Merlins Gordonians 2nds win the Scottish District Plate
At the Glasgow National Hockey Centre. The first time our Ladies have won the Women's District Plate, having been runners-up in 2015.
Huge congratulations to our Ladies 2s who won the Women's Scottish District Plate after a 1-1 draw and a penalty shoot-out against Glasgow University 4ths on Sunday 5th May.
Sophie Mellough scored our goal late in the first quarter following a great run by Hannah Mitchell down the right wing. Glasgow Uni had a chance to equalise in the second quarter but Sophie Parker saved their penalty flick. They did level the match in the third quarter and the game finished 1-1 so on to running penalties with Sophie Parker saving two of them to help her team win the shoot-out by 3-1, and therefore the trophy.
Our squad of 16 had the traditional Gordonian mix of experience and youth with our talented schoolgirls being backed up by their captain Kirsten Fraser, former Scotland captain Leigh Barr, her sister Toni Bowen, Scotland Masters international Katharine Descamps, Hannah Mitchell, and Zoe Duringer. A special mention also to their excellent coach Martin Fraser, and to all the club supporters who travelled down to Glasgow.
( Photo: Kirsten Fraser is presented with the Plate trophy in front of her victorious squad)
Match Report below courtesy of Scottish Hockey website :
Women’s District Plate Final – Glasgow University 4s 1-1 (1-3) Merlins 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.
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.