13 July 2011

Gremlins and Whitestix faced each other for the third time this year with the West End outfit still looking for their first victory. In the two previous matches at Lower Windyedge Gremlins managed to score six goals in each game so were hopeful of recording a hat-trick of wins. The home side handed Andy McGinley his Gremlins' debut and the newcomer slotted in like a veteran and came up with goal to mark his first start.

Unlike last month’s two matches between the pair, Gremlins failed to get on the score-sheet early and their opening play appeared a little scrappy and desperate as Whitestix dug in well defensively. Indeed the first chance fell to the visitors after 4 minutes but one of their gentlemen players just failed to connect with a good through ball when played in by his colleague. Gremlins should have taken the lead on 7 minutes when a penetrating run by McAdams finished with a well struck pass to Fiona Speirits but, in trying to bring the ball under control, she managed to knock it wide of the Whitestix goal.

Good work by Andy Paterson and Jamie Mathieson after 10 minutes allowed Colin Clark to stride into the circle but after a slow start, were beginning to string passes together and look more threatening. After 11 minutes Fiona twice had shots blocked before the ball was scrambled away from the visitors’ goal. Two minutes later Clark’s forward surge by sent Mathieson scampering downfield and he picked out McGinley whose shot came off a Whitestix defender’s foot for a free hit to Gremlins. The ball was pushed wide by Mathieson to McAdams and his dangerous cross came off the outside of the post before being knocked away by a defender. The ball was picked up by Mathieson who charged forward and found McGinley who crossed into the ‘D’ and the ball went into the net off Mathieson but it had struck his knee on the way in and he rightly called the foul on himself.

Gremlins were now creating chance after chance but were becoming frustrated the longer the match progressed without scoring. The deadlock was finally broken by Andy Paterson after 18 minutes when he robbed a Whitestix player on the centre line and beat several defenders before sliding the ball into the net from just inside the circle. The relief was almost palpable and Gremlins began to relax and play the ball about with greater confidence. They had a scare, however, after 21 minutes when the visitors broke forward and forced Alison Dawson to make a good save at the expense of a short corner. Paterson was quickly off his line to break up the move and begin a Gremlins counter attack. Rachel Whillans and Fiona made good progress down the right but the attack broke down when the ball came back off Fiona’s foot.

Whitestix earned themselves another penalty corner after 29 minutes when the ball struck George Armstrong’s foot. Once again Paterson was out quickly to block and the ball went behind for a corner to the visitors. Whitestix were not able to profit from this brief spell of pressure and Gremlins made them pay by doubling their lead after 30 minutes. Paterson sent McAdams away down the right and he slipped the ball on to Rachel who shot through a ruck of defenders from a tight angle. The ball may have been going wide but Andy McGinley closed in to push it over the line from a few inches out to make absolutely certain.

Gremlins now upped the pressure and McAdams went close with a reverse-stick flick from Paterson’s pass after 31 minutes. Seconds later McAdams picked up a superb through ball from George Armstrong and sent a fine pass on to Rachel whose shot was blocked by the Whitestix defence and cleared. It was almost 3-0 right on half-time when McAdams and Mathieson combined to rob a Whitestix lady on the edge of the visitors ‘D’ and were just about to pop the ball into the empty net when the whistle ended the first period.

Half-time Score: Gremlins 2 Whitestix 0

Gremlins may have started the first half slowly but they were quick off the mark in the second. Less than a minute after the restart Colin Clark won the ball in midfield and took off on a glorious solo run through the Whitestix defence and slammed the ball home to increase the home side’s advantage. Thereafter it was largely one-way traffic towards the Whitestix goal. Two minutes later McAdams burst down the right and squared the ball for McGinley coming in at the far post but his shot smacked off the outside of the woodwork and slid behind. After 40 minutes the home side were four goals up. Paterson’s defence-splitting pass found Colin McAdams who seemed to go up several gears as he outstripped the Whitestix defence and ran the ball into the net.

Whitestix did manage an attack shortly afterwards and a shot from one of their ladies rolled agonisingly slowly across the face of the Gremlins goal with keeper Alison beaten before slipping past the upright. A good delivery by Paterson gave Nia Philips a chance but a defender got back in time to clear her shot off the line. Gremlins fifth goal came after 45 minutes when Alison McLaren won a tackle in midfield, slipped the ball to Paterson who had spotted Colin McAdams run behind the defence and the Gremlins goal-machine steered the ball into the unguarded net. Paterson and Clark then carved out an opening for Rachel whose shot came off a defender’s foot but the home side were unable to profit from the resulting set piece. Loretta Kane produced an excellent tackle when Whitestix broke forward quickly and one of their gents menaced the Gremlins goal. Gremlins scored a sixth goal after 51 minutes when McAdams completed his hat-trick. Mathieson beat a couple of players down the left wing and his pass put Colin McAdams clean through and he slid the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

Whitestix did threaten on the occasional break and Alison in the Gremlins goal had to look lively to clear a dangerous cross from the right and Mathieson was able to complete the clearance. Whitestix No 29 had a good shooting opportunity but Fiona took a sore one for the team when she got in the way of his shot which had her hopping in pain momentarily. Luckily for Gremlins the visitors’ shot from the resulting penalty corner was well wide of the goal.

After 58 minutes McAdams did well to hold up play on the edge of the Whitestix ‘D’ until support arrived. His precise pass picked out the onrushing McGinley but his reverse stick shot smacked off the base of the post and came back into play but no-one could get to the loose ball which was eventually cleared. Play visibly slowed in the latter stages of the game as the heat began to take its toll on both sides. Loretta made a vital interception as Whitestix got forward in numbers and then Nia was thwarted as she manoeuvred her way around the visitors’ circle.

McGinley and Clark then worked the ball through to Nia in a promising position after 65 minutes but she fell heavily to the ground and a free hit was awarded to Gremlins on the edge of the Whitestix ‘D’ but they were unable to convert from the set piece. Gremlins scored their final goal with two minutes remaining and it was almost a carbon copy of their previous counter. Mathieson galloped down the left wing and fired the ball through to Colin McAdams in the circle. His initial touch came off a defender’s foot but he re-claimed the ball and stroked it into the net for his fourth goal of the match.

Whitestix had plugged away gamely throughout the match and were rewarded for their efforts with a consolation goal in the final minute. They won a penalty corner right at the death and worked the ball cleverly across the circle and fired in a fierce shot which Alison did well to paw away. Unfortunately for the Gremlins keeper her clean sheet was dirtied when the ball fell at the stick of a Whitestix player who despatched it firmly into the backboards much to the delight of the visiting team.

Full-time Score: Gremlins 7 Whitestix 1

This was another comfortable win for Gremlins although they were very slow to get into their stride today. New boy Andy McGinley slotted into the team very well and linked up nicely with Alison McLaren down the left wing. George Armstrong was immense in the centre of defence and Colin McAdams up front, with a haul of 4 goals, proved that he is a striker par excellence. Andy Paterson and Jamie Mathieson, despite his back injury, were tireless runners in midfield but for me the Gremlin-of-the-Game this week was Colin Clark who seamlessly linked defence and attack and also contributed a well-taken goal.

Nia Philips just fails to get to Colin McAdams’ cross

From Rachel’s cross Andy McGinley scores the easiest of goals on his debut

Colin Clark

Colin McAdams runs the ball into the net

Nia foiled on the goal-line

It’s that man McAdams again!

Alison makes a great stop but can’t stop Whitestix scoring a consolation goal from the rebound