Hockey ladies hit summit

Patience is proving to be a virtue – and a matchwinner – for East Kilbride firsts’as they recorded their second win in two weeks to go top of West District Division One.

The Topek-sponsored side had a great start to their home match against Giffnock Ladies and were thwarted only by some outstanding saves from the visitor’s number one.

Towards the end of the first half the visitors had their tails up and only some off-target shooting and a couple of timely saves from Mairi Macdonald kept the score at 0-0.

In the second half EK showed much more maturity, keeping possession and waiting until the pass was on before releasing. With Fiona Williamson in midfield linking well with wingers Shona Kinloch and Jane Kelly the home side bided their time.

Paula Richmond, Iona MacDonald and opposition Player of the Match Sheona Hutchison, proved tricky customers up front for the visitors and seven minutes in to the half Hutchison got the opener from a short corner. Her initial shot was saved but she was on hand to slot in the rebound off a defender’s stick.

Five minutes later Sally Hall set up Williamson and she placed a great strike into the left hand corner to make it 2-0.

Sonya Andrews then added the icing on the cake with a terrific strike from a short corner on the 50-minute mark.

The only blot on the copybook in the second half came two minutes from time as Giffnock got their consolation goal, a strike from the top of the D deflected past the goalie from a defender’s stick.