Ladies' 1s
Captain: Jane Robertson
Season 08/09 Match Reports
Saturday 26th April
Alpha Data Carnegie (A) Won 5-2
The ‘Sonians ladies came flying out of the blocks at Rosyth sticking to the plan to beat the Dunfermline side with a high press, pace, and quick short passing. After several close calls, Sophie McGovern put the ball in the net, and Nikki Black followed up a saved shot in the D slotting a rebound for 2-0. The ladies were by and large dominating for large periods, however, Dunfermline stepped it up with some quick long breaks of their own, and finished one at the third attempt after ‘keeper Lizzie McAdam made a double save.
2-1 at half time and work to do, which was not eased by a direct short corner goal by the home side soon after the restart. It only seemed to spur on Watsonians however. The ladies launched another wave of attacks which ended with Alex Robertson lifting the ball over the keeper from an acute angle for her first goal at this level and 3-2.
Watsonians stepped on the gas again, and a full length reverse stick dive by Hardie went in for 4-2, followed by the pretty much the most slick short corner routine of the season, where Debbie Nesbit put the ball in on the post after a zigzag move involving 5 players.
Going down to 10 with Hardie’s yellow card, the ladies shut up shop as both sides tired, and it remained 5-2 to the final whistle.
So a satisfying final performance means Watsonians finish one off the bottom in Division 1B, left only to ponder what might have happened had they managed to be more consistent, and turn winning positions into 3 points earlier in the year instead of scraping draws. Just not quite good enough... this year.
With both sides relegated, Watsonians v Dunfermline will be a Division 2 fixture next season, when battle will resume...
Sunday 15th March
Hillhead (A) Drew 0-0
‘Keeper Lizzie McAdam deserved her clean sheet with a series of fine saves. Watsonians did raise their game from Saturday and had their chances though in open play and with several short corners but couldn’t take them to steal the three points. The point gained, with other results elsewhere, keeps ladies still in the mix, a point off third place with four games to go, so all still to play for...
Saturday 14th March
Dunfermline (H) Drew 1-1
After a largely forgettable first half, Watsonians were still asleep on the restart with the visitors scoring in 35 seconds in to go one up. A great short corner strike from Ali Neilson capped a better second half performance, but it proved not enough to secure the three points.
Saturday 21st February
Edinburgh Uni (H) Lost 3-0
The Ladies 1s hit the realities of Division 1B status on Saturday, going down 3-0 to Edinburgh University. Apprehension was apparent and errors evident as the Uni went 3-0 up by the break.
The second half was a different story as the team changed tactics and stepped up to the plate. With the defence looking sold, and midfield moving the play, Black and Jacobs had chances, and a short corner strike whistled by the post, but all to no avail. Although the final score read 3-0, a 0-0 second half gives the team something to build on.
It's Grange next in the League, who, having lost their first game 3-1 away to GHK, will also be out for some much needed points...
Sunday 25th January
Western Wildcats (A) Drew 0-0
The Ladies played away on Sunday at Auchenhowie knowing that promotion was in their hands, a win or draw being enough to go up to division 1B for the second half of the season, due to a superior goal difference over Highland.
Watsonians started playing the better hockey, but in the desire to put away an early goal left some gaps. Wildcats were quick on the break, with some skilful players, and right back Jenny Drewitt made a couple of excellent last gasp challenges to avert the danger.
The maroons then settled, played more controlled hockey, and proceeded to largely dominate the rest of the 1st half. A series of short corners were won... but not put away. A couple of pullbacks from the byeline by Hardie surely should have been converted, but we couldn’t seem to get the ball onto a stick and past the ‘keeper. Wildcats were also solid in defence, and seemed able to distribute long balls to good effect launching counter attacks.
It was from one of these in the middle of the second half that Wildcats produced their best moment – it ended with ‘keeper Jo Grieg showing excellent concentration to almost nonchalantly palm away a ferocious reverse stick strike to safety.
‘Sonians failed to play as well in the latter stages, but still largely controlled the game, and the solid defence marshalled by Ruth Mawhinney staved off any Wildcat counters, as the clock ran down.
The whistle finally went, and 0-0 was job done for the Ladies’... for a few weeks.
The 1s now face their biggest challenge of the last few years, and will compete for Division One status next season with Dunfermline Carnegie, also coming up from Division 2, and Edinburgh University, GHK, Grange, and Hillhead, who finished the first half of the season in places 6-10 of National League Division One.
Ruth Crawford
Sat 15th November
Highland (A) - Lost 2-1
The Ladies made the 350 mile road trip to Dingwall as table toppers, and in the knowledge that wins in the final 2 games would mean promotion to Division 1B for the second half of the season.
Watsonians started well, and dominated possession and territory. Highland made only occasional breaks into the away side's half, and when they did, met a solid defence.
With no end product for their initial efforts, Highland began to come more into the game, beginning to switch the ball well round the back and making effective breaks.
It was Highland who went 1-0 up, and worse was to follow when a cross from the right on the break was brilliantly deflected into the top corner for 2-0.
The game evened out, and opportunities were created and missed on both sides, with 'Sonians the more guilty, failing to capitalise on both short corner and open play opportunities. Polwart was also unlucky to see her short corner strike come back off the base of the post.
Finally Watsonians scored when Lyndz Allison bundled the ball over the line following good work down the right, and were fired up for a final onslaught. Sweeper Mawhinney was sacrificed as the league leaders put wave after wave of attack together in an attempt to get something out of the game.
It was not to be, and the team entered the changing room absolutely gutted, facing the 3 1/2 hour bus trip home on the end of the 2-1 loss, albeit to probably the best team they have come up against this season.
It's now 2 teams from three to go up, and now third, the Ladies must concentrate on taking points from Wildcats in the final game before Christmas, and rely on Granite City getting results against Highland or Dunfermline.
Ruth Crawford
Sat 27th Sept
Bon Accord (A) Won 1-0
Ladies 1's travelled up north to play the mighty Bon Accord.
At half time it was a very tense and bitty 0-0.
So the rain as always started with the whistle for the second half...Luckily the north was looking after us and we managed to convert a goal early on.
Our resident traveller Emma popped in a sweet set up created by Lyndz Allison. But that was not the excitement over... 3 cards later and a missed penalty flick by the opposition, the whistle couldn't have come sooner... for a 3 and '0' start to the season..... a thoroughly earned drinking session!
