23 June 2011

Kevin Kane

Gremlins returned to sunny Lower Windyedge for their second contest with Whitestix in almost as many weeks. Last time the teams met Gremlins were short of players and had to field a predominantly male line-up. This time Gremlins played with six girls and five guys while Whitestix started with four girls and seven guys, then went down to three ladies and eight men. Today’s match showed that Gremlins last win against Whitestix was not solely down to gender imbalance as they managed to score six goals against the West End outfit for a second time.

As in the last match between the teams Gremlins were quickly into their stride and were ahead after only 90 seconds. Andy Paterson slipped the ball through to Jamie Mathieson who took it forward and his precise pass picked out Rachel Whillans who slid the ball into the empty net. Whitestix immediately tried to redress the balance and Paterson had to track back to block a promising home attack after 3 minutes. Gremlins sweeper Colin Clark was in the thick of the action, repelling three strong attacks as the home side pushed hard for the equaliser. Whitestix best chance of these early stages fell to one of their ladies after 6 minutes but Rose Fitzpatrick-Lane came to Gremlins rescue with a perfectly-timed tackle. Gremlins were back on the attack after 8 minutes. Good play down the right by Fiona Speirits earned her side a free hit in a dangerous position. From the set piece she was able to pick out Rachel in the circle but she was heavily outnumbered and the Whitestix defenders were able to clear the ball downfield.

Whitestix drew level after 12 minutes when their dangerous midfielder burst into the Gremlins ‘D’. His progress was halted by another fine tackle by Rose but the ball broke to a Whitestix forward who fired it past Alison Dawson. The home side were buoyed by the goal and went all out for another but they were unable to capitalise from a free hit just outside the Gremlins ‘D’ and then went close when one of their gents surged down the left wing and fired a shot just wide of Alison’s right hand post. After 17 minutes the same player came close once again when he charged into the Gremlins circle and tried to loft the ball over Alison’s head but she was alert to the danger and palmed it away to safety.

At this stage Whitestix looked the most likely team to score but Gremlins incisive passing gave them back the lead after 19 minutes. Colin McAdams sent Mathieson clear down the right and his inch-perfect pass was easily converted by the unmarked Rachel Whillans. Gremlins now raised their tempo and went in search of more goals. Rachel pinched the ball from a Whitestix defender and set up McAdams but his shot was blocked. The loose ball fell kindly for Mathieson but one of the Whitestix ladies managed to get a stick to his goal-bound effort. Whitestix broke forward quickly but Mathieson recovered well and slid in to make a vital tackle as a home forward was about to shoot. It was then Gremlins turn to attack. Kevin Kane drove upfield with the ball and sent it through to McAdams and his pass gave Andrew Leaker a brief glimpse of goal but he was rapidly closed down by two Whitestix defenders who brought the ball clear. Alison Dawson had to look lively to turn away another Whitestix shot after 22 minutes and McAdams smartly turned defence into attack with a spirited run and pass to Fiona. The picked up by Kevin Kane who sent Mathieson galloping down the right wing but his dangerous cross into the Whitestix ‘D’ was intercepted and cleared.
 
Whitestix did have the ball in the Gremlins net after 23 minutes but it was clearly played from outside the circle. McAdams then brilliantly slalomed his way through the Whitestix defence and, with the goal at his mercy, managed to put the ball wide of the target. After 26 minutes Kevin Kane wriggled his way down the left wing and played in Rachel but her cross into the home ‘D’ was just too far ahead of Fiona and Leaker. Gremlins increased their lead after 30 minutes when Leaker made a good interception in midfield and pushed the ball through to Mathieson who quickly found McAdams rampaging forward into the Whitestix circle. His charge was halted by a defender but the loose ball came back out to Leaker who passed to Rachel Whillans whose shot found its way into the Whitestix goal despite a desperate effort to clear by one of the home defenders.

Gremlins two-goal advantage did not last long. Within a minute a Whitestix player made a powerful run down the right, strode into the circle and fired in a good shot which Alison did well to block with her pads but the ball bounced to a Whitestix gent who calmly slotted it home. Gremlins went straight downfield and Clark’s excellent pass gave McAdams a run in on goal but, after jinking past a couple of defenders, his audacious reverse-stick shot from the edge of the ‘D’ went narrowly past the post. Both sides spurned a couple of chances before Whitestix had a great chance to equalise from a penalty corner right on the half-time whistle. The ball was expertly converted by one of the Whitestix ladies but the goal did not count as it was fired in above the backboards.

Half-time Score: Whitestix 2 Gremlins 3

After a closely fought first 35 minutes, with the visitors holding on to their slender lead by the skin of their teeth, play swung from end to end in the early stages of the second half. With 39 minutes on the clock Fiona’s foray down the right wing looked set to pay dividends until the ball struck a Whitestix foot. The free hit was quickly taken back to McAdams who moved it on to Rachel but her cross from the right was picked off by the Whitestix defence. Seconds later Paterson intercepted the ball in midfield and played a superb through ball into the heart of the Whitestix circle but Rachel was just unable to reach it and divert it into the empty net. McAdams then just failed to reach Fiona with another fine cross-field ball before Gremlins pulled further ahead after 42 minutes. Loretta Kane picked off a Whitestix pass, moved down the left wing and sent in an excellent pass to Colin McAdams who gathered just inside the circle, steadied himself and planted the ball in the net to give Gremlins a 4-2 lead. Seconds later Gremlins came close once again. Paterson played a defence-splitting pass to McAdams who timed the release of the ball to Leaker perfectly but his cross into the circle was deflected behind off a defender before Rachel could reach it.

