Helensburgh Hockey Club's first XI triumphs in shoot-out drama

Helensburgh started the far better side in the midweek tie, taking an early lead when Mike Jones created space inside the D to find the net with a smashing reverse stick effort that was too fast for the goalkeeper to react.

Burgh kept the pressure on and doubled their lead when captain Gordon Black, on his 300th appearance from the club, rifled home a drag flick after Mark Ormsby met an Ian Bowyer penalty corner.

The home side should have added a third, with Jones coming close again, but Rottenrow got a foothold in the game as half-time approached and halved the deficit just before the interval from a well-worked short corner.

The second half started as the first had, with Helensburgh dominating, and it wasn’t long before the home side re-established their two-goal lead, Ewan McCartney creating space for himself down the left wing and dragging defenders with him before dropping the ball back for Harry Green to score.

But Rottenrow refused to throw in the towel, and after a spell of pressure on the home defence the visitors netted their second from another short corner.

Burgh weren’t without chances late in the game, though, as both Gavin Mackenzie and Jamie Caulfield had one on one chances with the Rottenrow keeper, but the keeper came out on top. Jones also had an excellent chance to re-establish the two-goal cushion but fired agonisingly wide.

As the game neared its end, Rottenrow secured themselves a late penalty corner which Findlay made another triple save. However, Rottenrow’s fourth attempt was saved on the line by a Burgh defender which resulted in a penalty flick.

Rottenrow managed to score and bring the game to 3-3 as the final whistle went. This meant the game would go to penalty flicks. Black was up first for Helensburgh and coolly dispatched from the spot. Rottenrow equalised before Rob Heywood squeezed it in to take it to 2-1. Findlay was equal to Rottenrows second flick, whilst Jones put his flick wide leaving it at 2-1. Rottenrow then went wide before Callum Sumsion scored for Burgh taking it to 3-1. A save from Findlay for Rottenrow’s fourth saw Helensburgh win the shoot out and go on to the semi-finals.

Helensburgh team: Mark Findlay (MoM); Ian Bowyer; Rob Heywood; Harry Green; Leo Caulfield; Gordon Black (c) (1); Mark Ormsby; Callum Sumsion; Ewan McCartney; Sean Caulfield; Jamie Caulfield (1); David McGregor; Gavin Mackenzie; Mike Jones (1)

First XI v Rottenrow (Saturday, February 11)

Mark Findlay was the first XI's penalty hero (Image: Helensburgh Hockey Club)

The first XI faced Rottenrow again on Saturday, looking to go one better than the mid-week cup game. It started positively for Burgh again as they were on the front foot early on with chances falling to Jamie Caulfield and Callum Sumsion.

Helensburgh were keeping possession well and were creating chances, but the final ball was just not quite clicking.

As the half drew on, Rottenrow grew into the game and created several chances, but Helensburgh’s defence was solid, with Mark Findlay pulling off some more heroics in goal. It remained a tense first half as neither team managed to score. The captain’s words at half time suggested that whoever got the first goal would be the game winner.

The second half started similarly to the first as Helensburgh dominated most of the possession. Both Gavin McWilliam and Brian Kennedy were back in defence for Helensburgh and were showing their quality by pushing the team up the pitch and creating chances.

Helensburgh won numerous penalty corners in the second half but failed to score any of them. Gordon Black had a great chance as he received the ball from Mark Ormsby. He did a neat turn that saw him through one on one with keeper, but the goalkeeper forced the midfielder wide, and the chance was gone.

Other chances fell to Mike Jones, Ewan McCartney, and Gavin Mackenzie but it looked like Burgh would fail to score. As the half continued, the game became an end-to-end battle as both teams sought to find a winner.

Rottenrow had a few good chances, one of which led to Findlay pulling off a double save, before Kennedy cleared the ball excellently off the line. The discipline started disappearing as Rottenrow saw a couple of green cards, but Helensburgh couldn’t capitalise. The final chance of the game came from a Helensburgh penalty corner, but Blacks effort found the thigh of Caulfield, rather than the net. The game finished a rare 0-0.

Helensburgh team: Mark Findlay; Ian Bowyer; Gavin McWilliam; Brian Kennedy (MoM); Harry Green; Rob Heywood; Mark Ormsby; Gordon Black (c); Callum Sumsion; Ewan McCartney; Jamie Caulfield; Leo Caulfield; Sean Caulfield; Gavin Mackenzie; Mike Jones

Third XI v Hillhead

Thomas Harris for the third XI (Image: Adam Findlay)

The third XI was up next and faced an experienced Hillhead seventh XI. Helensburgh started the better side as their youthful energy shining through. It wasn’t long before the Burgh took the lead, as a ball in from Dayle Hartopp found the eager James Pettit in the right place to score a simple tap in.

Burgh continued to impress with Lucas Jardine showing his skill down the wing. He managed to find a ball into the D, via Daniel Dooley, whose shot found Pettit again, waiting at the back post to grab his second of the game. Hillhead weren’t without chances however, but Benji Jones was equal to it in the burgh goal.

Burgh went three up mid-way through the first half, as Dooley created a chance for himself, rifling the ball into the bottom corner. At 3-0 up, Helensburgh could be forgiven for switching off, with Hillhead managing to get themselves back in the game. A quick ball up the pitch found the Hillhead striker in space, and he used all his experience to beat the on-rushing goalkeeper. Hillhead had a second minutes later with a penalty corner strike, that made it 3-2 going in at half time.

Helensburgh woke up in the second half, after a lapse in concentration cost them two goals late in the first half. Jardine was again creating chances and this time found Mark Findlay at the top D. The goalkeeper come striker managed a lovely reverse stick effort that went through the Hillhead goalkeeper’s legs to give ‘burgh a much needed two goal cushion.

The scoring wasn’t quite over as late in the game Pettit got his hat-trick. Normally the third XI goalkeeper, he was enjoying his outfield game and a ball through from Findlay found him eagerly awaiting at the back post to score his third goal. It was a good 5-2 victory for the third XI.

Helensburgh team: Benji Jones; Andy Richardsion (c); Mark Findlay (1); Theo Andrews; Dayle Hartopp; Callum Court; Lucas Jardine (MoM); Daniel Dooley (1); Thomas Harris; Cameron McKay; Toby Barrie; James Pettit (3)

Next up for the club – the first XI host Glasgow University on Saturday, at Hermitage Academy. All are welcome at 12.15pm to watch. The second XI are away in Dumfries.