Ach, well. The European play-offs were nice while they lasted, eh?
Both first teams were, in the end, comfortably second best in their respective ties this weekend. The boys lost 7-3 on aggregate to Grange and the girls were beaten 7-0 by Edinburgh University. There were, of course, bright spots from each side but these results probably sum up where we are right now with the third best men's and fourth best women's sides in the country. All things considered that's not bad going in our view.
The guys will be the more disappointed. Their tie with Grange was very close until the last quarter of the second game. Western were never in front at any stage but they were in touch virtually throughout. Having been edged out 2-1 at the death in a first leg they feel they should have won, the boys contested the second leg very strongly before losing 5-2. For fifteen minutes after half-time with the score 2-2 Western looked far the more dangerous side before losing a sucker punch goal and seeing things swing away from them. The fact is, though, that a very solid Grange team were much more ruthless and deservedly go into this weekend's Grand Final.
The girls played extremely well in their games and the 5-0 scoreline at Auchenhowie doesn't really do their performance justice. Indeed, three of the students' goals came in the last few minutes. Wildcats created opportunities but didn’t take them while conceding goals they perhaps shouldn’t have. Echoes of their male counterparts here we feel. They played well again yesterday in the 2-0 defeat at Peffermill. This has been a real breakthrough season for our Women's 1st Team and the important thing is to build on it next year.
The 4th team lost a goal with seconds to go away in Dumfries in what was their best performance of the season to come away with all 1 all draw thus depriving the home team of the league title.Andrew McAllister back from injury had given them the league just after half time.The 4th team finish 4th in the league.
Roll on the club dinner!