Match Report – Saturday 27th Sept – Gents 1s

Clydesdale 1 – Uddingston 1

Clydesdale have been a bit of a bogie team for the Uddingston Men’s 1s in recent years. The last time Uddy took a point off the Dale was three seasons ago back in 2022 in a 3-3 draw. The games have always been closely contested, Uddingston twice losing 1-0 in the last two seasons, and this was set to be another tight one.

Under the tutelage of Clydesdale’s new coach, Harry Dunlop, a familiar figure to many at Uddingston, the Dale came out fighting from the first quarter. They had played three, lost three this season for zero points and were desperate to make up ground. Gradually, though, it was Uddingston who emerged as the team on top with much of the possession and a series of half-chances in the Clydesdale D.  But Uddy again struggled with outcomes in attack, failing to convert any circle entries or win a penalty corner until well into the second quarter.

Clydesdale looked dangerous on the counter and won two penalty corners in Q2, but solid defensive work by Uddy kept them at bay. In the grey Glasgow drizzle, the game developed into a tense affair with passages of excellent hockey but no goals.

Sean Baker was one of the best players on the pitch feeding the Uddy attack throughout the game with a series of deft aerials and pinpoint slapped passes. Anup Valmiki also continued to impress with his silky stick skills. Uddy strikers sent the ball well over the Dale net on a couple of occasions in Q3 and Dale caused problems at the other end with their quick interplay and first time deflections into the D.

It was only in the final quarter that the game came to life as the minutes ticked down and points were on the line.

Clydesdale won another penalty corner, which came to nothing, and a green card as tempers became frayed. It was Uddy who drew first blood about halfway through Q4 when the ever-alert and combative Louis Gardiner pounced on a ball in the D and smashed it through the keeper’s legs for 1-0. Maybe this was the day for an Uddy win at last.

But Clydesdale came straight back and had equalised within seconds of the restart. A free player tore down the left wing in acres of space, crashed a dangerous cross right over the Uddy P spot, which was met by a striker in the clear at the far post for 1-1. Suddenly, the Dale believed they could win this one. Uddy spent the last 5 minutes of the match camped in their own D, facing penalty corner after penalty corner and shot after shot.

Uddy keeper Nic Hadland was resolute and determined putting in a unanimous ‘man-of-the-match’ display that kept Uddy clinging to a hard-fought point. He pulled off a string of critical blocks and saves, including one sitting on his backside swotting away an incoming Dale flick like a wasp at a picnic.

Uddy held on, and while they will be satisfied with the 1-1 result, particularly given the recent history between these two clubs, they will rue not securing the win when, overall, they were arguably the better team.

– Adrian Hadland

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