01 June 2011

"The Wolf Pack's Revenge"

Gremlins 100% winning record came to an end against Stirling Wanderers at a dull, overcast Dalziel Park. Wanderers gained revenge for the home defeat they suffered the previous week in what turned out to be almost a mirror image of the first game. On this occasion Gremlins were made to pay for numerous missed chances and, once again, were frequently denied by some outstanding goalkeeping by the Stirling custodian. Gremlins were without defensive stalwarts Andy McKellar and George Armstrong but were able to welcome back into the fold two Uddingston Gremlins, Martin Lorimer and Paul Deans, the latter sporting a Caribbean tan that made his team-mates look positively pallid.

Play got underway beneath the lights on a darkish night for early June with the odd rumble of thunder in the distance. In the early stages play swung from end to end but gradually Gremlins began to dominate possession although Stirling looked dangerous on the break. Gremlins were first to threaten when Andy Paterson sent Colin McAdams through on goal but his shot was well blocked by the Stirling keeper’s pads. Good play through the middle presented Stirling with their first real scoring opportunity after 9 minutes but Gremlins keeper Alison Dawson stood up well and got her pads to the shot and the danger was cleared. It was a close call at the other end a minute later when Paterson dribbled his way through the Wanderers defence and flicked into the side netting. Rachel Whillans and Paul Deans then combined well down the right to get the ball through to McAdams but the Wanderers’ keeper managed to turn the Gremlins striker’s shot behind for a corner.

McAdams appeared to have given his side the lead after 16 minutes when he flicked a Jamie Mathieson pass past the keeper only to see a Wanderers defender get back just in time to clear off the goal-line. Stirling were quick to break downfield and following a scramble around the Gremlins goal, Wanderers No. 7 shot narrowly past. Gremlins won their first penalty corner off a defender’s foot after 20 minutes but were unable to convert from the set piece when their rehearsed move broke down. Gremlins pressure was beginning to tell and, following a melee in the Wanderers circle, Andrew Leaker fired in a shot which the Stirling keeper did well to turn behind. After 22 minutes Paterson found Leaker free on the right but his cross was just behind the onrushing Mathieson. Wanderers’ keeper came to his team’s rescue a minute later when he turned behind a Leaker flick following a smartly taken free hit.

A Gremlins goal was definitely on the cards and it was duly delivered in 25 minutes. A great surging run by Paterson into the Stirling circle was blocked by the Wanderers goalie but the loose ball broke to Jamie Mathieson who drove home into the unguarded net. Wanderers reacted positively to going behind and immediately went on the offensive and Alison Dawson had to look lively to save a shot from Stirling’s No.12. The Gremlins goalie was in action again moments later dealing expertly with a drive following a swift break down the right wing. Gremlins were denied by the width of the post after 27 minutes when Leaker’s rattling drive came back off the upright following a stramash in the Wanderers goalmouth with Mathieson, McAdams and Leaker again having efforts blocked by the busy Wanderers keeper.

With 5 minutes remaining in the first half Leaker found Fiona Speirits in good position in the Wanderers’D’ but she was unable to control the pass and a burly Stirling defender stepped in to clear. A clear case of the Sperits was willing but the flesh was weak. Leaker was causing the Stirling defence no end of problems and his rapid break down the left ended with a fine cross ball which Mathieson smashed goal-wards only to be thwarted again by the quick reactions of the Wanderers keeper. Gremlins were determined to double their advantage and Paterson was upset when a short corner was awarded after 33 minutes as he was impeded following a mazy solo run. The Gremlins midfielder felt the umpire should have let play continue as he still had possession and had a good opportunity to shoot. Again the Gremlins set piece misfired and the whistle soon blew to end the first half just after Leaker and Fiona had time to combine for the Monklands man to drive in another shot which was turned away by Stirling’s heroic goalkeeper.

Half-time Score: Gremlins 1 Stirling Wanderers 0

Gremlins resumed the second half as they had finished the first pressing the Stirling defence really hard. A good early break down the left by McAdams just failed to find Leaker in the centre. After 37 minutes McAdams waltzed round two defenders and fired in a shot which rebounded off the keeper’s pads to Fiona Speirits whose shot was charged down by a defender. As Gremlins went in search of a second goal they were caught out after 40 minutes by a long ball through the middle which was popped home by Wanderers after a couple of earlier efforts were turned away by the Gremlins defence. The visitors’ confidence visibly grew and a good break down their left wing ended with a slightly over-hit pass which went behind. Alison Dawson rescued her side again with an excellent diving save from Wanderers No. 12 after Paterson was dispossessed in his own half with 10 minutes gone in the second period.

