Narrow victory for Oban men’s team
Oban men's hockey team travelled to Hermitage Academy last weekend to take on Helensburgh's second team, one of the strongest teams in West Division 3.
Grant Matheson and Daniel Davidson made their debut with great effect on the wing and up front respectively. With some of the team playing out of their usual positions, the match did not start well for Oban with Helensburgh scoring an early goal.
Oban showed resilience and strength of character though to maintain formation and attack with a high press and good link-up from midfield leading to goals from Andrew Hodge, Stuart Head and Daniel Davidson before half time.
In the second half, Theo Andrews continued to lead the midfield with superb attacking and link-up play with wingers Jensen Binnie, Donald Histead and Grant Matheson.
Ryan Jones put in a tremendous shift at the unfamiliar position of centre back, with a block tackle tally which would rival a rugby score. Asher Petit at left back made some magnificent jab tackles halting several Helensburgh offensives.
The pressure mounted as the game entered the final 15 minutes.
Helensburgh scored a second goal and were clearly in no mood for giving up easily on their home ground.
Lorne Binnie and George Gauley at centre and right back and Andrew Head in goal worked tirelessly to keep the Helensburgh attacks at bay.
A short corner in the Oban ‘D' in the dying seconds of the match gave Helensburgh a chance to level, but the Oban defence held solid and the final score was 3-2 to Oban
Ash Petit was man of the match this week with superb tackling on the wing.
Thanks to Julie McGlynn for umpiring. Next weekend, the Oban men head to Lomond School to play the Helensburgh men's third team.