Colts vs CALA

Colts vs Edinburgh CALA

The end of the season was upon us. With the hard work from the rest of the season having paid off, the Colts were sat with an unassailable lead at the top of East District 4. We had suffered defeat the week before, but the boys were all keen to get out and have a good final game and see what the long awaited new pitch at Megetland would play like.

We would be starting out with one of the smallest squads of the season, the sun was out, so onto the field we went and the game began.

CALA opened the brightest, picking up a miss placed pass straight from the off. A quick attack into the Sonians half, gave an opportunity, but nothing came close. In contrast to last week’s game, against Falkirk, where the opposition scored in the first few minutes, we would rally and start over straight away and take the game to CALA.

The young Watsonians side would pile on the pressure. A good move down the right had us break into the D. Euan Leask would get a shot at goal from close range, with the CALA keeper only able to turn it into his own net. 1-0.

The sun was making for an enjoyable game, which spurred on the men in maroon. A penalty corner would be converted by Ross Fontana, with a powerful straight strike into the bottom corner. 2-0.

We would maintain good pressure on the home team, working hard to break down any attacks before they could gain much strength. Sam Gibb was only called into action once; to clear a ball that founds it’s way through the tight defence.

We would convert once more before the half, again from a penalty corner and again a goal for Fontana. 3-0 at half time.

We knew that we were well in control of this game. Defending well and attacking often. We talked of being more explosive with our counter attacks and gambling on our ability, over that of our opposite numbers. It would be our last half as a team, so why not go out and enjoy it.

We would start out the second half the way we had finished the first. For some unknown reason Captain Waugh had been singled out for some man marking. With this strange decision, it would give the rest of the midfield more space, if we exploited it properly. The special treatment wouldn’t pay off, when Waugh slapped a long pass up the field, that Murray Cannon picked up on the fly. He drove into the right of the D, being pressed to a tight angle, but with confidence running high the angle wouldn’t stop his shot, which sailed pass the keeper’s near post, into the roof of the net. What a goal. 4-0.

We still were not finished. Confident we could cope with the opposition attacks, we committed men forward. Fontana would turn provider, with a long pass up to Leask, who then danced round two defenders and placed the ball off the keeper’s pads and into the corner. 5-0.

With both Euan and Ross on for a hat trick, we kept on attacking. When we earned another penalty corner, Fontana was the only player that was ever going to hit the strike, “I’ve never scored 3 in a game before!” However with a poor injection as well as a poor stop, he would need to wait (not only to turn 18) until he would have to buy a jug of beer at the clubhouse.

Calum Wood would score our final goal of the season. A trademark big sweep, past the grounded keeper. 6-0 and we liked this new Meggetland astro.

Thanks to Alida for umpiring for us. Man of the match votes went to Ross ‘the rock’ Fontana, for both helping keep our clean sheet, as well as just missing out on his very first hat trick.

With the season all wrapped up I thought it would be good to write a quick team review.

When we started the new Colts side, I was unsure of how would come together as a team, if we could perform against veteran men’s hockey sides. From the first match the squad started to come together. We all have a love of the game, whether your 15 or 55 years old. We started to grow together, with the GWC boys growing with every game; and with that, the results came our way. We went undefeated for the first half of the season, only tasting defeat to our very own M3s, in a friendly Christmas match, though the 6-0 score line didn’t reflect the tone of the game and I’m pretty sure the Colts had the senior players on the ropes in the first half.

With the Christmas break we would lose Fraser Heigh, to the upper reaches of the club. It was amazing to play along side him in center mid; and I think we could all see how gifted a hockey player he was becoming. I’m also not going to forget the number of jugs of beer he owes me when he turns 18, for all those hat tricks he’s scored.

With changes to the team, we were able to see new players join the side, having to rotate the squad on a number of occasions, due to numbers. Every player has grown in ability and confidence, many of the boys rolling into our M4s and M3s when needed, with glowing reviews coming back to me about their performances.

We were the strongest side in the division, but defeat to a solid Falkirk sides would be the only points we would drop in the league, earning us the East District 4 title.

It’s been a great first season for the Colts and with more GWC boys showing interest in the side, we will hopefully continue on, from strength to strength, producing top quality players that will be Watsonians for many years to come.
Great season boys. Well done.

Richard Waugh, proud Colts Captain