M1s vs Strathclyde University Mens Hockey Club Mens 1

Match report:

As a disclaimer, your reporter hit himself with the ball in the face in the first quarter... some details may be hazy.

The rain stayed off at Stepps playing fields, though it had left the surface slippy for the match against Strathclyde Uni. Falkirk and Linlithgow were optimistic after a strong performance against Granite City Wanderers the previous week, while the students had had a tough start to the season, with a heavy loss to Perthshire. Fines master Jeffrey was absent, but Jonny ably and enthusiastically filled the role for the week.

The game started at a high pace, with the students running hard and creating space down the centre. However, it was the men in blue who opened the scoring, with captain Stu McNeil finishing low to the right of the keeper after a quickly taken free by Connor. 

Strathclyde leveled the scoring from a penalty corner deflected by Bloomer into Kinnear, before a strong reverse finish.

Falkirk and Linlithgow calmed the game down with some slick passing moves in the second quarter. The pressure paid off as Fish passed to Jonny at top D, who hit the target (via the keepers toe sending the ball into the top of the net).

After the half time break, the students upped their intensity, drawing level through a scrappy goal, taking advantage of a confusion in our midfield to gain an overload. They then took the lead with a drag flick that wrong footed Conall in nets. Falkirk and Linlithgow pressed hard in the fourth quarter, creating scoring chances and short corners. Unfortunately none really troubled the Strathclyde keeper and the game finished a 3-2 win to the students.