Oban come out on top in seven-goal thriller
BELEAGURED player-manager Alistair Burton survived another week as Oban returned to form.
Oban hockey club men’s team travelled to Helensburgh on Saturday to play Hillhead in a ‘home’ fixture. Waterlogged pitches in Oban have resulted in Oban’s recent home games being played on the artificial surface at Lomond school in Helensburgh.
The squad have shown good dedication in travelling south every weekend but the side had lost the last two games and pressure was mounting on Oban to secure the win.
In their first ever league season Oban have so far scored first in every game and Saturday was no exception. The game started at a quick tempo with Oban pressing high and forcing errors from the Hillhead defence. Only three minutes into the first half Alistair Burton capitalised on a poor pass driving to the edge of the circle and scoring with a good back hand strike.
Hillhead are an experienced side and going a goal down did not appear to unsettle them. With the ball back in play Hillhead succeeded in slowing the tempo and gradually increasing the pressure on the less experienced Oban midfield and defence.
Mounting pressure from the youthful Hillhead attackers exposed cracks in the Oban defence. In an all-too-familiar pattern Oban conceded three goals in quick succession going 3 -1 down inside 20 minutes.
In previous games Oban have struggled to turn losing score lines around but vocal leadership from Alistair Burton and Tristan Le Carré in defence galvanised Oban who regained composure for the final 15 minutes of the first half. Gradually Oban started to deliver on some of the promise shown on the training ground. Hard work in mid field from George Gauley and the Sanders’ brothers led to two excellent goals from 11-yearold striker Jack Johnston. The teams went into half time with the score at three-apiece.
The second half was grittier than the first with both teams determined not to concede. Superior strength and fitness allowed Oban to exert long periods of pressure on Hillhead and eventually Zef Petit took Oban back into the lead skilfully diverting an aerial cross-field pass beyond the Hillhead keeper. Oban played out a tense final few minutes to win 4-3.
Oban travel to Helensburgh next Saturday for another ‘home’ game against Ayr.