08 June 2011

Gremlins second match of this week’s double-header proved to be even more impressive than their win over Whitestix in the West End with pretty much the same team that played the night before. CARS arrived with only three ladies but Gremlins were prepared to take on whatever combination they elected to play.

Gremlins put their foot on the gas from the start and raced towards the CARS goal. After only 90 seconds Jamie Mathieson played in Kevin Kane but his shot was blocked by the CARS keeper. After 3 minutes Mathieson slipped the ball through to Andy Paterson who moved the ball forward towards Colin McAdams. The ball failed to reach the Gremlins striker but fell kindly for Nia Philips who got in a shot which just slid wide of the post off a defender’s stick. The opening counter was only delayed by seconds however. With 4 minutes gone the ball was quickly delivered down the right by Rachel Whillans to Mathieson who sent the ball into the circle for Colin McAdams to drive home.

Gremlins immediately navigated their way downfield in search of a second goal. After 7 minutes Paterson found McAdams who moved the ball quickly on to Mathieson but his shot was blocked by the pads of the CARS keeper. In the tenth minute Colin McAdams collected a fine through ball from Mathieson in the CARS circle. With his back to goal, the Gremlins striker wheeled and sent a splendid shot flying past the helpless keeper to double the home side’s advantage.

CARS eventually managed to get under way after 12 minutes with an attack down the right but Paterson intercepted the cross into the Gremlins circle and cleared the danger. A minute later, Gremlins went further ahead. Paterson won the ball halfway inside his own half and moved the ball left to Alison McLaren. Alison sent the ball down the wing to McAdams who took the direct route into the CARS circle but the ball came off a CARS defender and a penalty corner was awarded. Paterson’s delivery to the top of the ‘D’ was carefully controlled by Loretta Kane who drove the ball through the stationary CARS defence and into the net.

It was pretty much one-way traffic now with all roads leading towards the CARS goal. Gremlins were moving the ball around like a well-oiled machine with the terrific engines of Paterson, Mathieson and Kevin Kane much in evidence in midfield. A great burst by Paterson gave McAdams an opportunity but his shot bounced off the pads of the CARS’ keeper after 16 minutes. A minute later Paterson and McAdams engineered an opening for Rachel Whillans but her shot was blocked by the busy CARS custodian. Good inter-passing by Mathieson and Rachel Whillans moved the ball rapidly down the right but their progress was halted by a defender at the expense of a corner. CARS then managed another attack down the right wing but their driven pass across the face of the goal clearly lost its way and went harmlessly out of play.

In the last few minutes of the first half Gremlins seemed to go up a gear. Paterson raced down the right and won a corner off a defender’s stick. Paterson and Mathieson then worked a clever triangular move with Kevin Kane who shot narrowly wide with two minutes left in the first half. After 34 minutes Nia Philips picked out McAdams but the CARS goalie did well to close down the Gremlins striker as he advanced on goal. With only 30 seconds left McAdams and Rachel Whillans combined well to get the ball through to Jamie Mathieson who slammed the ball into the net to give Gremlins a comfortable lead at the half-time pit-stop.

Half-time Score: Gremlins 4 CARS 0

Suitably re-fuelled, Gremlins went into overdrive in the opening seconds of the second period. Kevin Kane sprinted down the right wing, advanced the ball to Rachel Whillans who made the perfect passing manoeuvre which allowed Nia Philips to steer the ball past the CARS keeper. Paterson and Mathieson then motored down the right wing and won their team another penalty corner. From the set piece the ball was moved around the edge of the CARS circle before Ali McLaren picked out Rachel Whillans whose shot went behind off a defender. Paterson and Mathieson worked the ball through to McAdams but the wheels came off for Gremlins when the striker stood on the ball.

This constant pressure from Gremlins should have activated a warning light in the CARS’ defence. Their back line was an accident waiting to happen and it duly arrived after 40 minutes. Nia Philips was fouled as she manoeuvred her way past some CARS defenders. From the resulting free hit near the visitors ‘D’ the ball was passed to Jamie Mathieson who cut inside a couple of defenders before firing in a low shot which flew into the roof of the net off the keeper’s boot.

CARS tried to get back on track and a slick move down the right wing after 43 minutes brought them a penalty corner. They were unable to profit from the set piece however as Paterson was quickly off the line to block the shot from the edge of the circle. McAdams, Mathieson and Kevin Kane responded instantly but the latter’s shot was turned away by the CARS goalie. Mathieson’s interception in midfield gave McAdams the chance to pick out Rachel Whillans darting forward but her shot was turned away for a corner on the right. Mathieson’s powerful run and accurate pass found Nia Philips on the left edge of the CARS’ ‘D’. She twisted around the edge of the circle to create an opening but her shot was kicked clear. The ball came back to McAdams but his shot was blocked before CARS were able to clear the danger.

Gremlins were now well in command and a mazy run by Paterson was brought to a sudden stop by a collision with two CARS after 50 minutes. McAdams then played in Mathieson but his shot smacked back off the keeper’s pads. Mathieson turned provider after 54 minutes when he delivered the ball to Nia Philips but her shot was turned away by the CARS defence. CARS had a rare chance after 58 minutes but Armstrong came across to close down their attacker as he moved in on the Gremlins goal. From the resulting corner Armstrong made another excellent tackle and cleared downfield. Two minutes later Paterson intercepted a pass and headed for the CARS goal. He passed to Kane inside the circle and he cleverly slid the ball back to Rachel Whillans whose shot was just wide of the goal. Paterson fed Rachel Whillans on the right wing and she clipped the ball through to Mathieson in the ‘D’. The Gremlins midfielder twisted and made a U-turn in the circle before the CARS keeper got a stick to the ball to clear. Gremlins pressure finally told after 63 minutes when Paterson intercepted the ball in midfield and played a fine ball through to McAdams in the crowded circle. The Gremlins striker quickly assessed the situation and dummied the ball for Nia Philips to pick her spot behind the surprised CARS goalie.

With 5 minutes remaining a brilliant piece of acceleration by Andrew Leaker took him clear of two defenders and he sent the ball through to Nia Philips in the circle. Nia found McAdams whose reverse stick effort was smacked clear by the CARS keeper. Paterson picked off another poor pass in midfield and fed Mathieson who drove forward and passed to Kevin Kane in the circle and his first-time shot drew another good save from the CARS custodian. The ball was cleared but only as far as Paterson who sent it back into Colin McAdams who drew the goalkeeper and lofted over her as she attempted to close him down.

It looked as if CARS might have the final word in this match when Armstrong was dispossessed with only seconds remaining and one of their players had a clear run in on goal but Alison Dawson was able to race off her line and kick the ball clear.

Full-time Score: Gremlins 8 CARS 0 

It is perhaps fitting that a mechanic, Colin McAdams, should take CARS apart with a hat-trick of Gremlins goals. CARS clearly did not have enough fuel to go the distance and suffered an early breakdown. They couldn’t find their way past the immovable barrier of Leaker, Armstrong and Alison McLaren in the Gemlins defence and couldn’t compete with the superior engines of Paterson, Mathieson and Kane in midfield. Gremlins were truly firing on all cylinders in this match and choosing a Gremlin-of-the-Game was an extremely difficult task but Andy Paterson and Jamie Mathieson gave tremendous value in terms of miles per gallon and were the pick of a magnificent team effort.

Colin McAdams opens the scoring

Colin McAdams collects the ball in the CARS circle

Loretta Kane scores from a penalty corner

Jamie Mathieson

Andy Paterson