Match Report – Saturday 28th March – Gents 1s

Uddingston 2 – Watsonians 2

Still bitter at losing their unbeaten record to the Uddingston Mens’ 1s earlier in the 2025/26 season, Watsonians managed a modicum of payback on Saturday with a narrow 3-2 victory at Bothwell Castle. The result pushed Watsons back up into second in the league after a series of disappointing performances over the last month.

It was a far from convincing win, however, as it was Uddingston who had most of the possession, dominated the shots on target and enjoyed the overwhelming share of goal-scoring opportunities but just couldn’t convert their chances into goals.

Playing barely 36 hours after a gruelling tied match with reigning league champions Western Wildcats on Thursday night, and completing their fourth, intense match in two weeks, the Uddy team tried their best to sustain their high quality hockey, but struggled.

The deficit showed most palpably in the forward line where chance after chance was squandered, turning what should have been an easy stroll littered with goals into an arduous feat of endurance.

Watsons were on the attack from the outset, but within less than two minutes, Glenn Turner had driven into the opponents’ D and cracked a back stick shot which hit a well-positioned but surprised Watsons keeper Luke Campbell and bounced safely behind. The mould had been cast. This was to be an afternoon of repeated shots and largely unsuccessful outcomes.

Two minutes later, Turner was again in the Watsons D, hitting a goal-bound strike which was rebuffed relatively easily by Campbell. Matty Young was next, hitting a shot at Campbell a minute and a half later who again kicked it clear. Young had another opportunity 11 minutes in when he trapped an aerial in from Angus Sinclair, found space and the time to strike a clean reverse stick strike which rose too high, too quickly and sailed safely over the Watsons’ net. From early on, it seemed Uddy’s efforts would be frustrated.

And it was Watsons who scored the opening goal, very much against the run of play. The dangerous Charlie Jack found himself unmarked near the P-spot with only keeper Hadland to beat. Jack initially mistrapped the ball, which almost hit his own foot, before taking a full swing from close range to make it 1-0.

In the second quarter, Uddy had a string of further chances to convert opportunities, two crosses flashing past the face of the Watson’s goal, but none were taken.

Then, less than two minutes before half time, Watsons were awarded a penalty stroke. Jack took on the responsibility of duelling with Hadland, resuming a contest between striker and goalie which stretches back quite a few years now. This time, Jack stepped up confidently and whipped the ball against the Uddy backboard for a 2-0 Watsons’ lead.

One minute into the second half, it was almost 3-0 when an aerial ball into the Uddy D presented a Watsons’ player with a point blank shot opportunity from 10 yards out. But Hadland stuck out his right leg guard and pulled off an outstanding, lightning save from close range.

As tired as they were, Uddy kept fighting. They won a penalty corner a couple of minutes into the third quarter, and this time the plan worked to perfection. Turner injected with precision, Sinclair fired a low drag flick toward the right post and Max Strachan deflected the ball home for 2-1.

Though there were several half chances for both teams, the score remained 2-1 to Watsons at the end of the third quarter.

The final quarter had barely begun when Watsons won a penalty corner for a Campbell infringement. Watsons legend Dan Coultas, who had been bombing aerials at Uddy all afternoon, this time took responsibility for a drag flick which he rocketed above Campbell’s head into the side netting for 3-1. The game seemed to have drifted beyond Uddy’s grasp.

To their credit, and like a punch drunk boxer, Uddy came back once more. The men in blue won a penalty corner through Stephen MacKenzie’s hard work at the top of the D. But the drag flick from Sinclair fizzed wide in the afternoon sun. Nothing seemed to be working in and around the Watsons’ goal mouth.

Five minutes later, Turner found himself free in the crowded Watsons’ D, flicked the ball onto a defender’s foot, and won another penalty corner.

Finally, Sinclair thundered his drag flick ball through startled Watsons’ keeper Craig Yelland’s legs, and suddenly Uddy were back to within a goal.

The equaliser could have come moments later, but the penalty corner flick bobbled on the goal line and in spite of Turner’s efforts, was batted behind rather than into the net and the game finished at 2-3.

Uddy can be proud of the work and energy they put into this difficult, closely contested match. It just wasn’t meant to be. In fairness, the score should probably have been an 8-3 home win, but with so many missed opportunities and after so many minutes of hard graft, the Uddy boys just couldn’t make it stick.

The season is anything but over, however, and Uddy remain in contention to win the final spot for the European playoffs. What they have shown by their efforts over the past month is that they can beat anyone in this league, and if they do make the playoffs, there is no reason why they can’t prevail.

Adrian Hadland

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