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Sunday 22nd Nov - 3pm - Rubislaw
GCW 4ths v RGU 2nds
As this fixture got closer it did start looking like a David and Goliath story - but in true GCW style the girls, and I do mean girls, turned up as the weather was turning for the worse and light was fading rapidly. While waiting for the previous game to conclude the girls had a bonding moment in the port-a-cabin - keeping out of the wind for as long as possible, I however was standing guard near the dugout with the roof - as at the moment Rubislaw have one dugout with a roof and one without - and having stood there for an hour before watching the previous game - I was not for giving up this advantage. The girls eventually re-emerged from the port-a-cabin and commenced with their warm-up in preparation for game, this also gave RGU 2nds the chance to eye up their opposition — and by the looks on their faces they were looking forward to a walk in the park. We will never claim to be the tallest team in the league but you know what they say about small packages — and if ever this was proved right it was on Sunday.
Mike Strachan and Sandy were the umpires on the day and got the game underway as soon as pitch was cleared and warm ups completed. The girls were like terriers from the off — making RGU stand up and take notice as time and time again they ran passed them in a wave of enthusiasm and skill - the first shot on goal was from GCW which also helped warm up their goalie and you could see the change in the oppositions attitude as they became aware of the ability GCW had throughout the team. The game was very much GCW's and RGU did well to keep it at 0 - 0, GCW enjoyed lots of great passing which produced the first goal of the match - the ball was cleared from defence, and picked up by Fances who passed a wonderful ball down the line to Evanna, she then took the ball to the base line and passed a brilliant ball to Laura , Laura controlled the ball and her shot was a joy to watch as sailed passed their goal-keeper - 1 - 0 to the girls confidence was building as they believed this was not by luck but well deserved for the power of work they had put in to the match so far. As we all know the 5 minutes after you have scored is a scary time and you have to stand strong and they did this with RGU pilling on the pressure and getting into their stride and Angharad standing very strong on a few occasions to keep the score at 1 - 0 till half time. The girls hung on and the half-time whistle went - and all were happy to have a breather from what was a confident and organised first half. Some small changes to the team at half-time due to niggling injuries, made no difference to the attitude of the girls as they continued the second half with the same determination as the first - RGU had obviously had time to think how they were going to get this game back and they definately came out with more respect for their opponents and played some lovely hockey and had GCW on the back foot after the break and their pressure was awarded by a goal to them and the game being levelled at 1 - 1. Both teams played some lovely hockey and the game may well have - from an outsiders point of view - had a draw written all over it - but our girls had their own ending to this game. The girls continued working hard standing up for themselves as the tackles were getting a bit more urgent by both sides but whatever we had in our half-time drinks it worked as we added another goal to the game, Emma stepped up and scored a brilliant goal from a well worked penalty corner, lots of noise from the dugout - with the roof - and they ran back to the halfway line not only thinking they could pull this off but believing they could score another one before the final whistle. RGU were having none of it and pressured and pressured getting a couple of short corners as the time was ticking on - but it was to be our day and the biggest cheer of the day was at the final whistle when we all realised we had won 2 - 1. Although one of our more mature Ladies in our team thought we had drawn 2 - 2 and was screaming even louder than ever when she was told it was actually 2 - 1 to us - keep up please Miss Langlands.
I couldn't have been prouder of the girls - they worked hard, played well and came away with a result that we were not expecting but that makes it even nicer when it happens. A huge thank you to the supporters who had arrived after playing and winning their game at Sports Village, to Jenny for being there with her support - as usual - to Sandy for umpiring, to Elise for being my time keeper, for Kirsty West who played in goals at SV and them hot footed it to Rubislaw to play outfield and to all the squad for their huge effort. It had been a tough week of organising and this is what makes it all worthwhile.
Squad on the day was
Angharard, Lisa W, Laura, Frances, Robyn, Morag, Lauren, Flossie, Karen, Evanna, Emma, Jen, Morven, Kirsty W
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