Borders Fhordhus 0
Hillhead 1
NATIONAL LADIES SECOND DIVISION
ON A glorious day for hockey at Tweedbank Astro, the Borders ladies hosted Glasgow side Hillhead.
This match was always going to be a tricky encounter for both teams, and so it proved to be.
The home side started the game more positively than the visitors, but both outfits worked extremely hard to break the deadlock.
During a rather disjointed spell, several plays were stopped either by lack of control or strong defensive tackles.
After 20 minutes, Siobhan Murphy released a wicked ball across the D, which unfortunately was not latched on to. Borders had some good possession and were awarded a penalty corner which the Glasgow side defended easily and, just on half-time, Claire Townsend hit a wicked ball to the back post, but again slow reactions allowed the visitors to clear their lines. Half-time score 0-0.
Hillhead began the second half with more vigour and enjoyed some serious phases of possession.
The Fjordhus midfield tried hard to release the front strikes and Laura McLean had some fantastic runs, but lacked the support to open the scoring.
It was from one of these runs that McLean was upended in the D and came down on her neck. It was clear that she needed treatment, however, the umpire waved play-on and Hillhead went the length of the pitch, and despite some frantic rearguard action, scored the opener from a cruel deflection.
This gave the visitors more confidence and they went all-out to attack. It was only from some fantastic defending by Gemma Ross, who had her best game in a Fjordhus shirt this year, that halted the attacks. Borders never gave up hope, but the final whistle came too soon for them.
Fjordus squad: G. Bradley, P. Bell, G. Ross, E. Newlands, N. Wheallans, K. Cornwall, C. Townsend, D. Fairbairn, S. Murphy, L. Dagg, L. McLean, L. Inglis, S. Mathers.