5-2: M2s vs Uddingston 2s (Regional 1) - 24/09/22
Hillhead looked to continue their strong start to the season with a victory against Uddingston on a sunny autumnal afternoon at Windyedge. Hillhead went into the game as hot favourites, with a strong line up including regulars Ross Wilson and Ally Deas at the back and 2s debuts for Euan Hedley and Cameron Greenhalgh. However, coach Campbell was keen to reinforce that Hillhead must not be complacent against a physical Uddingston side.
Despite being cheered on by a boisterous Windyedge crowd Hillhead struggled to get a foothold in the first quarter with both teams fighting for possession. However, the first big opportunity fell to Hillhead as they caught Uddy on the counter. Gooks released a pass to Matt Wilson who reached the ball moments before the opposition keeper who would take him out the game. PF Hillhead. The ever reliable Graeme Campbell stepped up confidently only to be thwarted by the cross bar. It remained 0-0. Hillhead began to press as the quarter went on and eventually the pressure told as Gooks swept the ball past the helpless Uddy keeper following some ping pong in the D. Hillhead would see out the quarter, capping off a pleasing start for coach Campbell’s team.
Hillhead picked up where they left off in the 1st quarter as they began to rank up the pressure in the opposition half. There were chances for McVicar, JLS & Meikle but the boys couldn’t find the composure to put the ball in the back of the net. Unfortunately, Hillhead were left to rue these misses as Uddy would score from a short corner moments later. Despite Hillhead continuing to pepper the Uddy goal the score remained level at the break.
Half time:- Hillhead 1 - 1 Uddingston
Some more assuring words from Coach Campbell and the lads were ready to push on from a frustrating first half. Hillhead began to assert themselves as the dominant force in the game with Gooks consistently breaking up the Uddy attacks and Meikle orchestrating much of the Hillhead advance. However, despite earning numerous short corners the lads simply couldn't put the ball in the goal. The noisy Hillhead crowd couldn’t believe the lads hadn’t broken the deadlock. Perhaps McVicar’s mind was still on the golf course having turned up without his stick and in golf shoes 20 minutes before pushback. The third quarter ran its course and it remained 1-1.
Hillhead were confident they could get the necessary goal to break Uddy hearts in the final quarter. It was an excellently coordinated short corner that would eventually get the goal as Deas gave it back to Meikle who squared the ball for Matt Wilson to tuck it in the bottom corner. The crowd erupted and Hillhead were finally ahead. This gave Hillhead the boost required to put the foot on the gas. Moments later Meikle opened up the pitch with some exquisite skills before releasing Graeme Campbell who slotted the ball bast the keeper. Game over. However, the lads weren't finished there as Graeme intercepted a loose Uddy pass from a 16, before passing to McVicar who would run the ball into the goal. Moments later McVicar would have his second of the day as JLS slipped the ball left for him to ping the ball top bins past the keeper. However, the game wouldn't be complete without conceding a weak consolation goal as a result of some tired defending.
While Hillhead were made to work hard against a resilient Uddy side the lads were delighted to head to Woodend in the knowledge they would travel to Clydesdale next week with a 100% start to the season. We look forward to a strong crowd taking over Titwood.
MoM: Andrew McGucken (Gooks)
DoD: Murray McVicar