29 June 2011

Gremlins entertained Les Conards in their return fixture at an unusually sunny Dalziel Park. While the other match on the adjoining pitch was played out in bright sunlight the Gremlins game soon slipped into shadow as the low evening sun disappeared behind the pavilion. And things soon got pretty dark for Les Conards, who became Les Miserables as Gremlins scored 5 goals in each half to run out comfortable 10-2 winners. It was one-way traffic towards the short-handed visitors’ goal from the start and the question on everyone’s lips was not, “When?” but, “How many?” Gremlins loaned Les Conards Gale Black and then Loretta Kane to make it a more even contest but it was soon obvious that the hosts had far too much firepower for their guests

Andy Paterson’s cross-field pass to Jamie Mathieson was touched on to Colin McAdams whose push across Les Conards’ circle gave Fiona Speirits the first opportunity of the match but her attempt on goal was cleared by the visitors’ kicking back. Gremlins kept up the pressure and Nia Philips’ quickly taken free hit allowed Fiona to drive a dangerous ball into the ‘D’ but it couldn’t find its way through to McAdams and was cleared by the defence.

McAdams and then Colin Clark both had shots well blocked on the line by the sorely-pressed kicking back before the inevitable opening goal arrived following a typical flowing piece of play by Gremlins. Paterson began the move, picking out Mathieson’s penetrating forward run. He slipped the ball through to Fiona who had spotted Rachel Whillans’ burst down the right wing and she in turn found Nia Philips who was perfectly positioned to steer home after 7 minutes. Les Conards hardly had time to draw breath before Gremlins struck again. McAdams intercepted a pass in midfield, raced forward and passed to Jamie Mathieson who slid into the circle to flick the ball into the net. Paterson then cut his way through the visitors’ back-line and then laid the ball off to McAdams but his cross to Nia was intercepted and hastily cleared.

It wasn’t totally one-sided although Les Conards were relying almost exclusively on their experienced gentleman forward to make a breakthrough. Gremlins added their third goal when he was dispossessed by Paterson whose swift pass allowed Mathieson to make great strides up the left wing before releasing the ball to McAdams. Colin McAdams played a quick one-two with Mathieson before guiding the ball home with only 13 minutes gone. Rachel and Nia made good ground down the right after 14 minutes but couldn’t get the ball past Les Conards wily kicking back.

Les Conards first really dangerous raid came after 16 minutes but Andy McKellar moved across effortlessly to rob the visiting player and build the counter attack. After 21 minutes Gremlins won a free hit in a dangerous position. McAdams laid the ball back to Mathieson who slipped it wide to Fiona on the right wing but the visitors managed to intercept her cross into the ‘D’ and send the ball downfield.

A good reverse-stick flick pass by Leaker sent Colin McAdams scampering down the right wing and when his powerful cross into the circle met the stick of a Les Conards lady attempting to clear, the ball diverted into the net to give Gremlins a 4-0 lead after 22 minutes. Only time will tell whether the goal is given to McAdams or credited as an own goal. Les Conards defence was still reeling from this blow when the Green Machine added another goal 60 seconds later. Good work down the right by Fiona got the ball through to Nia who flicked it on to Colin Clark and his low shot went into the net via defender’s foot.

Five goals down, Les Conards then enjoyed their best spell of the match with three well constructed attacks. They did have one good opportunity when Rose Fitzpatrick-Lane did well to get in a tackle as a Conard was about to shoot and the loose ball fell kindly to his team-mate but he was not able to put it away. McAdams and Rachel both sent inviting crosses into the opposition ‘D’ in the last few minutes but, surprisingly, there was no more scoring in the first period and when the teams trooped off for their half-time glucose intake Gremlins held a comfortable lead.

Half-time Score: Gremlins 5 Les Conards 0

Les Conards began the second half with more confidence and moved the ball about with some authority but were still unable to get a clear sight of the Gremlins goal. Slowly the home side began to assert their dominance and were soon heading back towards Les Conards’ goal.

A typical surging run by McAdams brought about the first goal of the second half after 42 minutes. He turned on the gas and left a few defenders in his wake before delivering a superb cross to Andrew Leaker at the far post and he had the easiest of tasks to pop the ball over the line to make the score 6-0. Leaker’s defensive qualities were in evidence moments later when he tracked back to thwart a promising Conards attack. McAdams almost stole the show with a fantastic solo run right through the visitors’ defence after 45 minutes but his shot smacked off the post and went behind. Les Conards broke up a Leaker raid and broke quickly down the right but Rose made a fine tackle and got the ball clear via McKellar and George Armstrong and Kevin Kane turned defence into attack with a good ball through to Rachel. Good Gremlins pressure by Mathieson and Nia earned a free hit deep in Conards territory on 48 minutes. The ball was played back to McAdams who steamed forward and sent a perfect delivery across the Conards ‘D’ where Gale Black was on hand to tuck the ball in the corner of the net. There was no let up by Gremlins and they pinched another goal a minute later. Armstrong’s interception in midfield allowed Matheison to charge forward and find Rachel Whillans in the clear. Her return pass took Mathieson past the last defender and she was perfectly positioned to receive the ball and clip it into the empty net for Gremlins eighth goal.

A good break down Les Conards left wing followed by a quick cross resulted in a shot hitting the post and Armstrong desperately clearing off the line and conceding a penalty corner.

At this point Colin McAdams who had been subbed by Gremlins took the field as a Les Conards mercenary and the visitors’ fortunes began to change. After 55 minutes good pressure by the visitors saw the ball bounce around in the Gremlins circle before being slammed past the helpless Alison Dawson by a Les Conards lady. Hurt by the loss of a goal Gremlins surged forward and the ball was worked cleverly around the circle by Fiona and Loretta but Les Conards pinched the ball and cleared downfield. Mathieson won it back, surged forward and crossed for Leaker who missed the ball but it fell kindly for Rachel Whillans who poked it home at the far post.

With 10 minutes remaining, Les Conards kicking back came to his side’s rescue once again with a great goal-line clearance after Paterson and Kevin Kane had carved their way through the visitors’ defence and set up Leaker for the shot. Colin McAdams was relishing playing against his Monklands team-mates and took great delight in intercepting the ball in midfield, rounding Armstrong and then taking the ball past Alison in the Gremlins goal before sliding the ball into the net for Les Conards second goal after 63 minutes. Mathieson came close with another effort a minute later but was again denied by a great goal-line block by Les Conards kicking back. Another driving run by McAdams after 65 minutes was halted at the edge of the circle. He twisted and turned to create some space before sending in an audacious lob which only just cleared the Gremlins bar.

Gremlins had the last word however. Paterson and Mathieson passed their way through the entire Conards team before Jamie Mathieson slammed the ball low and hard into the corner for the final score of the day with 3 minutes left.

Full-time Score: Gremlins 10 Les Conards 2

This was a fairly one-sided match and a relatively easy win for Gremlins. The gap would have been much greater but for a stirring display by Les Conards kicking back who defied Gremlins forwards on numerous occasions. The proceedings were livened up when subbed Gremlins striker Colin McAdams was persuaded to join the ranks of Les Conards with 17 minutes remaining. He certainly provided a few headaches for the Gremlins defence with his pace and incisive runs and, inevitably, got on the score-sheet against his erstwhile team-mates. His midfield duels with Andy Paterson, along with their good-natured banter, were hugely entertaining and he, for this correspondent, was Gremlin-of-the-Game and possibly even Conard-of-the-Contest

 Gremlins put the visitors under early pressure

Colin Clark on target for Gremlins

Colin McAdams