M3s vs Fidra Lions M1s

Though the events of Saturday the 21st of March 2015, may seem to be a work of fiction, they are all fact based, to the best of my knowledge. Which I admit is not great at the best of times.

With Captain Bell not returning to the team sheet until the following week, a second stand in had been selected. After a solid win for captain Waugh, Tony Allan would be trying to keep his 100% win ratio in tact.

Our home fixture against the reigning league champions had finished in a 5-4 in defeat, after being 3-0 up at half time. With a makeshift team, comprising of some M4s volunteers and a first game of men’s hockey, from Watsonians 14 year old school keeper Sam Gibb, we knew that game was going to be tough one, not helped by the 4pm start time. Our lean squad went down from 12 to 11 with an inexplicable car crash, a low speed Car vs Lamp Post.

With a team talk from captain Tony, threatening the consequences of losing his 100% record, we were fired up and got the game underway. The squad started with unexpected liveliness, after a long journey and short warm-up. Our energy was easily coping with a strong Fidra side, mixed with both youth and experience, which had set the Lions at the top of the division for the past few years.

Watsonians high pressure and eager tackling was breaking down the majority of the Fidra play. Good wing play from Sandy Hendry, earned a foot in the D, with the resulting PC being powered home, in trademark fashion from David Hogarth. After the restart, the men’s 3s continued their press, though our enthusiastic tackling had been picked up by the umpires, leaving us with 10 men, as Tony Allan was sent to side lines, for a green card.

Still playing well, with young Gibbs not really being tested in the sticks, another quick move down the right, saw Hendry, once again breaking into the D, to provide a pin point pass to the penalty spot, where Richard Waugh was on hand to out stretch the Lions keeper, sweeping the ball round the on rushing pads, slamming his shot into the top left corner of the net. Stunned looks followed from the Fidra team, being 2-0 down to the rag tag boys from Watsonians.

The half time whistle went. Another green card had been survived, this time from goal scorer Hogarth and two Fidra penalty corners, defended well. We were playing well and Captain Tony pressed home to keep the energy up and we could take the scalp of the champs in their own back yard.

Second half underway and Hogarth was sent back to the dugout for a tackling yellow. Back to 10 once more, it did not slow the M3s down, only adding to our fire. Hogarth returns, to immediately be back in the thick of play. Collecting theball on the left and surging into the D, he pressed through a horrendous tackle from behind only to be taken out by the keeper, scoring the resulting flick himself.

3-0 and we were in heaven. But we had been here before. The pressure from the Lions was mounting, with young members of the side, taking advantage of our

growing fatigue. They used speed and skill, in their attempts to break through. Our defence held strong. Then another card, again for Hogarth. With a quick consultation from the umpires he would see a long yellow stay on the bench. Back to 10 and we juggled the team, bring Hendry back into the breach of midfield once more. His efforts on the field would not be forgotten, eventually earning the man of the match award.

Still holding on to the relentless onslaught, the other goal scorer of the day was sent to the sidelines. With a poor tackle at the top of the D, Waugh would be given a yellow card, with his protests of it being his first bad tackle of day, falling upon deaf ears. Perhaps a victim of earlier infringements from the team. For 30 seconds we were down to 9. With Hogarth back on and young Gibb still grasping on to the clean sheet, disaster struck. Breaking down our left flank, Tony Allen lost his stick in the tackle, only to be penalized again while trying to retrieve it. We were momentarily left short and the eager Lions took the chance, slipping the ball past onrushing Gibb. 3-1.

With Waugh still stuck on the sideline, Fidra scored a second (foggy memory moment). 3-2. We had to hold it together. We couldn’t live with the shame of throwing away another three goal lead, especially without Dereck not around to blame. We were back to 11, but for only mere seconds. Hogarth would be gone, a red. Persistent fouling and a couple of choice words would see the M3s star striker pack up his stick bag.

Relief as the final whistle blew. Three points from the champs and four wins in a row for the Sonians’. The game had spectacular goals, cards, energy and skill. Both teams gave it their all, with warm hand shakes and congratulations on a hard fought afternoon.

Our thanks to Paul Conkie for umpiring.

Richard Waugh