Match Report – Saturday 31st October – Gents 1s

Uddingston 2 – Western Wildcats 2

The Uddingston Mens’ 1s unbeaten 2026/7 season remained intact on Saturday after a tight 2-2 draw with current league leaders Western Wildcats.

For a short time, when Uddy went 2-1 up in the second half, Uddy fans breathlessly hoped this would be the day when Western would finally be handed defeat, but it was not to be. The most prolific team in the league managed to pull back to parity with a late, deft deflection from the league’s top scorer, Fraser Moran.

Uddingston started on top in this match and put the Western backline under considerable pressure for much of the first quarter.

But Western packed their D with red shirts and there was simply no space to fashion a strike at veteran keeper Gavin Sommerville.

At the other end, Uddy keeper Nic Hadland had little to do in the opening phases.

Western held off Uddy’s early advances and started to bomb long aerial balls courtesy of their two Dutch players, Luc Hermsen and Just Noordzij.

At times in the first half, the game seemed to be paused in stalemate as both teams dropped back quickly in defence and tried largely unsuccessfully to pry gaps on attack.

Western’s Hamish Galt was a rambunctious presence in the middle of the pitch, charging around like an angry bull in a china shop. His connection with Andrew McAllister and former Uddy captain AJ Lochrin created a powerful central triangle which controlled possession for long periods.

As the first half was about to end, Western were awarded their second penalty corner. The first had been well defended and flew wide. The second one was to prove damaging.

Unusually for Uddy, arguably the best organised penalty corner defence in the league, the runners mixed up their lines and were sluggish to shut down Hamish Galt on the first castle. The former Scotland international was able to take his time, pick a spot and then powerfully flick the ball right through the postman and into the corner for 1-1.

This was only the third goal conceded by Uddy in 2026/7 season, now in its sixth match day.

The Western lead just on half time was demoralising for the home team, but after the break, Uddy came out more determined than ever and once again put Western under pressure.

Up front for Uddy, top scorer Euan Gilmour had struggled to gain possession so far in the game and, when he did, was shut down quickly.

But it was his clever, short attacking aerial into the Western D ten minutes into the third quarter that brought Uddy back into the match. Young trapped the ball nicely and flicked it to Sinclair. The ball was immediately returned but by now Western keeper Sommerville was advancing out at pace to quash the trouble. Instead of clearing the ball, he clattered his stick against Young’s and umpire Gavin Cruikshanks had no hesitation in awarding the penalty stroke.

Finn Halliday has been Uddy’s stroke man for several seasons now and there was never any doubt: scores level at 1-1.

Only five minutes later, Uddy with their tails up, attacked again. Halliday played a lovely quick pass down the left which was picked up by Docherty. Docherty passed to Hutchison in the Western D. He passed it short to Clark who turned and then whipped the ball back just in front of the keeper as the team had practiced a hundred times on cold Monday nights at Bothwell Castle. An elated Luke Gemmel slapped in the shot for a 2-1 Uddingston lead.

Gemmel’s first goal in the premier league for Uddy was a joy for the entire squad.

For a time, it looked like Uddy might win this one. After the goal, the team tightened up, recycled well and made things difficult for Western. Could they hang on?

Some disciplinary issues, including a ten minute yellow card, made things considerably harder for Uddy as they faced one of Scotland’s best teams a player down and for an extended period.

Two minutes to go in the lively third quarter, McAllister picked up the ball high on the Uddy right wing. He fizzed a fast pass which ran undisturbed along the top of the Uddy D until it found Hamish Galt’s stick. Galt moved to his right and then, half diving, half turning, flung a powerful indoor flick straight at unmarked Fraser Moran on the p spot.

Moran, the predator, didn’t flinch. He turned his body, controlled his stick, and diverted the hurtling, shin-high ball just out of Hadland’s reach into the far corner of the Uddy goal. It was 2-2 and was a strike that was as impressive as it was disappointing for the home crowd.

The last quarter of the game was tense as both teams battled for the win. The Uddy defensive group cleared up several uncomfortable attacks along the baseline and staved off one more penalty corner in the 5^th minute. Uddy weren’t awarded a single penalty corner over the entire game, something to ponder, while Western had three and scored from one.

Uddingston did themselves credit with this draw against the unbeaten, free scoring league leaders. With all the top four teams losing points at the weekend – Watsons and ESM played out a 0-0 draw – very little now separates the teams half way through the first half of the season. With current champions Edinburgh Uni struggling in lowly sixth place, anyone can still win the league. Why not Uddy?

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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