Match Report – Sat 20th Sept – Gents 1s

Uddingston 3 – Hillhead 2

Uddingston Mens’ 1s secured a morale-boosting 3-2 win over city rivals Hillhead in the first game of the weekend double-header on Saturday.

The game was a tight affair with both sides applying pressure for extended periods, both determined to overcome disappointing starts in the opening games of the 2025/6 season.

In the corresponding fixture last year, Uddingston were comfortable winners but the result was later overturned on account of a player ruled ineligible by Scottish Hockey. The pain of what was recorded as a 5-0 loss was compounded by Hillhead dumping Uddy out of the Scottish Cup. So there was payback due in this game.

It was Hillhead, however, who won the first penalty corner only three minutes into the first quarter. The resulting goal could, and possibly should, have been prevented but it was 1-0 to Hillhead. On the plus side, this was the only penalty corner Hillhead would score in the game of the six awarded.

A good, skilful baseline circle entry by the impressive Anup Valmiki later in the first quarter secured Uddy’s first penalty corner. It was Valmiki who pounced on the bungled switch move to slap the ball in the net for 1-1. Even then, it felt like the next goal would be critical in determining who would win this match.

Right at the end of the first quarter, Hillhead were awarded a penalty stroke for a clumsy stick tackle in the D. Up stepped Hillhead stalwart Fraser Ward, but there was form in the contest between Ward and Uddy keeper Nic Hadland.

Hadland saved a Ward stroke last year and they eyed each other suspiciously as they waited for the whistle. Hadland has built a reputation for saving strokes. He saved two Charlie Jack strokes in a game against Inverleith last year and, in Australia recently, he famously stopped three strokes in one quarter and and five in a row.

Ward fired the stroke to the keeper’s left but Hadland was there already, diving into a full splits with hands raised and catching the ball cleanly in his outstretched gloves. The quarter finished 1-1.

In the second quarter, Hillhead continued with their usual but effective strategy of sitting deep and looking dangerous on the counter, Ward being particularly troublesome. Uddy pushed forward and enjoyed long periods of possession but found it difficult to find the decisive pass necessary to create opportunities in the Hillhead D.

Louis Gardner was outstanding in the Uddy midfield, his hazy dribbling and determined ball chasing causing repeated problems for the Hillhead defence.

Hillhead also had some decent talent on display, not least Callum Duke who retired from international hockey not long ago with more than a hundred Scotland caps.

Hillhead squeezed as hard as they could winning a string of penalty corners and forcing a series of quality saves from Hadland. But, with no goals since Q1, the game came down to a frantic last quarter.

A fluent Uddy attack down the left, again involving Louis Gardner resulted in Valmiki scoring his second of the game to make it 2-1 to Uddy. But Hillhead came fighting back and after a period of sustained pressure and a speedy interplay on the baseline, it was Duke who picked the ball up the back post to make it 2-2.

Uddy’s new signings, Sean Baker and Angus Sinclair put in strong performances bombing aerials into the Hillhead danger zone, looking comfortable on the ball and fighting for space in and around the D.

As the tension built in the final period of the last quarter, and with the game on the line, Hillhead’s Duke found himself clear in the Uddy D only a few feet from the goal with the ball on his stick. He hit a powerful, instantaneous strike that looked bound for the Uddy net and the win. But Hadland surged to his left and pulled off a miraculous block with his left leg-guard. Duke grinned wryly and the score remained 2-2.

With less than five minutes to go, Uddy pushed up into the Hillhead D and won a penalty corner to cheers from the decent crowd. A beautifully worked move ended with Max Strachan deflecting the ball into the Hillhead net for 3-2.

Uddy held on for dear life, holding off several more Hillhead penalty corners and circle entries, to finally secure the precious win.

– Adrian Hadland

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