LOCH Lomond Hockey Club’s first team shrugged off challenging weather conditions to chalk up a valuable 3-1 win away to Troon on Saturday.

Bongiwe Tshabalala, Molly Macken and Vanesa Sabala were Loch Lomond’s scorers in Ayrshire as the local team climbed up to sixth place in the West District Division One table.

On a day when many hockey fixtures across the country fell victim to the weather – including the Loch Lomond second team’s trip to Western Wildcats 3, which was postponed because of a flooded pitch – it briefly looked as if Loch Lomond’s hopes of building on their good recent form might also be derailed by the elements after a hail shower covered the pitch before the match.

But 20 minutes of rain later, the game did get under way, and Loch Lomond started positively, with skilful interlinking and supportive play.

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Good midfield work form Sabala and Eliza Ritchie allowed Tshabalala through on the Troon goalkeeper and she didn’t waste her golden opportunity; feigning to go right, the goalkeeper committed to her challenge and Tshabalala dodged left and slotted a reverse stick shot home to put Loch Lomond 1-0 up.

Troon attacked back and Loch Lomond absorbed some pressure from their fast forward line, with some consistently well-timed tackles from Fiona Thompson and Vicki Perry thwarting the hosts’ attempts.

Sue Ailkman and Lauren McCreadie remained composed at the back and Loch Lomond passed the ball around with their most confident play of the season to date, before a surging run from the very pacey Molly Macken and her equally classy finish gave Loch Lomond a two-goal advantage.

McCreadie was injured before half time and Sharon Crossan showed her versatility and moved from midfield to shore up the defence in her place.

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A constructive half time team talk from player/coach Rosie McColgan re-focused Loch Lomond’s efforts at the start of the second half, but it was Troon who came out fighting after a Loch Lomond attacking penalty corner broke down; the home team used their pace to attack down Loch Lomond’s right side, and a three-on-one advantage for the attackers paid off, with goalkeeper Elaine Brown unable to keep the rebound out of the net after a diving save to repel the hosts’ first shot on goal.

Sophia McDermott and Kirsten Bruce worked hard in midfield, covering a lot of ground both attacking and defending.

The second half saw Loch Lomond battling against gusty winds and driving rain, but they remained resolute.

Gutsy attacking play by Rebecca Lightfoot and Macken earned the visitors a penalty corner, and rather than an initial straight strike from the top of the D, Loch Lomond played a slick option around the Troon runners – and though the first shot on goal was blocked by the Troon keeper, Sabala seized on the rebound, with Troon’s last defender unable to keep the ball out of the goal.

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The last 10 minutes saw Loch Lomond under pressure as Troon searched for a second goal which might have set up a grandstand finish, but sterling defensive work by the whole team, Crossan in particular, kept the home side out and secured the 3-1 win for the visitors.

Player of the match was Sharon Crossan and runner up was Molly Macken, while Troon gave their Loch Lomond player of the match accolade to Molly Macken.

Thanks to Andy Richardson and Billy Dunlop for umpiring.

Squad: E. Brown, S. Aikman, F. Thompson, V. Perry, L. McCreadie, S. McDermott, V. Sabala, S. Crossan, E. Ritchie, R. Lightfoot, B. Tshabalala, K. Bruce, R. McColgan, M.Macken.

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