25 May 2011

"A Fantastic Fightback"

Gremlins slalomed their way through millions of cones on the A80 to take on the wolfish Wanderers of Stirling in their den at Forthbank. Once again Gremlins played some scintillating hockey but were unable to convert any of their first half chances and found themselves 1-0 behind at the break. The green machine turned on the style in the second period and found the net three times to finish worthy 3-1 winners.

Play got underway beneath the lights at a damp and dismal Forthbank with the detritus of the recent gales scattered all around. In the pre-match warm-up several Gremlins were having difficulty with the bounce of the ball off the unfamiliar surface but it was obvious early on in the match that they had quickly come to terms with it although the slippery nature of the surface led to a number of embarrassing slips for visiting players.

Gremlins had best of the opening few minutes play and their first opportunity came after 3 minutes when pressure from Andrew Leaker earned his side a penalty corner. Unfortunately they were not able to profit from the set piece and Wanderers were happy to see the ball cleared downfield. Andy Paterson found George Armstrong with an excellent through ball but he was sent tumbling by the Wanderers goalie although no infringement was spotted by the umpires. Gremlins advanced well down the right wing and a shot from Fiona Speirits came off a Stirling stick and looped over both goalkeeper and bar.

Wanderers No. 7 made a spirited run down the right but Paterson made a timely tackle as he was about to advance into the circle. The same player was halted by Andy McKellar at the expense of a long corner moments later as the home side built a promising attack down the right. Wanderers won their first penalty corner of the match on 13 minutes but Alison Dawson made a fine double save to thwart her Stirling team-mates. Leaker, Armstrong and Loretta Kane cut through the Stirling defence after 14 minutes but the move fizzled out when Leaker slipped on the greasy surface. A minute later Wanderers No. 3 sent a dangerous shot inches wide of the Gremlins left hand post with keeper Alison Dawson rooted to the spot. The hosts were enjoying a good spell of pressure and went close again moments later when another shot zipped wide of the Gremlins goal.

Gremlins looked to have taken the lead after 19 minutes when McAdams seized on a long Mathieson pass and sent the ball through the legs of the Stirling keeper only to see it take the slightest of deflections but enough to edge it the wrong side of the upright. McKellar’s charge forward then set up Mathieson who slid the ball on to Gale Black but the awkward bouncing ball got caught up in her feet and the chance was lost.

Despite having most of the play Gremlins found themselves one goal down after 23 minutes. Wanderers won a penalty corner and the ball was delivered to their No.12 at the top of the ‘D’ and she fired the ball past the helpless Alison Dawson in the Gremlins goal. The visitors responded positively to going behind. Mathieson broke down the right and crossed for Gale Black whose shot drew a good save from the Wanderers keeper. The ball broke back to McAdams but the keeper was able to parry his shot and the Wanderers defence promptly cleared their lines. Leaker then sent McAdams through but his shot from a tight angle did not trouble the Wanderers goalie. It wasn’t all one-way traffic and Gremlins keeper Alison moved smartly to send a good Wanderers shot behind after 29 minutes and Rachel Whillans had to make an excellent tackle as Wanderers broke in numbers up the left wing.

Mathieson and McAdams combined well but the Stirling goalie managed to block McAdams’ shot. The ball came back to Gale Black who slipped the ball to McAdams but once again Wanderers’ keeper stopped the Gremlins man’s effort and the ball was cleared. Good play down the right by Rachel Whillans and Fiona Speirits gave the latter a chance but her shot went past the keeper’s right hand post. Gremlins final thrust of the first half came through Colin Clark but he was overwhelmed by sheer numbers as Wanderers closed their defensive ranks.

Half-time Score: Stirling Wanderers 1 Gremlins 0

Gremlins began the second half playing towards the Ochils and were quickly on the offensive. A determined run by Mathieson earned them a penalty corner in the opening seconds. From the set piece the ball bounced around the Wanderers circle before Nia Philips’ shot was eventually pushed behind. Paterson’s interception and pass gave McAdams a chance but the keeper made a good block as Gremlins pushed hard for the equalising goal. After 39 minutes McAdams attacked down the right and found Gale Black who passed on to Nia Philips but her shot was blocked and a penalty corner awarded. Then - a moment of controversy. Paterson’s injection was "dummied" by the Gremlins at the top of the ‘D’ to let it run through to Jamie Mathieson outside the dotted line. He strode into the circle and drove the ball low and hard into the corner of the net. After a few seconds, and appeals from Stirling players, the goal was disallowed and the corner re-taken. From the second corner Loretta’s shot was blocked and the danger cleared by the home side.

Gremlins were clearly incensed and then appeared to go up a gear. McAdams was unlucky when he slipped in the act of shooting and then was denied by a last minute goal-line clearance after he had had reverse-flicked the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs. The whole match changed in the space of 4 remarkable minutes. Jamie Mathieson went off on a typical mazy run after 43 minutes, burst into the circle and flicked the ball past the keeper’s head to level the scores. Wanderers were reeling from this blow when they suddenly found themselves behind. Paterson sent the ball through to Mathieson who quickly reverse-flicked it on to Colin McAdams who sped forward and flicked it past the shell-shocked goalie to give Gremlins a 2-1 lead. Gremlins were now very much in the ascendancy and, after 47 minutes, Colin McAdams latched on to a long ball out of defence, took it wide past the goalkeeper and fired home from an acute angle.

Gremlins did not let up. Paterson fed McAdams whose progress was halted by a Wanderers foot. The ball was swiftly played out to Fiona Speirits but her driven ball into the circle just eluded Gale Black. Smart work by Mathieson and McAdams gave Leaker a chance but his shot went high into the side netting with 52 minutes gone. McAdams was unlucky with two more chances after being put through by Mathieson and Leaker. Wanderers were not out of the match and won a short corner after 58 minutes when McKellar slipped. Paterson was rapidly off the line and got his stick to the striker’s shot which spun over the Gremlins bar. Good work by Leaker and Rachel Whillans got the ball to McAdams but his pass to the onrushing Nia Philips was just off line.

With 9 minutes remaining Wanderers seemed certain to pull a goal back when one of their gents was sent clear but McKellar made a magnificent diving tackle to rob him. McKellar came to his side’s rescue minutes later, mopping up the danger from a Stirling penalty corner. With a minute remaining Paterson was embarrassed to lose possession deep in his own half and was forced to concede yet another short corner. Fortunately for him the resulting Wanderers shot was off target.

Full-time Score: Stirling Wanderers 1 Gremlins 3

This was another good win for Gremlins who showed great fighting spirit to come back from behind for the second week running. The team will be heartened that they moved the ball about quickly and created numerous chances through some fine passing. They are still not the finished article yet but it is obvious that they are beginning to knit together nicely. Rachel Whillans was named Gremlin-of-the-Game for some fine tackling and constructive play down the right.

An Early Gremlins Penalty Corner