Champions!

Colts vs Inverleith Development

So the big day had come. I had been trying to keep the rest of the team in the dark about our league position. With only three games left to play the mighty Colts would need to pick up three points from the remaining fixtures, to make sure that we could not be caught by Falkirk. If we missed taking points from this match then our next fixture would be against the men from Falkirk and then things might be getting tight. With the Colts only dropping points to Falkirk, I was keen to get the job done and the cup would be mine, sorry, ours.

Meeting the players at a sunny East Fettes Avenue was a very nice change from the usual cold and wet. Our Ladies 2s had dispatched Grange ladies on the pitch next door, so there was a good feeling around the squad. I managed to brush aside questions of league standings from some of the boys and parents, but when Iain McGillivary caught my eye, we exchanged a look that we both knew this was a big one for the new Watsonians side.

Our previous two matches against Inverleith had been even with some great hockey being played by both teams, the Colts taking all 6 points. The mix of senior and youth players in the Inverleith side was the closest match to our lineup from all the teams in the league. The Colts would be missing a key defender, with Ross Fontana sitting the game out after a damaged finger at training.

The game would start with a fast pace, the Colts being pleased to have a full squad to rotate through. There would be plenty of end-to-end stuff with both sides working the ball well through midfield, letting the forwards close on the goal. Both teams would have chances and the Colts came the closest with Ollie Deane just short of tapping in at the back post after a good breakaway down the right from Roddy Craig, supported well by Dennis Diaz.

Even with both teams having plenty of chances the half would finish 0-0, quite the rarity for the Colts.

After a rousing speech, emphasizing how we, as a team, were stronger, fast and more skillful and how we get stronger as the game goes on, while our opposition get weaker, we would take back to the field with a job to do.

Again the teams would both start well, settling back into the style of play they had ended the first half in. We had talked about trying to shut down the opposition center midfield players and were doing this with some tighter marking. This would leave our forwards to try and capitalize on some prolonged pressure.

Again it would be Deane who would come closest, but this time he would drift onto the back post to slot the ball past the keeper. 1-0 and we had one hand on the league.

Inverleith would start to mount more attacks, with the heat of the day helping the game become stretched. Sam Gibb would need to make a string of fine saves to protect his goal, earning a well deserved man of the match award for his hard work.

The Colts would change formation to sure up the defence and give Gibb a bit of protection. The Colts would have another attempt at goal, with Captain Waugh getting a rush of blood to the head. After not being tracked into the D from a long corner, he found himself alone with the ball, however the squeaky noise of the keepers pads would force him wide and cut the angle too tight.

The final whistle would end the game at 1-0 with the Colts picking up the first silverware for the club and a promotion out of East districts bottoms division.

Thanks to Fraser Munro for hot tailing it across town to umpire the Colts game.

Two games to play with no pressure on the team, so lets see what we can do. All support is welcome for our home game against Falkirk on the 2nd of April @1pm.