Young second team striker Cameron Dye got his first call up to the top side. With the return of Sean Murphy, Helensburgh had a strong team and looked eager before push back.

Helensburgh were slow out of the blocks with Strathclyde pushing on in the early stages. This lack of concentration cost the Burgh team with an early goal going to the Uni side.

However this was the kick start Helensburgh needed and they played some scintillating hockey for periods of the game.

Both the wingers McMenemin and Fairbairn were playing well and getting the ball into the D was no problem, but too often the strikers were not there to get the goals.

Hartopp came on and looked to cause problems, setting up J.Cox and J.Caulfield on a few occasions as well as having his own reverse stick shot come agonisingly close to going in.

A rare flurry forward from left back Park saw him with a shooting opportunity, but he put the ball wide.

Helensburgh were keeping the pressure on Strathclyde and the back four were rarely needed. Kennedy and G.Caulfield were combining well in the midfield — with one pass from Caulfield sending Fairbairn off on a mazy run.

Fairbairn then hammered the ball across the D for striker Murphy to smash the ball into the roof of the net. This goal brought Helensburgh level just as the half-time whistle went.

The second half sprung to life for Burgh with everyone putting in a shift. The home side couldn’t cope with the pressure and struggled to deal with Helensburgh.

Black thought he was through on goal for a chance when the umpire called it back.

Black responded with a quickly taken free hit, lifting it into J.Cox who guided the ball down and through the oncoming keepers legs.

Helensburgh were 2-1 up and looking comfortable. However the Uni side brought out a couple of decent saves from Banyard in goals.

Burgh coped with the increase in pressure though and hit Strathclyde on the counter. Fairbairn went off again down the right wing — this time all the way into the D, with J.Caulfield screaming for the pass, the winger sent the ball crashing into the net to take it to 3-1.

The final goal of the game started with McMenemin who took on two defenders before sending a pass back to Park.

The defender then headed straight for the goal and saw the headlines before he hit his shot — his shot, however, turned into a pass as J.Caulfield got a vital touch on the ball to take it past the keeper.

A fantastic team goal epitomised the team effort on what was a vital win for the Helensburgh team.

Helensburgh will look to push on next week, away at Rottenrow.

Helensburgh: S.Banyard, J.Murphy, D.McGregor, G.Caulfield, R.Park, B.Kennedy, C.Fairbairn, C.McMenemin (MoM), G.Black, J.Caulfield, J.Cox, D.Hartopp, S.Murphy, C.Dye.

Burgh’s third team went away to Hillhead and produced a fine display and a 4-2 win.

The young team fought hard against a good Hillhead development team. Mark Findlay showed his promise with a great goal. But it was the hat-trick from Gregor Chambers that caught the attention with his skilful dribbling and superb finishing capping of a great game.

Special mention goes to Thomas Harris, Joe Bull, George McCallion and Ian Richardson for the good fighting spirit and constant running all game.

Helensburgh Team: S.Stewart, P.Walsh, B.Caulfield, R.Henderson, A.Richardson, G.McCallion, J.Bull, I.Richardson, G.Chambers, M.Findlay, K.Fairbairn.