Women’s Scottish Cup Final – Western Wildcats 0-4 Watsonians
Watsonians women completed their second treble in a row with a 4-0 win over Western Wildcats in the Women’s Scottish Cup Final at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
Emily Dark of Watsonians was first to test a goalkeeper with a low penalty corner effort, well saved by Jayne McLaughlin low at the right post.
Then another penalty corner up the other end of the pitch resulted in an effort from Fran Lonergan in the second phase, which fizzed just wide of the left post.
The second quarter was a chess match. Watsonians edged the possession but Western Wildcats contained them well.
A triple save on half time kept Watsonians out from a penalty corner as they looked to break the deadlock at the end of the quarter.
Corners continued to be a theme in the second half. Again Dark was denied low to the left by McLaughlin to deny Watsonians the lead.
The opening goal eventually came for Watsonians, and inevitably it was Sarah Jamieson who provided it with a clinical top corner finish from a long corner routine. 1-0.
An early goal in the final quarter by Genevieve Hussell put a dent in any prospect of a Wildcats comeback. Hussell took the ball on the right of the circle and smashed it low across the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
Western Wildcats took off their goalkeeper for a last ditch attempt to claw themselves back into the game and were caught on a counter attack.
A desperate attempt by Keara Dunford resulted in a penalty stroke, which Katherine Holdgate dispatched into the top left corner for 3-0.
Moments later it was 4-0 when Bethan Mann pounced on a rebound to prod the ball home.
There would be no further goals and Watsonians enjoyed the celebrations of another trophy laden season.
Women’s Scottish Plate Final – Edinburgh University 8-0 Edinburgh University 2s
Edinburgh University 1s defeated Edinburgh University 2s 8-0 to win the Women’s Scottish Plate at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
It was an even opening to the game with the Edinburgh University 2s matching the 1s in the early stages.
With five minutes of the quarter remaining the 1s broke the deadlock. Sophie Hinds won the ball in midfield and began an attack that ended with Jika Nyirenda popping home a back post rebound to make it 1-0 to the first team.
The first goal was followed by a second for the first team when Katie Swanson slammed a low penalty corner into the bottom left corner for 2-0.
Ava Smith struck a third in the second quarter with a precise rebound finish into the top right corner for 3-0.
Early in the second half former Scotland international Louise Campbell found space in the circle and shot into the bottom left corner for 4-0.
It soon went to 5-0 when Amy Brodie slid in at the far post to convert a penalty corner routine.
Harriet Platt added her name to the scoresheet when she snuck the ball home via the post to make it 6-0.
In a carbon copy of the penalty corner routine that resulted in Brodie’s goal, Zara Kennedy deflected home into the roof of the net for 7-0 as the third quarter neared an end.
In the final quarter Smith bagged another when she smashed home into the bottom right corner to make it 8-0.
Women’s District Cup Final – Shetland 0-1 Edinburgh University 4s
Edinburgh University 4s defeated defending champions Shetland 1-0 to lift the Women’s District Cup in Glasgow.
In a close opening quarter penalty corners were the difference. Edinburgh University 4s took the lead with a powerful shot into the bottom corner by Aubrey Hannah to make it 1-0 with their first corner.
Shetland tested the student fullbacks as the game continued but the university defenders were a match to it.
It nearly went to 2-0 as half time approached but a diving save to the left by Megan Nicholson kept the students at bay.
In the second half Aimee Keith shaved the post with an effort on the reverse for Shetland, as their press began to take effect.
Shetland struggled to get out as the minutes ticked away and Edinburgh University did a good job of closing down the game to win the cup.
Women’s District Plate Final – Glasgow University 4s 1-1 (1-3) Merlin Gordonians 2s
A dramatic shootout went the way of Merlins Gordonians 2s against Glasgow University 4s with a 3-1 win after a 1-1 draw at full time.
Gordonians 2s posed some threat down the right channel through the direct running of Hannah Mitchell.
Shannon MacAngus had the first effort of the match as Gordonians struck from a penalty corner, but it was saved low to the right by the goalkeeper.
Gordonians 2s took the lead at the end of the opening quarter. It was the direct running of Mitchell that saw the Aberdonians tear forward down the right, and Mitchell slipped the ball across to Sophie Mellough to stroke it under the goalkeeper and home for 1-0.
At the end of the half Glasgow Uni 4s had a great chance to equalise when they were awarded a stroke. Some great work down the right by Sarah Hedley brought a foul on an attacker, and the inevitable point to the spot.
Kelsey Gillanders stepped up to strike but a sensational diving save by Sophie Parker denied the goal.
Glasgow University 4s came into the game in the second half and got a well-earned equaliser. A long pass by Hannah Colliston found Sarah Hedley free in the circle, and Hedley fired into the bottom right corner to make it 1-1.
The final quarter saw the action rage from end-to-end. Late in the final quarter Hedley had a chance to snatch the victory for Glasgow students before Mitchell fizzed an effort just wide for Gordonians. Right on the buzzer Mellough shot wide for Gordonians, missing out on a winner.
There would be no late winner for either side and it took running penalties to separate the sides and two saves by Sophie Parker saw Gordonians win the shootout 3-1.
