Ghouls and Goals

On the day when Arsenal crushed Tottenham in the Premiership, a different derby was happening at Peffermill, as Watsonians brought their first two teams to jostle with Edinburgh’s two top teams, fresh from high-scoring contests midweek, on Club Day.

The 2nds played first, off the back of a 4-4 draw with Stirling, against a ‘Sonians 2nds trounced 0-8 by Kelburne the previous weekend. Edinburgh had five clear-cut chances in the first ten minutes, with the opposition playing safety-first hockey to give them respite from their own topped passes and mishits. Sustained pressure brought Edinburgh’s first goal, as James Styles’ shot thwacked against the post, with James Toogood Lineker-like in his positioning to knock home the rebound.

’Sonians were lumbering, as physical imposition alone was useless against a skidding ball. The away team were best on the turf, though their distribution was atrociously poor: their scoops forward cut out sublimely by Edinburgh. Moments of midfielders’ magic, dancing like Astaire and using their sticks as a fencer uses a rapier, were equal to their defence’s floundering, too often uncomfortable under pressure. One of their number urgently called for the pitch to be watered at half-time; he promptly slipped at the start of the second.

This didn’t perturb the home side, whose accurate passing was all too often let down by poor finishing. A good double save from the ’Sonian keeper kept the score inexplicably tight at half-time, knowing that his side needed one stroke of luck (or genius) to level the game. A rainbow, created from the sunlight refracted off the sprinklers’ jets, appeared in the half Edinburgh were about to defend. Coelho acolytes wondered whom would benefit from the omen. It appeared to go ’Sonians’ way; they forced Sam Trett into action after great build-up play, then were inches away from contact two minutes later. Better followed ten minutes into the half; after sloppy Edinburgh play, a short corner was finished with confidence for the tying goal. What seemed like half a second later, following Toogood’s fine attempt, Styles caught Linekeritis himself, tapping in on an advantage played from a short corner. 2-1. Then 2-2; Trett’s idiotic rush from goal left his goal unattended, and the ’Sonian forward finished with ease. The away side had attained possession from what looked like a lunged challenge by one of their taller players, which went unpenalised.

An excellent run from Edinburgh’s Ben Tracey was pulled up due to a collision which forced the ’Sonian man off the field and the same player’s mazy run brought another excellent save. Defense was as good as attack for the home team, with Stuart Fraser adeptly getting stick on ball in a two-on-two that could have turned the game further, and another player dribbling half the field, losing the ball, chasing back, winning the ball and passing it to the wrong man within ten seconds. He played like a man possessed and inspired his team in the closing minutes of the match, in which were scored two quick goals. The first was forced in by Neil McNiven, much the same way as their second goal; Edinburgh’s fourth, after an alchemical pass by Jos North, was knocked in by Toogood after a goalmouth scramble after Tracey’s shot. Gleeful celebrations for the home side, as the towering giants of Watsonians laid low.

Final Score: University of Edinburgh 2nd XI 4-2 Watsonians 2nd XI

Andy Duke, the 1st XI number 9, told The Journal about the crucial ten days ahead, with this match the last but one before the National League 1 splits in half:

“If we win both our remaining [pre-split] games we will get into the top six (1A), the highest position the University has ever achieved in Scottish Hockey. Our final game is against Hillhead (based in Glasgow), who are in exactly the same position as us with two games remaining. The beauty of it all – you probably aren’t as excited about all this as I am – is that my brother (defender Calum), our goalie David Forrester and I all used to play for Hillhead.”

The 1st XI, with a perfect record in the Scottish Universities League thus far, met Watsonians’ first team without dazzling Fraser Hirst but with confidence and a home support of sixty-odd. The sky sparkled and the air was crisp as the teams exchanged sloppy, over hit passes and words with the referee.

Edinburgh taught the opposition a lesson in cross-field movement, the fullbacks hugging the touchlines and supporting the wide players adroitly. With ’Sonians slow to retreat, an Edinburgh short corner seemed to be a very short corner; whether it was a mishit or a training ground routine is inconclusive after two similarly wasteful corners later in the game. Edinburgh’s number seven Andrew Campbell eventually forced the first meaningful save of the game with a powerful shot and an away side’s player was issued a green card for a cynical push, the penalty from the offence wasted again; perhaps the atmosphere of Club Day, with music blaring during stoppages, put them off.

David Forrester’s super stop with his feet proved a bulwark against the away team’s attacks, with Edinburgh’s defence taking risks with their passes. All, however, were generally outstanding, and the clean sheet is testament to the quality of players and their drive – centre-half and blue-booted Callum Duke’s “hit it flat, you idiot!” was audible even on the Seconds’ pitch. Upfront, ghostly runs to the back stick nearly reaped dividends, and a short corner (properly taken) brought a decent save. Half an hour in, work by Jay Harman down the right fed Paul Herron, whose parried shot was fired back in across goal by Callum Duke for a well-taken tap-in by Harman himself. 1-0. The referee revealed at half-time that the initial cross-cum-shot was going wide so his finish was more than a poacher’s finish.

Another loose set of exchanges, with no side holding the ball, started the second period and one sensed genius would create the next goal. Taking down a scooped pass, Paddy Thompson skipped past two men, drew the keeper and finished with aplomb; 2-0, chimed the backboard. Cue music, mayhem and, on the pitch, Edinburgh pressing for a third, Watsonians forced to crowd the home side out to prevent any further penetration. Forrester, impregnable as ever, saved well twice with his hands and kicked the ball away with his feet like a virtuoso goalie appalled by challengers. He was mainly untested this half, thanks to shoring up by Duke and Duncan Birse. Two great blocks and a silky dribble by Neil Fulton were also admired. A trip on an Edinburgh forward brought another splendid save from the opposition goalie, whose skills were manifest here in addition to a few ’Sonians outfield players who, though excellent in build-up play, failed to gel in the important part of the turf. With ten minutes left, yellow-booted Andrew Duke’s control down the left (redeeming a pretty torrid afternoon) fed Thompson who pushed it onto “Soupy” Campbell who added the crucial third goal, as the match petered out with more fluffed corners and decent saves at either end.

In hockey, as in chess, one has to ‘think’ the win, not muscle people out, and the small, pace-centric Edinburgh side deserve a great season. Who needs Fraser Hirst when they play like Geoff Hurst?

Final Score: University of Edinburgh 1st XI 3-0 Watsonians