Men's 3s
Captain: Dave Breach
Match Reports 08/09
Sunday October 5th
Grange 5s (H) W 3-2
The first home game, the first win. The Men’s threes’ season is up and running at last.
It obviously wouldn’t be a 3s game without some pre-match panic and Duncan Robertson and Darren Cavaroli both pulled out just hours before the game with injuries, accompanying Dave Thornton who had been injured earlier in the week.
Chris Allison, by coincidence, phoned looking for a game and so formed a hastily arranged defensive four with Nathan Piper, Dave Breach and George Lewis after Keith Turnbull pulled a hamstring after just 2 minutes of the first half. The team is cursed I tell you!
The defensive four held up well against a well organised Grange 5th team but were unable to prevent Grange from scoring half way through the first half when a deflection off the skipper’s stick eluded Peter Browns dive.
Despite Grange dominating the first half, Watsonians gradually fought their way back into the game – almost literally at times with Nathan having a ten minute cooling down period following a stick tackle/assault.
The ‘Sonians midfield began to work some neat balls to the forward line, and forced a couple of short corners in the 30th minute – one of them being whistled just as the ball hit the goal. The second short corner of the half saw a goal-bound Watsonians shot hit a Grange foot; Donald Murison elected to take the resulting penalty flick. To say that the flick was missed is to insinuate that the ball actually reached the goal line. It didn’t (though to be fair to Donald the immense amount of sand at Fortress Tipperlinn made any sort of flick impossible.)
Grange deserved their first half lead but were unaware of the third teams tactic of only playing their best hockey in the second half. Throughout the previous season, the three’s outscored and outplayed opponents during the final 35 minutes, but unfortunately far too often they were also chasing too many goals following a shoddy first half.
The second half saw Watsonians dominate and pulled a goal back after just ten minutes through the ever spritely Martin Booth. However, an attack from Grange left Peter Brown stranded, and with Dave Breach unable to push the ball off the goal line, the hosts were soon 2-1 down.
Despite the goal, the Nathan Piper-marshalled defensive line maintained composure and remained rock solid for the rest of the game; George Lewis sticking in an impressive display at left back for the second day running.
As the midfield foursome of Donald, Rich Rowe, Ewan Craig and John Kosman skilfully dribbled and passed their way to the opponents D, the attacking line were given more opportunities to shoot; Rich belting home a shot with just 10 minutes to go, giving the crowd – all five of them – an exciting finale.
Utility man Russ Grant – just two weeks before leaving for American climes – popped up in the final two minutes to pop home a ricocheted pinball effort, as Sonians took the lead for the first team this season.
With no more scares in the final two minutes, the skipper could celebrate his first win as third team captain and get the third team campaign up and running at last.
Saturday October 4th
Strathclyde Uni 2s (A) L 3-1
The best result of this game was getting 11 players onto the park – everything else after that just paled into insignificance.
The unbelievable number of 16 third team squad players were unavailable for this game, and so the skipper decided early on the make this Cup game one geared to giving the youth of this club a chance.
University graciously provided an umpire - a heroic effort from them considering that most students during their first week of term have infinitely better things to do on a Saturday afternoon than umpire in some appalling weather.
The skipper drove to Stirling to collect 3 players from their school game, George Lewis collected 4 others from Edinburgh, while two of our Glasgow contacts arrived at Stepps to give Watsonians 11 players, all in maroon. The Army Logistics Corps must surely have taken notice and so expect to see Dave Breach in army uniform soon.
To ruffle a few University feathers, the skipper decided on a revolutionary tactic of just three defenders and to crowd the midfield with the 5 energetic and enthusiastic younger players.
For the first 20 minutes, the ‘Sonians defensive line held firm with George Lewis at his aggressive best acting like a magnet to the ball and the opposition players. Glasgow Matt also performed calmly under extreme pressure, while the defensive line was augmented by some stirling defensive duties from the young midfield.
But eventually something had to give, and a barmy ten minute session during the middle of the first half saw Peter Brown’s goal breached three times to hasten the skippers anxiety that an afternoon drubbing was going to take place.
But the under 18s grew in stature and then played an absolute blinder for the remaining 45 minutes; three quarters of an hour in which the ‘Sonians conceded no further goals.
Andrew MacDonald, battling illness, grew into the position of defensive midfield and masterminded a few attacking surges forward while keeping calm under pressure at the back. Ewan Craig was at his influential best, acting as the go-to man in midfield despite tight University marking. Adam Forrest led the left wing attacks that harrayed the University defence and caused concern following a 55th minute Watsonians goal.
The goalscorer, John Kosman was one of three Watsons schoolboys who had already played two games in the morning and despite this worked tirelessly through the game to help set up a few chances before scoring. Young Fraser Price dismissed fatigue to constantly hassle any University attacks on the right, while Peter Brown maintained goal impeccably during the second half despite some.
Of the older guys, Russ Grant worked tirelessly to help the midfield retain and regain possession, while Rapid Ally was a constant threat upfront. However, despite the pressure, actual goal scoring opportunities were few and so no further goals were scored.
Saturday September 27th
Edinburgh Uni 5s (A) L 1-0
Players called up to the 2s. Injuries. Holiday absences. Desperate calls the day before the game to people who “may or may not” be available this season, begging them to play. Illness on the day preventing one player from turning up. And two players turning up with just seconds to go before push back. Yes! The Men’s Third Team are back for the new season.
Nobody has ever succinctly explained why it is “best to play the University games first” – okay they may be recovering from Freshers week, but that’s argued against by the fact that they may contain Freshers who should be playing at a much higher level but who’s potential wasn’t spotted at their trial game – but face them first we did.
The Captains initial fears of a gubbing were allayed by an encouraging opening ten minute salvo, during which ‘Sonians had far more of the ball. The students started to get into the game a bit more though, and once they got more used to playing with new faces began to cause a slightly disorganised ‘Sonians defence some problems.
One of many first half breakaway attacks by the Students led to the Captain being unable to clear the ball sufficiently well in a packed D resulting in a deserved goal for the University after 25 minutes.
With some organisational re-arrangement by Wayne Ratley and Nathan Piper at half time, Watsons managed to defend much more competently in the second half despite wave after wave of Uni attacks.
Indeed, the Sonians midfield started to stamp a bit more authority onto the game to allow their attacking trio many more scoring opportunities than in the first half.
However, Watsonians were foiled by some outstanding reaction saves by the Uni keeper, and despite five minutes of late pressure, were unable to breach the Peffermill goal.
Encouraging performances were displayed by many of the youngsters in the team, proving again that there is a wealth of talent ready to push for second and first team places over the coming years. With the more experienced players hopefully back soon, these young faces will have the ideal mentors, giving the third team very strong aspirations for this coming season.
The Uni boys were good for their win however, and although Watsonians deserved something for their second half performance, the fact is that the season started with a defeat. An encouraging defeat, but a defeat none the less.
