HELENSBURGH Hockey Club’s first XI were left wondering just how they’d managed to lose 2-0 to Dumfries after dominating for long spells on Saturday – but the trip south proved a much happier one for the Helensburgh second team as they defeated the same club’s second XI 8-0.

Helensburgh’s first XI went into Saturday’s tie off a 6-0 midweek win over Hillhead C in the West District Cup, with six different scorers – but they struggled to hold possession in the opening stages against Dumfries and conceeded a poor early goal before most of the Burgh team had woken up.

The visitors soon came to life and created plenty of chances, with Gavin Mackenzie hitting the post twice, while Gordon Black had a couple of drag flick attempts saved and Callum Sumsion and Barry Cox had efforts kept out by some rigid Dumfries defending.

Helensburgh kept up the pressure in the second half, winning the ball high up the pitch and creating chance after chance, but the home defence stood firm.

With the visitors pushing up high, Dumfries were able to make several breaks forward, but Gavin McWilliam was in the way nearly every time – and though the hosts won a few penalty corners, keeper Mark Findlay made two top-class saves back-to-back to keep Helensburgh in the game.

Burgh won a glorious chance to draw level when Cox won a penalty corner and Black’s effort was saved illegally on the line by a Dumfries leg, earning the visitors a penalty flick – but regular penalty taker Rob Heywood’s lack of success from the spot summed up Helensburgh’s day, and Dumfries tied up the points late on after another quick counter-attack.

Helensburgh team: Mark Findlay, Ian Bowyer, Gavin McWilliam (MoM), Rob Heywood, Nick Groves, Gordon Black (capt), Mark Ormsby, Callum Sumsion, Sean Caulfield, Gavin Mackenzie, Barry Cox, Thomas Harris, Andrew Brimson.

Burgh’s second XI, by contrast, were in no mood to hang about, attacking right from the start, with Alan Bowman and James Pettit combining well to set up Bowman for a well-taken early opener.

Helensburgh dominated the first half and added two more before half-time: the first from a penalty corner earned by Thomas Harris’s impressive skills and calmly dragged into the bottom corner by Sean Caulfield, the second after a goalmouth scramble with Pettit leading the celebrations having claimed to touch it last.

The second half continued in the same vein, with Bowman adding his second, pouncing on a loose ball after another goalmouth scrap.

Mark Findlay, out of his regular goalkeeping kit, set up the first with a pass out wide to Logan Hill, who fed Andrew Brimson on the wing, and his ball in was redirected into the net by Pettit.

Harris got himself on the scoresheet with another scrappy goal after Dumfries failed to clear the ball out of the D, while Findlay showed his talent at both ends of the pitch by stepping up to flick in the seventh at a penalty corner.

Bowman rounded off the scoring and completed his hat-trick with a well-struck shot for goal number eight, putting the icing on the cake of a complete performance for the Helensburgh second XI, who move to second place in the division three standings.

Team: Craig Keith, Daniel Dooley, David O’Donnell, Mark Findlay (1), Logan Hill, Nick Groves, Sean Caulfield (1), Thomas Harris (1), Andrew Brimson, Alan Bowman (3)(capt), James Pettit (1).

This Saturday, October 22, only the Helensburgh second team are in action as they travel to Paisley to face Kelburne’s fourth XI.