Match Report – Saturday 10th October – Gents 1s

Grange 1 – Uddingston 3

The Uddingston Mens’ 1s overcame a tricky hurdle on Saturday defeating Grange on their home patch by 3-1.

Taking on Grange at the Fettes astro has for many years been a daunting prospect for Scotland’s other hockey teams. This year, though, as Grange rebuilds after the loss of a number of senior players and suffered defeats in their first three games, an opportunity was clearly in the offing.

And Uddy, on a crisp, blustery Autumnal morning, grabbed it with both hands, though not without a fight.

Grange, under the tutelage of Hamish Imrie, came out swinging and immediately put the Uddy backline under pressure. The first shot, the result of a sweeping attack up the baseline, came within a minute of the start. Grange meant business and were evidently determined to overturn their poor results and grab some vital points at home.

After six minutes of mostly Grange possession in and around the Uddy D, the home team were awarded their first penalty corner. Finn Haliday moved too quickly and was despatched by the umpire off to the halfway line. With only four defenders, would this be the moment Uddy would concede their first goal of the 2026/27 season?

Uddy keeper Nic Hadland stretched out his left leg and just toed away the incoming drag flick to keep things at 0-0. He was to have a busy first quarter.

Uddy’s first circle entry at the other end happened only in the tenth minute of the game when Lewis Stewart found himself with only the keeper to beat but flicked the ball high into the fence around Fette’s picturesque pitch.

It was very much against the run of play that Uddy secured their first penalty corner shortly after the Stewart miss. The routine was perfect. Gilmour injected with speed and accuracy, Will Searl trapped the ball beautifully and Angus Sinclair stepped up to rifle it high and left into the bulging Grange net for 1-0.

Almost immediately Hadland was making a double save at the other end as Grange fought back once more. The home team never gave up in this match, much to their credit, and in truth were close to securing at least a point until late in the game.

The low midday sun made it difficult for the Uddy strikers to collect aerial passes with Gilmour on a couple of occasions backing out of traps as he just couldn’t see the ball.

Towards the end of the first quarter, some good work on the baseline by Ben Young won Uddy their second penalty corner. But this one wasn’t converted and the quarter finished with Uddy up 1-0.

Uddy came out stronger in the second quarter and soon won their third penalty corner of the match. The flick by Uddy captain Jedd Campbell was blocked but in the ensuing melee in the circle, the ball bounced up for Ewan Hutchinson to re-direct it, shoulder height, into the Grange goal, for 2-0.

Now it was Uddy’s turn to put on the pressure, and a fierce Gilmour shot from a tight angle was narrowly saved by the outstretched foot of the Grange keeper. He then saved Uddy’s fourth penalty corner, this time a flick by Sinclair. It felt like the tide had turned and this was going to be a rather pleasant afternoon in Edinburgh after all with a third goal and a comfortable lead only moments away.

But no such luck. Just before half time, Grange pressed again winning two penalty corners. The first was again booted away by Hadland. The second was saved twice by the Uddy Keeper, first with his leg guard and then with his stick. This clearly wasn’t going to be a walk in the park.

After an even third quarter, things started to get tense. Four minutes into the fourth quarter, Grange won a penalty corner. The drag flick got a freakish, nasty deflection off Steven MacKenzie’s face mask and Grange were back in the gameat 2-1. This was the first goal that Uddy have conceded in the 2026/7 season, and it was a painful one for the hard-working Uddy No 3.

A second penalty corner was awarded to Grange a few minutes later. A goal now could secure a point for the home side and damage Uddy’s hopes. However, Albert Rowling’s drag flick sailed high over the Uddy goal. Still 2-1, seven minutes to go.

Try as they might, Grange struggled to get back into the Uddy D and in a last gasp attempt to salvage a point, Imrie pulled off his keeper.

The move backfired as, in the dying moments of the game, Uddy were awarded a penalty corner. Without a keeper, Sinclair despatched the drag flick with ruthless panache and the match was sealed at 3-1.

After a relatively gentle start, the season now gets serious with five massive games which will be crucial in determining Uddy’s ambitions for 2026/27. First up, freshly returned from a partially successful outing at the EHL, is Edinburgh University at home. Next are Hillhead, always difficult, then league royalty Western Wildcats, Watsons away, league contenders once again, and then top four rivals ESM. With most of these games at home, Uddy supporters have a good opportunity to come along to Bothwell Castle or watch live on UddyTV to see how this team fares in the important games ahead.

Adrian Hadland

We stream our Saturday games live on our dedicated YouTube channel, UddyTV. Make sure you check out the latest game here – Uddy Hockey YouTube. 

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