Watsonians M3s vs Alpha Data Carnegie M3s

See the second half highlights here: http://www.watsonianshockeyclub.com/videos/m3s-vs-carnegie-3s-2nd-half-highlights-66025.html

The men of Watsonians third team had found themselves in some good form after a tough start to 2015. The recent weeks had seen them beat a Dunfermlin city side but not by the margin that they should and also beat a tough Edinburgh University team in a 5-4 thriller. After riding this high, last weeks game was postponed due to a Kinross waterlogged pitch (or fear, it could have been fear that called the game off).

This Saturday’s fixture would have us hosting Alpha Date Carnegie 3s. The away fixture, finished in a frustrating 1-1, with a feeling of two points stolen, rather than lost. With the absence of inspirational Captain Bell at the helm this week we would need to lead ourselves to victory, though we do not lack in leadership.

The game started with a back-and-forth joust, both teams trying to settle into the game and find their footing. The first goal from a direct move through the center of our team, with a ball tapped in at the back post for a Carnegie opener. After our slow start, this was the kick up the bum we needed to get playing. Pressing high up the pitch, the opposition keeper made a string of good saves. We did manage to break his lock on the goal, equalising mid way through the half, with David Hogarth slotting home a penalty stroke and that’s the way the half finished, 1-1.

The half time team talk highlighted that we had made a few silly mistakes, either not committing to our passes or trying to force the play.
Second half under way and the 3s were putting pressure on the Carnegie defence, forcing mistakes and turning over the ball with regularity. A well worked move down the right from central defender Chris Sholdis gave Richard Booth a good chance at the near post, just missing wide. Breaks into our half were fewer in the second period, with Sholdis undertaking his defensive duties, placing the young Carnegie playmaker in his pocket where he would stay for the rest of the game.

The game drew on with the stalemate firmly in place. That was until Hogarth picked the ball up just over the half way line, driving round to the right until reaching the D and smashing the ball back across the keeper into the far corner. 2-1.

With the goal on the scoreboard and the pressure relieved, we were once again our energized selves. Gilmour had a good chance on goal in his cameo role as a forward for the day, only to be foiled by the still outstanding enemy goalie. The game was passing by towards the final whistle, when Richard Booth finally realized where the goal actually was, scoring not once, but twice in quick succession, to the kill the game off with his second, which was accompanied the final whistle and some sticks thrown down in disgust. 4-1

A much improved second half gave us the result that we deserved.

Our thanks to Martin Daw for umpiring