boys have built some great momentum towards the business end of the season and have been rightly rewarded for it.
The Scottish Cup final takes place on the 14th May at Peffermill in Edinburgh. Push back is 4pm against local rivals and league leaders, Western Wildcats.
Photos by Duncan Gray - Duncolm Sports Photography
https://www.duncolm.photography/Hockey/EdinburghU-v-Hillhead/
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