The cruellest of endings

Watsonians made the journey West to face Hillhead seeking to make amends for their poor cup performance only 6 days earlier. Having made an excellent start to their league season scoring 14 goals in 3 games they knew that today would be a test of their defensive capabilities as they faced a Hillhead side who had put 5 past them in the cup.

Arriving in Glasgow on a typically bleak November afternoon the team were in high spirits after a tough couple of training sessions mid week where coach Graham ‘Geegio Ranieri’ Stuart had pushed the boys hard, urging them to shake off the disappointment of their cup performance and recapture the form that had propelled them to pole position in the league.

As he got into his pre-match team talk, many in the dressing room were surprised to see that defensive stalwart Butler had been elevated to a more advanced role following a late call off due to illness from Connolly. Time would tell if this would be an inspired decision or one of a man yet to witness the full horror of Butler’s chase-back tackling…

Watsonians started the game well playing calm, composed hockey and finding the accuracy in their passing to exploit the space out wide vacated by a Hillhead side who looked to play a compact game, closing off the inside channels. ‘Sonians strong start was soon rewarded with the first penalty corner of the game. Showing that the young side has strength in depth, up stepped Jack Kinloch to coolly dispatch his effort low and to the keepers right. 1-0 Watsonians.

Further strong attacking play would see ‘Sonians win another two short corners in quick succession. Different player, same result as Scott Sutherland made it 2, and shortly 3-0 from successive penalty corners. 15 minutes in and Watsonians were 3-0 up.

Having struggled to live with the attacking pace of the ‘Sonians wingers, Hillhead adopted different tactics which seemed to pay dividends. 3-0 became 3-3 at half time and the Sonians boys trudged in at the break disappointed that they had let their advantage slip.
 
A suitably robust half time team talk from coach Stuart left the ‘Sonians boys in no doubt what was required as a squad. As good as they had been going forward, as a collective they knew that they needed to strengthen their defensive efforts if they were to get a result from the game.
 
Unfortunately, 10 minutes into the second half and ‘Sonians found themselves 5-3 down after a penalty corner and field goal from Hillhead had quickly given the home side some breathing space.

Needing a response, some slick passing from Watsonians led to a chance for Sutherland to bag his hat trick from the penalty spot after a poor challenge from a Hillhead defender. Sutherland ignored the heckling from the Hillhead ‘Keeper and coolly converted the penalty stroke. 5-4 and the comeback was on.

With time ebbing away and with ‘Sonians continuing to press forward, they knew that they needed an equaliser shortly if they were to get anything from the game. Cometh the hour, cometh the chap. Surprising himself as much as the watching crowd, Butler found himself with the ball in the attacking 25. After winning a foul 5 yards outside the D, he had the presence of mind not to stop to wipe away his nose bleed but to drive quickly past the defender, into the circle and deliver an expertly weighted reverse-stick cross to Michael McKenna who made no mistake in deflecting the ball high into the Hillhead goal.

Both sides continued to play entertaining hockey and push for the victory, and with Hillhead yet to register a win in National 1 and ‘Sonians looking to maintain their perfect start, the free-flowing hockey continued.

Unfortunately, Sonians had not heeded the warnings of the first half, and some poor defensive work led to a sixth Hillhead goal as the momentum in the game shifted once again. ‘

With time running out, ‘Sonians continued to push for the equaliser and with a minute to go, Butler once again found himself close to the edge of the Hillhead D. Delivering a perfectly bobbling ball into the circle at the second attempt, he found young Andrew Katispanos free who stayed cool through the mêlée and bundled the ball over the line for ‘Sonians sixth.

From the restart, Hillhead piled on the pressure as they pushed for the winner. Unfortunately the 'Sonians boys were unable to hold out. Unaccustomed to having to control chest height bodyline reverse stick crosses, ‘Sonians switched off and allowed an unmarked Hillhead attacker to dispatch the winner with seconds remaining and put and end to ‘Sonians perfect start in the league.

Although Watsonians will feel hard done to leave with nothing from the match having played so well for spells of the game, they know that letting a 3-0 lead slip is not acceptable at this level, and will return to the training field ready to increase the intensity again as they prepare to face a strong University of Edinburgh side at Peffermill.

Man of the Match: Will Butler

Dick of the day: Michael McKenna