Hockey ladies landsixof thebest

A dominant performance – and plenty of goals – from East Kilbride helped them ease into the third round of the Scottish District Plate on Saturday.

The Topek-sponsored side started brightly and would have been two goals to the good had the keeper not made some excellent saves to keep the score at 0-0 early on.

Alison Alexander was doing a power of work in midfield, and there was plenty of room on the wings as EK got in to a great passing game.

But it was Julianna Murciano who got the breakthrough five minutes from half-time, as she popped up to see the ball over the line.

In the second half EK improved considerably. Sonya Andrews’ goal from a short corner after 10 minutes opened the floodgates.

Andrews was instrumental in the third, selling the defender a dummy before passing across goal for Paula Richmond to thump in.

She then made it 4-0 after Murciano crossed for her to score.

Aberdeen did spend some time in EK’s 25 but were shut out – with keeper Clair Ormond hardly troubled.

EK got back in the driving seat, winning a short corner which Fiona Williamson stopped and slipped to Katie Stewart to score.

The final goal arrived five minutes from time - and it was a fine team effort.

The ball travelled from defence to Jane Kelly who threaded a neat ball for Stewart to collect just outside the D. Fiona Bond was waiting at the back post and ably steered the resulting pass in to the goal to cap a good day’s work.