ALL three Helensburgh Hockey Club teams were at home on Saturday so a feast of hockey could be viewed at Hermitage Academy.

The 1st XI conceded a late equaliser as a struggling Western side snatched a 2-2 draw.

Helensburgh dominated the early stages of the game and soon took the lead.

Some nice flowing hockey through McGregor and McKenzie on the left wing sent Dye through onto the keeper. The Western keeper saved well, however the rebound fell to McKenzie who slotted the ball home.

Helensburgh kept the pressure up as the half drew on but couldn’t find a second goal.

They were nearly ruing their missed chances as Western attacked and a shot was rocketed towards goal however Keith saved fantastically with his stick.

As half-time approached, the second goal was found after scrap in front of goal – captain Dye poking the ball home

As the second half started, Helensburgh began to tire and only having 11 players showed. Western hit back with well-taken goal from a short corner.

Helensburgh were under far more pressure in the second half but managed to carve open a few chances themselves.

Dye had a couple of glorious chances, but the first slipped under his stick and the second skewed wide.

As Western were pushing forward, they managed to win themselves another short corner.

A well-executed short was saved by Keith only for it to trickle past him and off the line by a Murphy foot. The umpire had no choice but to give a penalty flick.

The Western striker did not look confident as he stepped up and Keith pulled off a good save to keep Helensburgh in the lead.

With the game on its last legs, Western won another short corner, and a tired looking defence seemed lacklustre. Western managed to get the equaliser just as the final whistle was blown.

Helensburgh – C.Keith; J.Murphy; J.Caulfield; G.McWilliam (MoM); D.McGregor; G.Black; G.McKenzie; J.Gumbrell; C.Rosie; J.Cox; C.Dye (capt.) Thanks to John Friel for umpiring.

THE 2nd XI fought hard but were edged out 3-2 by East Kilbride 3rd XI.

Colin Fairbairn opened with an 18th minute goal, which was quickly equalised.

By the half-time whistle, however, he scored again, continuing his recent run of goals to take the score to 2-1.

East Kilbride came back hard in the second half against what looked to be a tiring Helensburgh side.

They got a couple of late goals to take the score to 3-2 and ruin the 2s recent unbeaten run.

Helensburgh 2nd XI – C.Keith; M.Payne (capt.); R.Park; L.Evans; A.MacAuley; K.Fairbairn; S.Murphy; T.Harris; N.McKend; C.Fairbairn; D.Hartopp; M.Kelly.

Thanks to Dick Schooling and John Friel for umpiring.

The 3rd XI were on last and grabbed a 2-2 draw against Western. Unlike the 1st XI, both the 3rd XI and Western were fighting at the top of Division 4.

The opening 15 minutes of the game saw Helensburgh on top, with good pressure on the Western defence, however a number of chances went begging.

Western had a number of chances as well though as Findlay was kept busy in goal.

The away side broke the deadlock on 25 minutes though.

The Western captain stepped up from midfield unchallenged and slotted the ball home.

Helensburgh fought back and with only a few minutes of the half left they equalised.

They won a free hit just outside the Western 25, Caulfield took it quick to Black who aimed for the back post. A lack of pressure on the ball led the Western keeper to leave it to go harmlessly out the back however, to his misfortune; the ball ricocheted off the post and straight to Dunlop who slotted it home. .

As the second half started, Burgh increased the pressure on Western with McGilvray, Whittick and Bowman all having chances to score.

Bowman found the net after a well-controlled aerial ball came in however it was ruled out as the ball was deemed dangerous.

Western then hit Helensburgh on the break and tiring team struggled to cope with the Western attack.

They took an early shot that eluded keeper Findlay to give Western the lead.

Western continued to dominate much of the second half but Helensburgh were kept in it after some heroics in goal.

As the game drew to close it looked as though Helensburgh wouldn’t get an equaliser; however a shot by Black was well saved and a scramble ensued.

The Western keeper seemed to be lying on the ball and Burgh players were appealing for a penalty flick, however a short corner was all that was awarded.

Black injected the short corner to Paddy Walsh who fired the ball home to bring an equaliser with seconds to go. .

Helensburgh 3rd XI – M.Findlay; S.MacMillan; J.Steel; P.Walsh; E.Howie; H.McGilvray; R.Whittick; G.Black(capt.); J.Caulfield; A.Bowman; G.Dunlop. Thanks to Dayle Hartopp for umpiring.