Three - nil to Arran Ladies Hockey

With 11 players and a substitute captain, Lynda Fenton returned to her position in midfield alongside Mia Walker and junior club player Eirlys Bowen. 

Team Coach Lorraine Hewie stepped into centre forward on the attacking line and was joined by Stella Brunasso-Cassinino and Connie Watts, also junior club players, on her wings.

Suzi Haddow was in goals, with Lee Reid as her sweeper and Kaitlyn Haddow, Anne Watts and Marie Craig on her defensive line.  Junior player, Eva Curley was the substitute ready to supply fresh legs for her teammates.  Pauline Reid was the umpire for the Arran Ladies.

Settling into the game both sides showed impressive skills on the ball, player passing and strong sprints towards the opposition goals.  It was not until the second quarter that Lorraine was able to take Arran into the lead from a hard fought penalty short corner.  

However, it was very much a game for the Arran midfielders, with Lynda and Mia both heavily marked by two or even three Uddingston players. Staying cool and composed Lynda executed excellent control of the ball, dragging her players left and right before finding the space she needed to pass the ball to her teammates.  Mia became the master of the flick and run as, when under such defensive pressure, she flicked the ball through legs, under sticks or round the player, then sprinting forward to collect the ball before taking the clear shot upfield to the attacking forwards. And junior club player, Eirlys, used her great sprints to leave anyone marking her looking at her back.  With quick stop and spins, she was able to pass the ball in all directions away from the Uddingston players.

Coming back after half time and winning the battle for the ball in the home team’s goal zone, Arran received another short corner penalty when the ball struck a defenders foot.  Stopping the ball she received from Lorraine at the top of the “D”, Mia sent a cracking rocket shot past the keeper and over the line. Perfect!

Uddingston upped the pressure by increasing their numbers towards the Arran goal where Kaitlyn showed once again how much she had made the centre back defensive position her own.  Able to cross the pitch so quickly, she intercepted threatening challenges from running forwards, plucked balls away between players and spun round any home player who managed to get near her.  All the time looking for her teammates or spaces to shoot the ball away from the Arran goal area. 

The last of Arran’s 3 goals, came after a dangerous challenge by the goalkeeper on Lorraine, who had swept past the home defence and was going one-on-one with the keeper.  With a planned change of direction, Lorraine moved the ball to the right, but the keeper was unable to stop and crashed into Lorraine as she followed the ball, taking her off her feet.  Umpire Pauline, immediately blew the whistle to stop time and check on Lorraine to make sure was okay.  Made of hardy stuff, Lorraine had gotten back to her feet and said yes she was.  Then moving into position to take the Penalty Flick awarded to her, where she faced the keeper to take a one shot hit at goal, she waited for the whistle then whipped the ball past the keeper and into the goal.

The score stayed at 3-Nil to Arran when the final whistle blew.

The home team provided some lovely soup, sandwiches and teacakes for the Arran Ladies to take away with them as their Coast to Coast driver, Euan, got them back to Troon to catch the ferry with 5 minutes to spare.

Although Dame of the Games votes were received for so many players, Captain Lynda was able to tell the team that once again Kaitlyn had the most and was able to wear the DotG Tiara once more.  Pauline followed this by then announcing that Lynda herself had received Player of the Match from the Uddingston team, for the all fabulous work she had put in mid-field.  Both players received rousing cheers from their teammates.

The team are away to play Kelburne 3’s at the ON-X Centre in Paisley next Sunday, March 8.

 Push back is 1.15pm and any supporters who can come along to cheer on the team will be much appreciated and warmly welcome.