With Wanderers now pushing forward they were susceptible to a quick counter attack. Leaker chased down a long ball which appeared to be going out of play, passed back to Loretta Kane who squared for Colin McAdams to take the ball round the goalie and reverse flick home to put Gremlins back in front. Time 46 minutes. The game could have been over two minutes later. A magnificent lofted pass by Martin Lorimer sent Leaker away down the right and his superb cross was met first time by McAdams who was disappointed to see his goal-bound effort tipped over the bar by the Stirling stopper. Gremlins had regained the initiative and shots by Paterson and Fiona Speirits kept the visiting keeper on his toes. From one of these Gremlins earned another penalty corner but failed to get a shot on target.

Wanderers raised their game and won a penalty corner off their own after 51 minutes. After a frantic scramble in the Gremlins circle the ball was thumped into the net but the goal was chalked off for an earlier infringement. That should have been a warning to the Gremlins defence. Second later Wanderers were level. A careless pass deep in home territory was intercepted by a Wanderers player who strode forward and banged the ball past the helpless Gremlins goalie. Gremlins then produced their best passing move of the game. The ball was moved from back to front involving Loretta Kane, Paul Deans, Leaker, and then Loretta again before being finally delivered to McAdams in the Wanderers circle but he was surrounded and the ball cleared.

Gremlins won a free hit deep in the Stirling half. Loretta Kane played in Deans but he couldn’t pick out a team-mate in the Wanderers’ circle and were able to bring the ball clear. Wanderers now enjoyed a good spell of possession and a fine passing move after 57 minutes resulted in an excellent shot by their No. 3 being well stopped by Alison Dawson in the Gremlins goal. Good play by Leaker down the right wing resulted in a dangerous ball across the Wanderers goal. The ball was played back into the circle by Gale Black where it was met by McAdams whose shot drew a good save from the keeper. The ball came back to the Gremlins striker whose second effort spun off a defender’s stick high over the fence and disappeared in the foliage behind the goal.

The replacement ball proved less favourably disposed towards Gremlins as Wanderers enjoyed another good spell of pressure. A swift attack by the Stirling outfit forced Alison Dawson into making another good stop but only at the expense of a short corner. Wanderers were unable to profit from the set piece as Lorimer brought the ball clear. Wanderers were soon pressing again and Alison had to produce another fine save to keep her side on level terms. Gremlins did look dangerous as they broke forward and a quick one-two passing move by McAdams and Leaker resulted in a fine shot by the former rattling off the pads of the Stirling goalkeeper. With ten minutes remaining Mathieson, McAdams and Leaker cut through the Wanderers defence but the final pass to Leaker went astray with only the keeper to beat. Another excellent Leaker pass picked out McAdams in the clear but once again the frustrated Gremlins striker saw his shot clatter off the Wanderers keeper’s pads.

Play was swinging wildly from end to end now as both sides desperately sought the winning goal. Colin Clark, Jill Christie and Fiona Speirits moved the ball nicely forward for Gremlins but a Wanderers defender stepped in to smack the ball downfield. Wanderers moved the ball smartly down the right wing and sent in an excellent cross which was powerfully driven goal-wards and produced another first class diving save from Gremlins Alison Dawson. Gremlins broke down the right through Deans who found Leaker who in turn played the ball to Rachel Whillans but her shot was kicked clear by the Wanderers keeper.

Stirling grabbed what proved to be the winning goal with only 2 minutes remaining. Wanderers moved the ball neatly down the right wing and a great cross into the centre was rammed home by one of their players. Unfortunately I can’t record which, as someone moved in front of me just as the ball was delivered into the circle. Gremlins quickly sought an equaliser but Mathieson’s determined solo run through the Wanderers defence was halted by weight of numbers and the full-time whistle sounded shortly afterwards.

Full-time Score: Gremlins 2 Stirling Wanderers 3

This was a disappointing defeat for Gremlins who squandered a number of good chances throughout the match. The home side had the best of the first half play and their lead at the interval would have been greater but for a couple of pieces of bad luck and some great goalkeeping. Wanderers upped their tempo in the second half and managed to expose Gremlins’ defensive frailties by exploiting spaces in midfield as the home side were caught in possession pushing forward. From a neutral’s point of view this was a fascinating end-to-end struggle with Wanderers coming out on top through their ability to convert their chances when they came along. Gremlins’ renowned passing game was little in evidence today and few of their players performed at the top of their form. It was difficult to choose a Gremlin-of-the-Game based on tonight’s showing but Alison Dawson in goal did well to regularly defy her Stirling team-mates and Andrew Leaker passed the ball well, was always available and was a constant thorn in the Wanderers’ defence. They share the honour.

Gremlins on the attack

Re-charging batteries at half-time