HELENSBURGH’S first team bounced back in style after the loss of two early goals to chalk up their first home win of the season on Saturday courtesy of a 7-3 defeat of Ayr at Hermitage Academy.

A strong Burgh side were in confident mood after the previous week’s win away to Glasgow University’s third XI – but Helensburgh got an early shock as the visitors scored from their first short corner.

And the hosts suffered a further blow as Gordon Caulfield, the previous week’s man of the match, suffered an injury while trying to prevent the goal and had to leave the fray with only a few minutes gone.

A seemingly over-confident Helensburgh side failed to wake up to the threat posed by their visitors, and Ayr soon doubled their advantage – and though the momentum did slowly shift, the final ball was lacking and the visitors’ keeper was relatively unchallenged.

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Helensburgh did win a number of short corners, and a change to their set-piece routine just before half-time saw the hosts finally find the net, Gordon Black pushing short to Rob Heywood, who found the bottom corner with an excellent strike.

A passionate team talk from captain Gavin McWilliam saw Helensburgh start the second half in determined mood – but again they were hit by the loss of an early goal as Ayr made it 3-1.

From then on, however, Helensburgh moved up through the gears against a rapidly tiring Ayr side, and from another short corner Black found Jonathan Cox, whose shot was diverted into the net by a mis-hit from Alan Bowman.

Cox himself made it 3-3 with his very next chance after making space for himself from a Gavin Mackenzie pass, and with Black, Alan Stuart and Heywood running the show in midfield, Cox soon put the hosts in front from another short corner routine after a decent save by the Ayr keeper.

Cox was on top form now and duly completed his hat-trick after a goalmouth scramble, and yet another short corner saw Stuart score number six from a tight angle at the second attempt.

Burgh played some of their best hockey in the final stages, and the hosts’ seventh and last goal was a thing of beauty, starting with a free hit at the back from McWilliam to Heywood and a passing move involving Stuart, Black and Dayle Hartopp, who rounded the keeper before setting up Cox for his fourth.

Helensburgh: C. Keith; G. McWilliam (capt.); D. McGregor; G. Caulfield; I. Bowyer; C. Sumsion; R. Heywood; A. Stuart; G. Black; G. Mackenzie; J. Cox (MoM); R. Whittick; A. Bowman; D. Hartopp. Thanks to John Friel and Andy Richardson for umpiring.

Sadly, Helensburgh were unable to maintain their winning streak in their second match of the weekend, a Scottish District Cup first round tie away to Eskvale on Sunday, which the Edinburgh club won 5-2.

On the first ever meeting between the clubs, Eskvale were stronger in the early stages, but Helensburgh played very well at the back – only to be undone by a pair of defensive mistakes as Eskvale opened up a 2-0 lead.

Helensburgh got to grips with the game midway through the first half, and pulled one back from a short corner routine, Black on target after Stuart returned his short ball to the front post – but Eskvale responded strongly and a well-worked third gave them a two goal cushion at the break.

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Having fought back from 3-1 down to win the previous day, there was no shortage of belief in the Helensburgh ranks, and Bowman, Mackenzie and Stuart all narrowly missed the target.

But Eskvale were in no mood to lie down, and the home side added a fourth on the rebound after a fine save from young keeper James Pettit.

The visitors refused to throw in the towel, though, and captain Black set up Mackenzie for a tap-in to make it 4-2 – but the exertions of the previous day began to take their toll on Helensburgh, whose last glimmer of hope was extinguished by a late fifth from the home side.

The loss means Helensburgh drop out of the Cup, but they still have a chance of winning national silverware through the Plate competition.

Helensburgh team: J. Pettit; D. Lemay (MoM); D. McGregor; D. O’Donnell; I. Bowyer; A. Stuart; R. Heywood; G. Black (capt); A. Bowman; G. Mackenzie; H. Green; C. Ross. Thanks to Andy Richardson for umpiring.

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