All three Helensburgh Hockey Club sides in action in full fixture card

The 1s XI had had a good restart to the campaign last week with a 2-1 win over Dumfries and were looking to continue that over a GHK side who had won the teams’ previous meeting.

Rob Heywood, Gordon Black, and Mike Jones dominated the midfield and the chances soon started coming, with Jamie Caulfield showing quick thinking to knock the ball home after Gordon Black’s shot was saved into a GHK defender on the line as players from both teams paused in expectation of hearing a whistle, with the visitors’ complaints ignored by the umpires.

Helensburgh’s domination continued and after a series of short corners went unrewarded, Bowyer added a second at the back post just before half-time after his own short corner was met by Gordon Black.

GHK had a good spell of their own at the start of the second half, with Mark Findlay making a number of smart saves, but his hopes of a clean sheet were dashed when the visitors scored a simple goal after Gavin McWilliam slipped while taking a free hit.

McWilliam had to go off injured, with the resulting Helensburgh reshuffle opening the game up as GHK pressed for an equaliser, leaving space at the back for the hosts to push forward.

Gavin McWilliam (Image: Helensburgh Hockey Club)

Helensburgh had several chances to finish the game off, but Gavin Mackenzie, Barry Cox and Jamie Caulfield came close without success; thankfully, though, the home side didn’t rue those missed chances as they saw out a 2-1 victory.

Team: Mark Findlay; Harry Green; Gavin McWilliam; Rob Heywood; Ian Bowyer (MoM) (1); Gordon Black (c); Mike Jones; Gavin Mackenzie; Sean Caulfield; Ewan McCartney; Barry Cox; Leo Caulfield; Jamie Caulfield.

Burgh’s second XI stayed top of Division 3 after a dramatic late goal secured a 3-2 win away to Clydesdale.

The visitors went into half-time 1-0 up after an excellent effort by young star Henri Ruff, with strong defending and excellent goalkeeping by Craig Keith keeping the Helensburgh goal intact.

Toby Barrie made it 2-0 after the interval following a fine move started by David McGregor and finished by a fine ball into the back post by Daniel Dooley.

Andrew Brimson’s shot ricocheted off the post from a Thomas Harris pass as Helensburgh went in search of the goal that would have killed the game off, but as the visitors began to tire, some sloppy hockey let in Clydesdale for two quick goals.

With the wind in Clydesdale’s sails, and the Helensburgh holding operation becoming ever more desperate, a goal out of nowhere won the game for the visitors, with Ruff winning the ball deep in the Burgh half and picking out Gavin Gettings with a long, searching ball, and the experienced Gettings kept his head to round the keeper to score seconds before the final whistle.

Gavin McKenzie (Image: Helensburgh Hockey Club)

Team: Craig Keith (MoM); Logan Hill; Gavin Gettings (1); David O’Donnell; Gordon Caulfield; David McGregor (c); Henri Ruff (1); Thomas Harris; Daniel Dooley; Andrew Brimson; Toby Barrie (1); Paul Moore; Yannick Cowey.

Helensburgh’s third XI had a tougher time of it against Hillhead at Hermitage Academy, with early chances for Mark Findlay and Benji Jones proving a false dawn as the visitors opened up a 3-0 interval lead before adding two more in the second half.

Despite the result it was more valuable experience for the young team, who continue to improve each week – and with more than 35 names on the three Helensburgh teamsheets it was a good day for the club all round.

Team: James Pettit; Andy Richardson (c); Mark Findlay; James Steel; Ed Hall; Lucas Jardine; Callum Court; Elijah Brown; Benji Jones (MoM); Harris McKechnie; Liam MacKinnon; Cameron McKay.

Thanks to Andy Richardson, Dick Schooling, John Friel and Ian Bowyer for umpiring.

Today, February 4, Helensburgh’s first XI travel to take on Kelburne; the second XI are at home to Uddingston, and the third XI are on the road to face Greenock.