A fine passing move by Paterson and McAdams just failed to reach the unmarked Rachel in the Whitestix circle and the home defence were able to clear. The ball was collected by Kevin Kane who held it up well until he had support from Nia Philips but the pass that would have put her in the clear took a wicked bounce off the surface and jumped over her stick and went out of play. Whitestix mounted another attack down their left but Clark moved across the mop up the danger and found McAdams with a fine ball through the centre of the home defence. McAdams thundered into the hosts’ ‘D’ and tried a reverse-stick flick but it was picked off by Whitestix kicking back.

After 46 minutes an interception by Kevin Kane gave Rachel a chance but her net-bound shot was scooped off the goal-line by a defender. Good play by Fiona and McAdams sent Leaker racing into the circle but the chance was lost when the ball came off his foot. A great tackle by Rose won a free hit off a defender’s foot. Paterson played it forward for Fiona who linked well with Leaker who sent McAdams through but his pass to Rachel was cut out as she was about to score. Whitestix then charged forward and Rose stepped in with an important tackle as a home forward was about to shoot. Whitestix did manage to get a good shot on target but Alison was able to pull off a confident save and Paterson completed the clearance. Gremlins dominated the next few minutes and forced a couple of corners but were not able to get the ball into the danger area.

Gremlins were celebrating a fifth goal after 52 minutes when Paterson robbed a Whitestix player in midfield and pushed the ball through to Fiona Speirits who stepped into the circle and shot low into the corner of the Whitestix net but this goal was not allowed to stand as the ball was hit into the net, not pushed.

Instead of being comfortably 5-2 ahead Gremlins found themselves only 4-3 up when Whitestix broke rapidly downfield and converted a good crossed ball after 54 minutes. Gremlins hit back when Paterson set off on a mazy run through the Whitestix defence and was brought down near the edge of the home ’D’. From the free hit he twisted past a few defenders and crossed to the far side of the circle but the ball was pushed behind. Whitestix stormed back and a good bustllng run by their skipper ended with a shot which went narrowly past the post after 57 minutes.

In a frantic last ten minutes both sides piled players forward in search of match-clinching goals. Nia Philips made a vital tackle as Whitestix closed in on the Gremlins circle. She cleverly found Clark who sent the ball through for Fiona Speirits to begin a counter attack which broke down after a good run by Mathieson and McAdams. A trademark solo run by Mathieson after 61 minutes almost bore fruit but his final pass was slightly too far ahead of Rachel who had taken up good position in the Whitestix ‘D’. A minute later Paterson sent an inviting ball through to Kevin Kane who twisted and turned past a couple of defenders before sending a reverse-stick effort wide of the upright. Mathieson then sent an inviting pass across goal which eluded the advancing Kevin Kane and Rachel. Gremlins’ pressure finally paid off after 64 minutes. A great run and cross by Leaker found Jamie Mathieson in the clear and he clipped the ball home to restore his side’s two goal advantage.

Gremlins were not finished there. Great play by Kevin Kane presented Rachel with another opportunity but she just could not apply the finishing touch in the circle. A fine run by Leaker looked to have set up Fiona and Mathieson but Whitestix’ kicking back made a critical intervention as Gremlins looked set to seal the victory. Whitestix would not admit defeat and Rose made a decisive tackle as one of their gents bore down on the Gremlins goal. Whitestix attacks were become increasingly desperate and a hurried shot from one of their forwards moments later did not trouble Alison in the Gremlins goal.

Gremlins finally tied up the match after 68 minutes. Leaker snapped up a loose Whitestix pass and charged down the right wing and slid the ball through to Fiona just inside the ‘D’. Fiona’s shot was partially blocked by the stick of a Whitestix defender and as everyone hesitated Kevin Kane stepped forward to roll the ball into the empty net from a few inches out. There was still sufficient time left for each team to mount a serious attack but neither could convert their chance and Gremlins finished the match in opposition territory as the final whistle blew.

Full-time Score: Whitestix 3 Gremlins 6

This was a good win for Gremlins who were made to work hard for their victory by a much improved Whitestix outfit. It was great end-to-end match for the spectators with both sides committed to fast-paced attacking hockey. After a great start Gremlins did spurn a number of opportunities which put the result in doubt for a time but on the whole they were deserved winners. Once again it was extremely difficult to pick a Gremlin-of-the-Game with so many good individual performances on display. On this occasion I feel that the honours should be shared between Rachel Whillans for her excellent all-round play and vital first half hat-trick and the always available Kevin Kane for covering so much ground and his excellent control with his new magic wand

Whitestix attempt to “score” from a penalty corner right on the half-time whistle