Borders Fjordhus Reivers I 1
Glasgow High Kelvinside 4
NATIONAL LADIES’ FIRST DIVISION
REIVERS I welcomed the Glasgow side that are currently top of the division to Tweedbank on Saturday.
On a beautiful, but very cold, day for hockey it was the visitors who struck the first blow on four minutes. A sweeping move saw Reivers’ midfield at sixes and sevens and unable to block the route towards goal. A simple shot slipped in to the net.
Unable to gain or hold onto possession, Reivers were frequently left exposed at the back and, on 17 minutes, the visitors scored their second goal from some slick play.
Unfortunately, Reivers’ formation and zones had gaping holes and the attacking set plays of GHK penetrated frequently through the lines. It was only through some last-ditch defending by Janet Jack, Emily Newlands, Claire Townsend and Denise Fairbairn that the home team managed to keep the score at 0-2 until half-time.
After receiving some stern words from coach Jack, Reivers started the better of the two teams after the break, trying hard to create chances and gain any sort of possession. Things continued to work against them, however, and after a period of pressure on the visitors’ goal it was the Reivers who lost out as GHK countered and added a third at the opposite end.
Now in a confident mood, GHK played some fantastic hockey, although it seemed to the supporters that Reivers made them look good. Soon after, the Glasgow side scored what could be the goal of the season, starting from defence and after three passes ending in the back of the goal past a dejected Stacey Tennant.
With time running out, Jack moved into midfield to try and create opportunities further up the pitch and released an aerial ball to Martha Douglas, who slipped to Elena Lunn, who coolly struck the ball past the visiting keeper to score a consolation goal.
Fjordhus Reivers I: S. Tennant, J. Jack, E. Newlands, C. Townsend, D. Fairbairn, J. Wilson, P. Bell, K. Millar, E. Lunn, M. Douglas, L. Inglis, L. McLean, Z. Higgins and S. Mathers.