Helensburgh hockey hopes for victory dashed by Rottenrow

The first XI, who remained unbeaten prior to the game, were the only hockey team in action this week as they hosted Rottenrow in a West District division one clash.

However, it was not meant to be as a player and umpire both called off late, leaving the team down to only thirteen players.

The first half of the game saw the home side having to defend for large parts as Rottenrow were holding onto the ball well.

The away team didn’t create too many clear-cut chances but Burgh grew into the game as the half wore on.

The Helensburgh team had to defend for large parts of the first half (Image: Adam Findlay)The back three of Ian Bowyer, Mike Jones and Harry Green were keeping possession well and this patience paid off, opening Helensburgh’s first chance at goal.

The ball moved from Jones through to Gordon Black to Jamie Caulfield. He laid the ball off to Mark Ormsby who was rushing through.

The midfielders experience helped him hold onto the ball before finding a pass to Adam Carmichael. The resulting shot ended in a penalty corner for Helensburgh.

A simple but effective routine saw Jones push the ball out to Ormsby. His stop was then deftly flicked into the bottom left corner of the Rottenrow goal by Black, to give Helensburgh a 1-0 lead against the run of play.

The game neared half time with Helensburgh very much in the ascendency, including several more penalty corners, but none bore any fruit.

Ian Bowyer (Image: Adam Findlay) The second half saw Rottenrow put on the pressure with a shot on target that Mark Findlay saved well.

Gavin Mackenzie was there to mop up but sadly the Rottenrow strike nicked the ball at the wrong moment and slotted it in for an easy goal.

The game continued with Helensburgh in control for large swathes of the half.

They were getting the better chances, with Mackenzie and Carmichael both looking likely to score.

Rottenrow were seemingly getting more and more frustrated as they earned themselves a green and a yellow card. However, they weren’t by any stretch out of the game.

A searching ball forward left the Rottenrow striker one-on-one with Bowyer.

The defender played with all experience and committed a questionable foul just outside the Helensburgh D.

Whilst Helensburgh were complaining the umpire, Rottenrow took the quick ball and were through on goal for an easy finish.

Daniel Dooley was issued with a yellow card in the second half of the game (Image: Adam Findlay) This ramped up the competitiveness of the game with Captain Black talking himself in a two-minute green card sin bin. It wasn’t over for Helensburgh, but they were becoming more desperate.

Ormsby and Jones were both helping in attack and were carving out opportunities, but Rottenrow held on.

Daniel Dooley also got himself into bother with some bad tackling, that saw him earn a yellow card.

Sadly, this was the last incident of note for Helensburgh and the game ended with a 2-1 win for the away side.

Helensburgh team: Mark Findlay; Mike Jones; Ian Bowyer; Harry Green; Mark Ormsby (MoM); Gordon Black (c) (1); Daniel Dooley; Nick Groves; Gavin Mackenzie; Jamie Caulfield; Adam Carmichael; Logan Hill; Eddie Hall.

Thanks to 1st XI Captain Rob Heywood for stepping up to umpire last minute when he should have been playing!