Watsonian Winter is Coming

As the Starks in Game Of Thrones say 'Winter is coming'. And so it would seem with frost on the ground on Saturday morning. Enquiries rained in on the condition of the pitch to see whether the game was on. Captain assured all that a decision would be made at 1030. True to his word bang on 1038 game was called...on.

Turning up it seemed that Stirling hadn't received the memo with only 2 players pitch side. None the less warm up began in the usual format. Stirling players started to trickle in and sportsmen like they were given a slight delay in push back to 1305.

Early exchanges were not awe inspiring with some misplaced passes but slowly Watsonians got into their stride. A ball out to the wing and forward was picked up by Hogie who dribbled into the D shot and scored. 1-0. Stirling started to get into the game with 16 or 14 in the centre who seemed a handy player beginning pulling the strings. It was however the boys in maroon who scored next with a comprehensive strike from Rich Booth passed the goal keeper into the goal. 2-0. Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall one of the Stirling players fell and complained about the condition of the pitch which led to the game being stopped for a decision. With no sympathy for his plight from either captain the game continued. Some more hockey was played until the umpire blew for half time.

The team talk focused on passing to our own players which seemed a wild request to me but there were no dissenting voices.

Second half started at a pace that Stirling could not cope with and there were several chances to score but a killer edge remained elusive so far this half. That was until Murray won the ball in their half passed to someone probably Hogie who crossed to Rob T who had a shot into the open net 3-0. This was when the flood gates began to open as Stirling could not deal with the pressure that the 3s were putting them under. Ian Duncan made his mark with a 'Duncan special' goal from 2 feet out 4-0. Some talk from the sideline was on Murray's obsession with the back stick shot with the reason being suggested that front stick was 'too easy'. Any chat was silenced by a back stick shot over the keeper. 5-0. Perhaps inspired by Tom Daley during the Olympics Sandy Hendry made a dive in the D when the keeper came out trying to earn a flick. Although it might have got a 8.7 at the Olympics he was told to get up and continue. Calls from keeper Doug of 'next goal is ours' was heeded by ID and Murray Cannon (an appropriate name for a lad with a shot like that) who both scored giving them a brace each 7-0. With an aversion to even number scores Struthers fluffed an easy shot on goal to earn DOD [there was also that special moment in the first half when Struthers rifled a ball over the back line to give away a shorty]. MOM went deservedly to Murray.

Next week they face top table team Grange Development.

Thanks to Michelle for Umpriing