With only 7 Gremlins available for their final match the Green Machine borrowed Ellis Knox from Uddingston to try to even up the teams. Uddingston started with 4 gents and 6 ladies, including some youngsters relatively new to the game while Gremlins had 4 gents and 4 ladies.

Uddingston started the game in a very positive manner and won a penalty corner in the first minute off the foot of Andy McKellar and Alison Dawson was quickly called into action, kicking away the visiting lady’s shot with Rose Fitzpatrick-Lane completing the clearance.

Andy Paterson led a quick break by Gremlins but was stopped at the edge of the ‘D’ only for Colin Clark to win back possession and earn a free hit deep in Uddingston territory. The ball was rushed through to Paterson who burst into the circle and found Loretta Kane whose shot (with her super new stick) was bound for the bottom corner before Uddingston’s goalie stuck out a foot to kick clear. The loose ball fell to Paterson who went down under a tackle which resulted in the award of a penalty corner after 6 minutes. This was the first of 5 short corners in quick succession for Gremlins who put Uddingston under severe pressure with shots raining in from Loretta, Rose, Paterson and Andy McKellar but they found the Uddingston keeper in excellent form with a series of wonderful saves to keep his side level.

Uddingston mounted a good attack down the right wing after 12 minutes and were awarded a penalty corner when their pacy No 9 was tackled by Paterson but the visitors were unable to get their shot on target. Paterson then broke away and picked out Loretta in the circle but once again she was denied by a fine diving save by the keeper. Play was swinging wildly from end to end as both side sought the vital opening goal. It almost came after 15 minutes when Paterson twisted and turned his way at pace through the Uddingston defence but sent the ball wide with only the keeper to beat.

A quick Uddingston attack down the right after 20 minutes gave an opportunity to one of their young ladies but Alison did well to kick clear. Paterson had another opportunity 2 minutes later but the Uddingston goalie was in no mood to be beaten and pushed his flick away to safety. Paterson then created an opening for Clark who was also denied when his flick was turned behind for a corner. Uddingston conceded another corner after 29 minutes when Loretta took a long pass from George Armstrong and turned a defender in the circle. Uddingston were dangerous on the break and their No 9 won a corner off McKellar’s stick after 30 minutes. The ball was played back to their No 18 and he drove it back into the circle hoping for a touch from a colleague but it ran through everyone and into the net. Gremlins won another short corner after 31 minutes when Andy Paterson was impeded. He injected the ball for Ellis Knox to shoot and when her shot was blocked, pounced to drive home the rebound.
 

Uddingston were stung into retaliation and two of their men, Nos 9 and 18, combined well to cause problems in the Gremlins circle before McKellar and Rose broke up the attack and set up Paterson for a surging solo run into the visitors’ territory. A great burst through the middle by Clark found Armstrong in support and he won a free hit off an Uddingston foot but before he could play the ball forward the whistle drew the first half to a close.

Half-time Score: Gremlins 1 Uddingston 0

Gremlins were first to threaten in the second period when Paterson put Armstrong through after 38 minutes but one of the Uddingston ladies made a crucial tackle as he was about to get his shot away. A minute later Clark had the ball stolen from him in a dangerous position after a fine through ball from Paterson. Clark turned provider seconds later, threading an immaculate, long, crossfield pass to Armstrong but he couldn’t properly bring it under control and the defence stepped in to clear. Gremlins were rampant now and Paterson seized on a misplaced pass and sent the ball through to Loretta in the Uddingston ‘D’ and she turned neatly and sent a reverse flick shot narrowly past the post.

Uddingston fought their way into the Gremlins circle and one of their men conceded a free hit when he swung wildly and luckily narrowly missed both ball and Paterson’s head. Gremlins went swiftly downfield and a fine piece of inter-passing between McKellar and Paterson took them through the Uddingston defence before McKellar’s shot was finally blocked. Good play down the left by Ellis Knox worked the ball through to Clark who ran in on goal but the keeper raced out and dived at his feet to make the vital block and a defender ushered the ball to safety.

Gremlins doubled their lead after 46 minutes when Clark sent Armstrong racing down the right. He got to the goal-line and neatly cut the ball back to Colin Clark just inside the circle. His shot was not perfectly struck but the previously almost unbeatable goalkeeper appeared to misjudge the pace of the ball which slipped under his foot and into the net.

A fantastic burst by Paterson into the Uddingston circle on 49 minutes was halted by a tackle from behind just as he was about to shoot and a short corner was awarded to the home side. Loretta’s shot from the set piece was blocked by a defender and cleared downfield. Uddingston briefly threatened with some forceful play down the right wing after 54 minutes but McKellar was calmness personified and effortlessly mopped up the danger. Paterson then won the ball for Gremlins deep in his own half and found Clark in space on the right. He pushed the ball on to Armstrong who cut in and tried a shot which was turned behind for a corner. Gremlins were unable to take advantage of their good position and Uddingston charged menacingly forward but Rose stepped in with another excellent tackle to avert the danger.

Gremlins increased their lead after 60 minutes when Clark rode a couple of tackles and took off down the right wing. He reached the goal-line and broke through three tackles, drew the goalkeeper and unselfishly squared the ball for George Armstrong to tap into the unguarded net to make the score 3-0.

Clark and Armstrong were causing the visitors all sorts of problems down the right and the pair combined well to give Ellis Knox a chance but she couldn’t get the ball past her erstwhile team-mate in the Uddingston goal. Uddingston raced downfield with 5 minutes remaining but McKellar stepped in and, displaying consummate skill, nutmegged two of the visitors and set off towards his opponents’ goal. He played a quick one-two with Paterson before over-running the ball just as the last defender closed in.

Gremlins then produced another trademark passing move when Clark broke up an Uddingston attack, found Rose free on the left and she picked out Paterson moving through the middle. His killer pass through the Uddingston defence found Ellis Knox who rounded the last defender but, in doing so, gave Uddingston’s No 9 time to get back and steal the ball as she was about to shoot. A superb solo run by Armstrong took him right through the Uddingston ranks but his shot rebounded off the advancing keeper and hit his own foot allowing the visitors to get the ball clear. A good move by McKellar, Clark and Loretta after 68 minutes was stopped on the edge of the Uddingston circle but Andy McKellar, who normally suffers a nosebleed if he even ventures over the half-way line, intercepted the clearance, and simply powered his way past defenders into the opposition circle and slid the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper and into the net.

Shortly afterwards the final whistle brought Gremlins 2011 highly successful summer of mixed hockey to an end. The honour of the last Gremlin-of-the-Game award goes to Andy McKellar whose unruffled composure, reading of the game and timing in the tackle would be hard to match even among the ranks of vastly experienced players. Thanks to all the players and supporters who turned out regularly to keep the Gremlins spirit of hockey alive and a special vote of thanks is due to Loretta for all her hard work in putting together a very full programme of highly enjoyable matches.

Full- time Score: Gremlins 4 Uddingston 0
 

Uddingston’s goalkeeper saves Loretta’s shot from a penalty corner

Andy Paterson runs to celebrate with Andy McKellar after opening the scoring

Colin Clark’s shot goes under the keeper’s foot to make it 2-0

George Armstrong makes it 3-0 in the gathering gloom

End of the match and end of the season