18 May 2011

Gremlins got their summer mixed hockey campaign under way with a narrow 4-3 victory over old rivals Roadrunners. Roadrunners have never beaten Gremlins but tonight they came close to recording their first ever win over the green mean machine but two late strikes by Monklands favourites Jamie Mathieson and Colin McAdams gave the home side a deserved victory over the visitors from Hillhead.

The sun was shining brightly as the teams warmed up at a windy Dalziel Park but by the time play commenced dark clouds descended and hung about literally and metaphorically as Gremlins struggled to make the early breakthrough that their pressure merited. Gremlins were on the attack from the start and the Roadrunners’ goalie made a fine save from Colin McAdams who was put through by Jamie Mathieson in the opening seconds. McAdams and Andy Paterson both went close for the home side before Gremlins won their first penalty corner after 7 minutes. Gremlins corner technique obviously needs a little more work and Roadrunners were able to bring the ball clear. A second penalty corner, moments later, finished with a shot whistling past the Roadrunners goal.

Gremlins were now very much in the ascendancy and McAdams latched on to a through ball from Paterson after 15 minutes but was forced wide by the visitors’ keeper and couldn’t squeeze home his shot from an acute angle. Andrew Leaker then had two shots blocked before a George Armstrong effort flew wide of the target. Leaker then set up Mathieson for an effort which zipped just past the post. A goal for the home side just had to come and after 25 minutes of frustration it finally arrived. Colin Clark made a fine interception in midfield and strode forward into the Roadrunners circle. He looked to have lost possession but the ball came back to him and he struct it firmly towards he bottom left hand corner where Nia Philips was on hand to react quickly to despatch the ball neatly into the back of the net.

Gremlins went quickly in search of a second goal and some fine interplay between Leaker and Mathieson resulted in Leaker’s net-bound shot being blocked by a defender. Gremlins won a third penalty corner after 29 minutes but Roadrunners defence stood firm and brought the ball clear.

Half-time Score: Gremlins 1 Roadrunners 0

Within 3 minutes of the re-start Roadrunners were level. The visitors moved the ball nicely down the right wing. Andy McKellar made a good block but the ball was squared across goal and neatly tucked away by a Roadrunners forward. Gremlins were stung into a response and a mazy run by Paterson was halted as he was about to shoot. Leaker then played in McAdams whose fierce shot was parried by the keeper. The ball rebounded to Leaker but he too couldn’t find his way past the alert Roadrunners custodian. Gremlins were then hit with a sucker punch after 43 minutes. A smart move down the left wing resulted in an excellent driven cross being smashed first time past helpless keeper Alison Dawson by one of the Roadrunners ladies.

2-1 down now, some of the Gremlins attacks began to smack of desperation. A fine pass by Rachel Whillans allowed McAdams room to manoeuvre in the circle and find Paterson but his effort thundered past the post. Another penalty corner to Gremlins brought no joy as Loretta Kane’s shot was pushed away by the busy Roadrunners keeper. A surging run by McKellar picked out McAdams who played the ball through to Nia Philips whose shot was pushed away by a defender. The ball broke out of the circle where it was picked up by Armstrong and his precise pass gave Jamie Mathieson time to drive the ball low and hard into the corner for the equaliser. A fine move down the right by Rachel Whillans and Nia Philips earned Gremlins yet another penalty corner. The ball moved around the Roadrunners ‘D’ before arriving at Mathieson who drove wide.

As Gremlins pushed forward in search of the winner Roadrunners struck again. There was some confusion over an umpiring decision on the Gremlins right wing. Roadrunners quickly took the hit, moved down their left, centred the ball and promptly scored.With only 9 minutes remaining Gremlins 100% record against Roadrunners looked in danger of disappearing. The never-say-die attitude of Monklands players has been much in evidence this year and it showed itself again as time ticked away. After 64 minutes McAdams picked up a loose ball, burst down the left wing and squared the ball for his Monklands colleague Jamie Mathieson to slam the ball low past the Roadrunners keeper to level the scores at 3-3. Gremlins should have been ahead a minute later. Rachel and Nia combined well down the right and found Paterson who fired the ball just wide of the upright when it might have been better to square the ball to the unmarked McAdams. Fortunately Gremlins were able to come up with what proved to be the winning goal with only 4 minutes left on the clock. Paterson picked up the ball in midfield and pushed it through to Colin McAdams who checked and smashed the ball low and hard past the keeper

This was an exciting contest and the outcome was in doubt right until the final whistle. Gremlins should have had the game in the bag by half time such was their early dominance and abundance of goal-scoring opportunities but they came up against a Roadrunners goalkeeper in inspired form who defied the rampaging Gremlins forwards time after time. The second half was a more even affair with Roadrunners hitting effectively on the break. Some of the younger Gremlins players were a little over-anxious to get on the score-sheet in their first competitive match but once they settle into the mixed hockey game they will be a force to be reckoned with. New teams obviously take a little time to gel but there was some fine hockey on display from both sides tonight which bodes well for a successful season. Skipper, Loretta Kane, selected Andy Paterson as Gremlins' Player-of-the-Match.

Gremlins pressing at a penalty corner

Andy Paterson