The Men's 1s welcomed Grange this weekend for a top of the table clash - level on points, Western were leading National Division 1 on goal difference. Western hadn’t yet been tested by the stronger sides in the league, but were keen to lay down a marker and show that their position in the table is justified.
Grange started well and Western were forced to play deep into their own half during the opening period of the game. Grange’s persistent pressure was rewarded after winning a short corner. However, their routine was played poorly and they turned over the ball, allowing a quick counter-attack in, what is becoming, typical Western style. The ball was fired across the Grange D within seconds where in-form Andrew McConnell deflected the ball across goal and into the net. First blood Western.
Grange came out hard again, feeling that the home side’s lead was against the run of play. They won another corner – this time pulled out for dragflicking specialist Dan Coultas. The defence were strong though, and the ball was kept out.
With the balance of play evening out, a sudden clumsy challenge saw Western down to ten men and Grange seized their opportunity to capitalise. A well-taken finish by Calum MacKenzie brought the visitors level as the whistle was blown for half time.
Grange started the second period well. Western were again pressed back and, eventually, a crack opened and a penalty corner was conceded. This time, Dan Coultas made no mistake as he flicked low and hard into the bottom right corner, taking Grange into the lead.
Western did not let this affect their spirits, however, and started to put an increasing amount of pressure on Grange’s defence. Rob Harwood’s persistence paid off as he pounced on a stray pass. With a defender and the goalkeeper to beat, he rounded both and was fouled in the action, winning a penalty flick. Unnerved by a miss earlier in the season, Harwood made no mistake as he slotted the ball into the bottom left corner from the spot. The scores level again, this time at 2-2.
With little time still left to play, Grange searched hard for a winning goal. A long pass saw Luke Cranney, against his former club, picking up the ball on the right shoulder of Western’s D. With his back to goal, he turned outside, then inside and then outside again before hammering a squeezed front stick shot low across goal. A calm finish which took Grange into the lead with time running out for Western to salvage a point. Western’s captain, Gavin Sommerville, rallied his teammates: “Dig deep Western!”
Western’s calm defence played the ball left and up the side-line to Andrew McConnell, who picked up the ball excellently under pressure from his marker. He faked to turn inside then jinked the ball down the line, passing the defender with ease. Bursting through Grange’s lines, he picked out Owen Jenkins-Garcia on the baseline with an incisive pass. The pair played a one two which saw McConnell bearing down on Grange’s goal, juggling the ball just a yard from the baseline. What happened next may never be forgotten: with practically millimetres to aim for, McConnell fired the ball over the shoulder of the incoming Grange goalkeeper, off the underside of the crossbar and into the side-netting. The home crowd went wild – even the visiting support commended the goal. Absolutely breath-taking.
With just minutes on the clock, the home-side attacked one last time. Joe McConnell picked up the ball deep in his half and weaved his way right and up the side-line, going past three helpless defenders in doing so. He lifted his head and spotted Richard Pollock leading through to the top of Grange’s D and, of course, picked him out with a beautifully weighted pass. Pollock picked up the ball but the goalkeeper read the play and was quickly out to thwart any chance of a winning goal for Western.
The game ended 3-3, leaving them both, and now Kelburne, joint at the top of the table.
The women's 1st team managed to maintain their winning streak this weekend in a hard fought, and rather hectic match against Grange. The girls are keeping a tight grip on their valuable place at top of the National 1 league table, after 5 strong performances.
The game had a scrappy start and it took some time before Alex Stuart converted a well practiced, slick short corner, with a clean strike from Emily Cross leading to a smooth deflection from the near post. The HT score ended at 1-0.
The girls entered the second half with a determined and focused attitude, proceeding to a goal within the first minute of the game. With some excellent passing play between Becky Ward and Emma McDiarmid, Heather Aitkin stole the ball in the circle. Aitkin showed off her silky 3D skills and fast reactions to a good save from the Grange keeper, before placing the ball beautifully to the top left corner of the goal.
During the second half, Grange's attempts to covert chances were strongly denied by outstanding saves from Danie McMurray. As the second half continued, Wildcats looked dangerous in attack and held the majority of possession in Grange's 25. Kaz Cuthbert displayed powerful attacking play, in a short-lived but successful addition to the wildcats forward line.
The last, but far from least goal came from Emma McDiarmid. The ball came from the Wildcats defence, with some great build up play down the right-hand-side. Wardy slipped another brilliant ball into the D for Emma McDiarmid to finish off in a clinical fashion.
The girls look forward to stepping it up next Saturday against a strong Clydesdale side, and aim to keep a hold of their top spot in the table.