Kelburne Men's 5s Beat GHK 2s 4-1

17.11.18 - On a clear bright sunny day under a cloudless blue sky the men’s 5th team walked on to pitch 1 at Glasgow Green looking to pick up another 3 points to add to their excellent tally of points gained so far this season, having moved up a division from last year.
The 5th team had a slightly different make up today with Jared Boland and Charlie Feeney moving up to the 4s to try to help them continue their unbeaten run of results they are having this season. In addition several regular 5s players were unavailable for today’s match.
The 5s have a terrific blend of youth from Tom Hunt 10 and Andrew McGrane 11 up to the ever young Peter Robertson and Alan Bryce who were all playing today. There can’t be many teams in any sport that play with such an age range!
GHK2s have struggled to put out a team in recent weeks having conceded several of their matches to the opposition.
They may have regretted not also conceding today’s game as it was painful for them in more ways than one.
The game started with kelburne pinning GHK back into their own half and GHk finding it difficult to string together any passing moves due to the high press from the kelburne forwards and midfield.
Dick Donaldson was typically dominant in midfield, winning tackles and building up play from all areas of the park. Hamish Walker, picked to play in a central midfield role today, after having an excellent game at left back last week, put in another great performance turning the GHk players inside out and linking up with short clever passes to the Kelburne forwards.
Sam Hunt having recovered from a sickness bug just 24 hours earlier continued his good run of form by keeping possession well and using his bag of tricks to get the ball into the oppositions D.
GHK were unable to cope with the style and quality of hockey that kelburne we’re playing , lots of one twos and linking up play that allowed kelburne to get the ball moving quickly all over the pitch with the opposition chasing shadows under the midday sun.
This sustained period of good play led to several short corners for kelburne which finally created an opportunity for the young and ever sharp young Andrew McGrane to grab the first goal with a quick strike of the ball as it fell handily at his feet. Andrew’s has got off to a great start in his first season playing for the 5s and plays with great confidence and hunger.
Not long after a second goal followed from Hamish Walker with some great stick skills allowing him to weave his way into the D and take an accurate shot at goal which beat the GHk keeper.
Another goal almost followed immediately after with a superb pass from wide on the left from Alan Bryce across the face of goal which was picked up well by Tom Hunt who managed to lose his marker but couldn’t quite get his shot away before being closed down by a second defender.
A third goal was scored in the first half for Kelburne with Hamish Walker again coming to the fore and having a superb game.
The discipline of the GHK side gradually got worse as the game wore on and at the start of the second half it deteriorated further as more pressure was applied from kelburne.
A 4th goal was scored early at the start of the second half, with Andrew McGrane grabbing his second goal of the match.
A great move from a free hit on the right side of the GHK 25 involving Dick and Rory Donaldson led to kelburnes 5th goal with a great strike from Rory Donaldson finishing the move off.
Unfortunately after a long chat between both umpires the goal was chalked off and a free hit to GHK awarded.
At this point it looked as though kelburne might run riot and the GHk team were struggling to gain any foothold in the game.
Out of the blue and following a lack of concentration in the Kelburne defence GHk managed to grab a goal back from almost their only opportunity in the game so far.
Not long after this a GHk defender slipped while trying to tackle a very slippery Rory on the right wing. It was apparent to all that he had suffered a very serious injury possibly a fracture or broken ankle. The game was stopped and an ambulance was called to take the injured player to hospital.
The game ended at this point with Kelburne leading 4-1.
Good performances today from Jack Nelson and Andrew Stewart sharing the right back position and both playing with calmness and maturity . Nicholas Knox and Calum Jamieson sharing the left mid position and both linking up well the kelburne forwards. Young Rory Donaldson on the right of midfield who looks like he has been playing that position for years and who had another good game.
The youngest player on the pitch Tom Hunt who never stopped running or chasing defenders down.
Andrew McGrane notching up another 2 goals to add to his tally this season.
All young kids who were playing without fear and with lots of confidence against a team full of adult players.
They continue to surprise the other teams in the league each week with their skill levels, teamwork and work ethic.
The blend of youth and experience of the kelburne 5s continues to march on against Giffnock 2s next week at 12.0 o’clock at Glasgow Green.