Watsonians vs Carnegie

Watsonians arrived in high spirits on a fine sunny day at Tipperlin looking to continue their form from the first few weeks of the season and maintain their record as the only unbeaten team in the league.

This weeks opponents were Carnegie, a team that were sitting comfortably in the top half of the league and had made a solid start to the season. Carnegie's team had also been bolstered by a face familiar to many of the 'Sonians faithful, ex 1st XI coach Callum Wood. Knowing that the former Scotland and Great Britain international would be lining up against them imbued many of the 'Sonians team with an additional drive to perform as they sought to show Woodser how they'd developed without the closely guiding hand of his sometimes esoteric coaching style.

After a typically rousing and expletive-laden team talk from Captain McCurdy, Watsonians started brightly.

Benefitting from a couple of 50/50 umpiring decisions, Sonians won their first short comer. In what is fast becoming a predictable result, Sutherland stepped up and slotted the ball top left, 1-0 Watsonians.

Lining up from the re-start Watsonians were keen to press home their advantage, and their free-flowing high pressing style resulted in another couple of goals in quick succession.

Watsonians continued in dominant fashion for the rest of the half, scoring freely from both open play and set pieces. The only Carnegie chance coming after young Craig Beattie was victim of a fairly viscous physical assault. Despite his Pocock-like stature, Beattie was unable to retain the ball as he was felled to the ground. As Sonians stopped to wait for the inevitable free hit and yellow card, the umpires waved play-on and to the surprise of many, Carnegie found themselves in the D for the first time in the half. A speculative shot, well saved by keeper Luke 'Bella' Campbell rebounded at pace towards his own defensive line. Unable to muster the cat-like reactions for which he is renowned, Butler conceded a short corner as the ball cannoned into his foot. A well executed routine saw Carnegie pull one back.

Half time: Watsonians 7 - Carnegie 1.

Watsonians came into the huddle feeling confident after a solid half of hockey. Determined to press home their advantage, and conscious that with Inverleith and St Andrews both scoring freely goal difference may well decide promotion, the message from captain McCurdy was clear - press on and continue with the form they'd shown in the first half.

Unfortunately, circumstances conspired against the young 'Sonians side and as Carnegie set up determined to slow the game down and break up play, frustration began to creep into the Sonians ranks.

As the game wore on, this frustration led to a couple of unnecessary cards.

As much as many of the men in maroon may have protested, they'll all acknowledge that as good as their performance was in the first half, much of their second half performance left a lot to be desired and moving forward the team will acknowledged a need to not let standards slip.

Final score Watsonians 7 - Carnegie 1

MOM: Craig Beattie

DOD: Will Butler

Match Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0QzA1j_gjQ

By Will Butler