Watsonians 3s 2-3 Edinburgh Uni 4s

In what turned out to be a sobering night for the hosts, a rare midweek fixture took place when the league leaders came to Tipperlinn to face a strong Watsonians side. Watsonians were in high spirits after a good couple of weeks culminating with a strong 6-0 win the Saturday before. It was a big chance for Watsonians to make a statement, but the pressure was on Uni to see if they could do it on a cold night away from home, with what seemed to be a record crowd of 5 watching on!

The game began with both teams a bit shaky, but Watsonians settled down quickly and got into a good rhythm and played at a high intensity with good movement around the pitch. It was clear that Watsonians were up for the game more, as Uni would be missing out on one of their precious social engagements, and the pressure told when some great play from Hogarth ended with him smashing the ball into the bottom left of the goal for a 1-0 lead…the crowd go wild! The goal seemed to wake up Uni, and they came forward with intent pressing high up the pitch and creating chances of their own. With solid work from the defense, Uni were held at bay and this was clearly frustrating them as they began appealing at every opportunity, getting mouthy with the umpires (which resulted in a green card for one Uni player), and displaying interesting tackling techniques. This continued and both captains were spoken to, but unfortunately, this seemed to have a negative effect on Watsonians and brought them down to Unis level. At this point Uni were on top and creating a couple of half chances, and then came the equaliser. A ball hit into the D, initially dealt with, but bobbled up onto the stick on the Uni forward who tucked it away, 1-1. After this, tempers on both sides started to rise, with both teams nipping at each other and the Umpires, captains were spoken to, but this did not appear to have the desired effect. The game continued with some good play from Watsonians, and chances were created with some good short corner routines from Hogarth playing the ball to both posts just missing that vital touch. The intensity was high from both sides, but the tackles and language were coming more reckless, and after Uni going crazy in the D appealing for a short corner and berating the Umpire, madness occurred, with both captains being carded. Both down to 10 men, Uni applied the pressure with no luck but were getting into Watsonian heads and with the Umpires on high alert caused Johnson to hit the ball away after the whistle had gone resulting in a stupid and needless green card. Watsonians down to 9, a minute later comes half time.

Half-time team talk is what Watsonians needed, time to keep your heads and play hockey at our level and not let them get into our heads.

(The 2nd half is a bit more of a blur)

The 2nd half started and Uni were on top with their man advantage, but Watsonians worked well as a defensive unit and some good saves by Gillespe kept them at bay. Watsonians, back to the full 11, played some great hockey up through the middle with Bell and Nair then distributing the ball wide to the wings, or back to the defense to keep possession and build up plays. Confidence grew within the Watsonian camp and they started to create chances of their own with strong play from the wingers and forwards. This paid off when Watsonians took the lead, the ball fired into the D, and Bell getting the vital touch into the back of the net. After much protesting from Uni and conferring between the umpires the goal was given, 2-1 Watsonians…the crowd go wild! This really riled Uni, and in then end cost them a man after he was sent off for dissent towards the Umpire. After this the game opened up majorly, with both sides playing good hockey and Watsonians in search of that vital 3rd goal and Uni looking for the equaliser. Unfortunately it went the way of Uni, after a break the ball bobbles free in the D and is picked up by a Uni player and lifted into the goal, 2-2. Unis heads were up, but Watsonians were battling hard and still playing their game with good hockey being played from the back right the way up the pitch but the crucial pass or touch eluded the men in maroon. With around 5 minutes to go, Uni broke and fired a ball in from the left across the D and was deflected in, 2-3. Watsonians kept their heads up and plowed on, trying everything they could to break down the Uni, but time ran out and the game finished with the Uni talking the 3 points. On another day it could have gone another way with the 3 points staying at Watsonians, but there were a lot of positives to take from the performance all over the pitch and they will be key to take into the next fixture where 2nd in the league, Kinross 1s come to visit Watsonians.

Thanks to #Munro for umpiring.

MoM: David Hogarth

DoD: Hamish Johnson