Dumfries travelled to Clydesdale with little expectation to face unbeaten top of the
league. The red men were riddled with unavailability, with BBW’s priorities lying with
watching rugby, Ed and Willy faking injuries, and Kai, Scott & Colin nowhere to be
seen.

It was a rapid start from the visitors when F BROWN found M MCFARLANE in the D
who saw his first time effort hit the backboard with a neat finish. Dumfries continued
this fast start further when superstar A GILMER’s quick thinking found himself
playing a flawless ball through to wonder kid F STEELE, who matched his cute
personality with a cute finish at the near post. 0-2.
Clydesdale would respond in the first quarter after a short pass at the back left the
Streamlined Shark STOTT, in no man’s land, missing his last ditch tackle and the
forward lifted the ball over sliding E OAKES. Dumfries quickly restored the 2-goal
advantage with liquid hockey. Slick passes found M MCFARLANE at the back post
who slotted home. Into the second quarter and Clydesdale capitalised on a short
conceded by A STAPLETON, bringing it back to a 1-goal game.
HT - 2-3.
Clydesdale came out of the blocks firing in the second half, testing the back four of A
STOTT, A STAPLETON, F MURRAY, and T MACKLIN, but they held firm, along with
brilliant play in the midfield from J AITKEN, R CARSON and A GILMER, kept the
home side at bay. The red men’s efforts paid off after a tricky run from F STEELE
won the visitors a short, where M MCFARLANE shifted the ball quickly to A GILMER
who flicked the ball into the opposite top corner. Outstanding Son!
Positive words were said in the 2 minute quarter break, and the words keep it
sensible were echoed by VP J AITKEN. It would’ve been good if those words were
taken on board by all but two members of the squad, with one being the man who
said the words, as both J AITKEN and A GILMER were both shown green cards.
Nice on James! In their absence, utility man F STEELE took one for the team,
stepping back into the midfield role, putting in a vital challenge at the back before
bullying his way through a barrage of sticks with his tidy stick work. Dumfries started
the final quarter very quickly, just like the first, where A GILMER won the ball in
midfield and played a good pass through to M MCFARLANE who slotted the ball
once again past the keeper. 2-5.
Despite the big push from Clydesdale, Dumfries managed to hold them off from
equalising, where they scored 2 goals from shorts but were unable to find that last
goal.

FT- 4-5.