Watsonians 3
Fjordhus Reivers 0
NATIONAL LADIES SECOND DIVISION
REIVERS travelled to Watsonians as the current league leaders and full of confidence after their recent results.
A full playing squad was available but they were without influential coach Janet Jack. The game started at a brisk pace and Reivers found themselves one down within two minutes after a communication error in the defence.
Watsonians were playing a fast, attacking game and several times Reivers found themselves scrambling to clear the danger. Stacey Tennent, in Reivers’ goal, was having a busy afternoon and proved crucial to the Border ladies, making some first class saves. Pressure from the Watsonians team was intense though and Reivers had to revert to bringing captain Pippa Bell back to a sweeper roll to help out the stretched defence.
With half time looming Watsonians won a penalty corner which they duly dispatched to make the score 2-0 to the home team at the break.
Reivers’ heads were down and it was going to take a monumental effort to bring this game back from the dead. Urged on by Bell, Reivers began to play a narrower game, trying to squeeze the home team into making mistakes and it was from a super attacking move from the visitors that Watsonians won possession and went the length of the astro to score on the breakaway.
Reivers had the majority of the possession in the second half but just could not get the goal that they richly deserved. Jackie Wilson had a goal disallowed from a very young and inexperienced umpire who appeared intimidated by the home team players.
The final whistle came and a very despondent Reivers team reflected on what should on paper have been an away win. The squad will need to work hard at training to get over the disappointment and put a sound game plan together for the next two games which are both at home.
Fjordhus Reivers: S. Tennant, C. Townsend, N. Weallans, E. Newlands, P. Bell, Z. Higgins, D. Fairbairn, S. Mathers, M. Cawthorn, J. Wilson, E. Lunn, L. MacLean, L. Polle, K. Millar, L. Inglis, M. Douglas.