Oban win league title at first attempt
OBAN Men’s 1 met second from bottom team Clydesdale Men’s 5 on Saturday. The difference in league standing was soon apparent.
Oban knew that a win would see them league champions so right from the outset they were on the front foot. This
Team Oban
Ayr Hillhead Giffnock Dumfries Clydesdale East Kilbride
Played 11 10 10 10 10 11 10
Points 25 17 16 13 13 5 3 was no foregone conclusion as availability of players for a club’s fifth team is always uncertain. On this occasion Clydesdale fielded many young players who although skilful and determined were no match for the Oban team. They would always be second when it came to speed and stamina. In addition Clydesdale opted to use a kicking back goalkeeper which left them more vulnerable in defence.
It took only a couple of minutes before the Oban passing and movement created a shot at goal: it went wide of the post. A minute or so later another shot went the wrong side of the upright. Was this going to be one of those games where all the chances went begging?
Eventually the endeavour paid off and the Oban account was opened. Throughout the first half Oban pressed and converted most of their on-goal chances. Clydesdale were not bad in possession and while they did venture into the Oban half the solid defence regained the ball and initiated fluent passing back towards the opposite D.
Clydesdale demonstrated that they were not overawed by the onslaught and towards the end of the half scored probably the goal of the match; a reverse stick shot under pressure from the defender on the edge of the D which flew at head height into the back of the net.
At half time Oban had netted eight goals to Clydesdale’s one.
In the second half there were fewer misses and the eventual tally for the half was 11.
Scorers were Ali Burton - 7, Stuart Head – 7, Lorne Binnie – 3, George Gauley – 1, Theo Andrews – 1.
Man of the match went to Lorne Binnie, one of Oban’s new players – new to hockey this season – who scored a firsthalf hat trick.
This was a dominant Oban display, but the attitude and clubhouse welcome of the Clydesdale players was a credit to them.