Ladies take victory in blizzard conditions
A full team of 11 players, with two subs in reserve, earned a well-deserved victory last Saturday against Stepps Ladies 2s at the National Hockey Centre at Glasgow Green with temperatures barely above freezing and occasional white-out conditions.
The match got underway with captain Annie Watts winning the coin toss and choosing the first push back. Play ensued and the first of many strong presses toward the Stepps goal began. Stepps, despite being a player short, had a strong defensive and midfield line and the ball was won and lost by both teams as they settled into the match.
Arran’s defence line of Jenny Stark as sweeper, replacing Cat Galbraith who became unwell on the ferry and returned home, played superbly in what was for her, unfamiliar territory. She was well supported by Elyse Aitken, Freya McNicol, Ellie Wood and Mia Walker who moved seamlessly to cover each other during the flow of play.
Alison ‘Ninja’ McKie’s hardest job on the pitch as goalkeeper was keeping warm as her usual acrobatic ninja style skills were only prevailed upon occasionally. And it was hardly surprising that she was so cold, as the National Hockey Centre’s bright blue water based pitch became as white as snow as hail pelted down with the strong easterly wind bringing blizzard conditions. This made it difficult for the players to see.
As the ball disappeared once again behind the Stepps goal, Arran umpire Pauline Reid replaced the white hockey ball with an orange one as the previous ball kept on blending into its surroundings. However, confusion on the pitch again loomed as players ceased play after hearing what they thought was the Stepps umpire blowing his whistle. When he explained that it had not been him, but an umpire on the second stadium pitch, Stepps were keen to claim a free hit, asserting that an Arran player had stepped on the ball therefore incurring a foul. Arran’s umpire was quick to determine that the player had stopped because she had heard the other whistle and awarded a bully off as the fairest way to restart the match, this was endorsed by the Stepps umpire.
Arran won the ball and quickly pushed into the shooting ‘D’ where they were able to secure a short corner from a Stepps foul. The first strike from captain Annie Watts at goal was saved by the Stepps goalkeeper. However, the rebound was picked up by young Mia Walker who, swooping low, executed her signature reverse stick sweep, firing the ball into the goal taking Arran to a one-nil lead at the half time whistle.
As the players returned to the pitch in the second half the sun came out from behind the clouds and the snow melted. As the second half progressed the Stepps team strengthened their defensive line making it more difficult for the attacking forwards Lorraine Hewie, Captain Anne Watts and Helen Thomson to penetrate. Frustratingly, Arran were unable to capitalise on the many short corners they were awarded and unable to convert shots into goals. However, the Arran mid-field line were quick to return balls into the opposition’s shooting ‘D’ with some excellent switch plays from Susie Murchie, Hazel Malakoty, Megan McNicol and Hannah McCartney, moving the ball from one side of the pitch to the other making it very difficult for the host team to cover the area of play. During play young Freya McNicol sustained an injury when a deflected ball hit her face, she was escorted off the pitch to receive first aid - but in true Amazonian warrior style, was back on the pitch in no time.
Towards the end of what had been a very frustrating half, vice captain Lorraine Hewie finally managed to break through the Stepps defence executing an accurate sweeping shot into goal putting Arran ladies two up.
At the final whistle the score was Stepps 0, Arran Ladies 2. Stepps awarded Ellie Wood with dame of the game for her excellent ball control skills and quality gamesmanship.
The Arran Ladies are playing their final game of the season tomorrow (Sunday) at GHK 3s home ground at Glasgow High Kelvinside Sports Club at Old Anniesland with pass back at 1.30pm. The team would like to thank Pauline for umpiring throughout season and are looking forward to getting her back on the pitch on Sunday. All supporters will be very much appreciated and warmly welcomed.