Match Report – Saturday 3rd October – Gents 1s

Clydesdale 0 – Uddingston 2

It’s been a long time since the Uddingston Mens’ 1s travelled to Titwood and took three points off Clydesdale.

But this year is shaping up to be quite unlike many which have preceded it and the imposing 2-0 win on Saturday raised hopes once more that 2026/27 will be a season to remember.

Games against Clydesdale on their home turf have always been tight. Last year, the 1-1 draw came after wave after wave of Dale attacks in the second half were blocked by a fiercely resilient Uddy back line.

This year, the defending group with Nic Hadland in goal were once more crucial in securing the win, fending off 7 penalty corners and 5 direct strikes on goal to maintain a clean sheet for an astonishing third game in a row.

So efficient have the Uddy backline been in the first two games of the season that Hadland hasn’t had much to do. Last week, against Grove Menzieshill, he didn’t touch the ball once.

This week was different. The Uddy keeper was put under considerable pressure particularly in the third quarter as Clydesdale fought tooth and nail to get a foothold in the game. But good communication with the defensive group, some quick saves and a number of decisive baseline clearances kept the men in orange at bay.

Uddy have conceded no goals at all this season with only Watsonians able to claim a similar achievement.

In the second half, 2-0 down and with Uddy one player short following a red card (via second yellow), wily Dale coach Harry Dunlop took off his keeper and packed the Uddy half with 11 outfield players. This became 11 against 8 when another yellow card was raised. Still, Uddy held firm.

Man-of-the-match winner and club captain, Jedd Campbell, was in imperious form. He scored a magnificent drag flick, penalty corner strike into the top left corner and contributed two vital on-the-goal-line postman stops with balls that came at thigh height and at great speed.

He is developing into a fine captain who leads by example and sets the standards high for the whole team.

The match started off close with Uddy gradually taking the lion’s share of the possession and making many more circle entries than the Dale. There were some close shaves, but the first quarter ended 0-0.

It was in the second quarter that Uddy came alive. Without the ball, the Uddy team were determined and relentless, always first to the ball, winning turnovers and setting up counters.

With the ball, the second quarter was a demonstration of how good this team can be. The passing was slick, fast and accurate. Repeated circle entries produced a number of near misses until, at last, Euan Gilmour picked up a bouncing ball in the dirty zone and back-sticked it home for 1-0.

The second goal, the Campell wonder strike, came soon after and suddenly things had become comfortable for the Uddy squad.

After the half-time break, Uddy seemed a little off the boil. Perhaps it was the two goal cushion, but possession was too easily given away, that sheer determination to pick up the loose ball eased, and gradually Clydesdale worked their way back into the match.

The Dale were the better team in the third quarter putting almost constant pressure on Uddy with a series of circle entries and penalty corners.

To their credit, Uddy hung on and in the fourth quarter showed their resilience and determination once more.

Narrowly missing a couple of opportunies to add another goal to their tally, Uddy buttoned up their D with some strong tackling and impressive interplay down the flanks.

At the final whistle, Uddy hollered in delight. This was a hard-won, important away win in the 2026/27 season. The clean-sheet – against a team who had scored 9 goals in their first two games – was the cherry on the top of a magnificent team performance.

Other stand-out players in Titwood were Stephen MacKenzie, Andrew Clark, Angus Sinclair, Andy Docherty and Will Searl, though this was very much a group achievement with important contributions from every player.

With Edinburgh University only getting a draw on Saturday and playing Watsonians next week, a win against Grange in Edinburgh could push this Uddy team close to the pinnace of the premier league. On their performances so far, that is exactly where they are meant to be.

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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