HELENSBURGH Hockey Club made it two wins from two on Saturday after the local gents enjoyed home and away victories over Kelburne – though the manner of the two teams’ wins could scarcely have been more different.

Helensburgh’s first team welcomed Kelburne’s third XI to Hermitage Academy and surged to a fine 6-1 win, while the Burgh club’s second XI travelled to the National Hockey Centre on Glasgow Green to face Kelburne 4 and had to battle back from behind before scoring a late winner.

After an impressive 2-0 victory over Glasgow University seven days earlier, Helensburgh’s first team took to the field in confident mood, and created plenty of chances early on, captain Gordon Black converting an early penalty flick for the opening goal after Gavin Mackenzie had a shot stopped on the line by a Kelburne foot.

A second followed soon after, with a lovely ball in from Mike Jones capped by the deftest of touches from Mackenzie to send it into the net.

Kelburne kept fighting and pulled one back just before half-time from a well-executed penalty corner, but all that had been lacking from Helensburgh in the first half was goals, and the tide continued to flow towards the visitors’ keeper early in the second half, with debutant Ewan McCartney making it a memorable first match in a Burgh jersey when he set off down the right and beat two opponents before scoring from a tight angle.

And McCartney wasn’t finished: he dominated the right wing throughout the second half and set up Helensburgh’s fourth with a nice ball to Mackenzie who beat the last defender before lifting the ball into the net.

The home side kept up the pressure for the rest of the match, and as Kelburne began to tire, a fifth goal wasn’t too long in coming: a good penalty corner was blocked by the visiting keeper, but his save came straight back off a Helensburgh stick and dropped into the back of the goal, Ian Bowyer the man in the right place at the right time to claim it.

And more neat play from McCartney set up the sixth and final goal for Helensburgh; he found Jones down the right, whose ball across found Barry Cox with the space and time he needed at the edge of the shooting circle to dispatch a lethal shot into the bottom corner – an excellent goal to round off a strong performance that lifts Helensburgh to second in the league.

Helensburgh: Mark Findlay, Gavin McWilliam, Tom Fielding, Brian Kennedy, Ian Bowyer (1), Callum Sumsion, Mark Ormsby, Gordon Black (capt) (1), Mike Jones, Gavin Mackenzie (2), Barry Cox (1), Harry Green, Calum Ross, Ewan McCartney (1) (MoM). Thanks to John Friel for umpiring.

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MEANWHILE, Helensburgh’s second XI had a fantastic 2-1 win away to their Kelburne opponents, coming from behind to win thanks to two late goals.

While Helensburgh were superbly prepared beforehand, showing up more than an hour early thanks to the non-existent COP26 traffic, the match itself started terribly for the visitors as Kelburne scored from the opening pushback.

The midfield duo of Sean Caulfield and Thomas Harris were up against an extremely strong Kelburne midfield – but while the home team attacked with intent, and chances for Helensburgh were few, the visitors stood strong as Kelburne went in search of a second goal.

Paul Moore, playing his first match for Helensburgh in seven years, showed his eye for the ball hasn’t left him with a superb clearance off the line, while David McGregor was a wall at the back and was influential in driving the team forward – and McGregor’s defensive partner, Leo Caulfield, had a great debut at centre-back, showing well with several strong tackles.

Helensburgh began to impose themselves on the game after the break, with Dayle Hartopp, Jamie Caulfield and Alan Bowman linking up well with the team’s ferocious attacking wingers.

Alex Jarvis had a shot narrowly tipped around the post as Helensburgh pushed for the equaliser, and the breakthrough finally came when a crossed ball from Daniel Dooley was bundled in by captain Caulfield.

And with the wind well and truly in their sails, Helensburgh clinched victory with three minutes left after McGregor’s fantastic cross was touched on by Bowman to Dooley, who was waiting at the back post to slot home a fine winning goal.

Helensburgh: Craig Keith, David McGregor (MoM), Leo Caulfield, Alex Jarvis, Ross Hynes, Sean Caulfield, Thomas Harris, Daniel Dooley (1), Dayle Hartopp, Jamie Caulfield (capt) (1), Alan Bowman, Gavin Gettings, Paul Moore. Thanks to Andy Richardson for umpiring.

This Saturday, October 30, Helensburgh’s first XI travel to Milngavie to take on Western Wildcats 3, whilst the second and third XIs are both at home, against Stepps and Hillhead respectively. The home action starts at Hermitage Academy at 11am.

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