LOCH Lomond Hockey Club’s two teams completed a double victory over their Hillhead counterparts in Glasgow and Helensburgh on Saturday.

The local club’s first team won 5-2 away to Hillhead’s third XI to climb to fourth place in the West District first division, while Gillian Finch scored the only goal as Loch Lomond’s second team defeated Hillhead 5 at Hermitage Academy.

Loch Lomond’s first team squad were missing a couple of important players for a must-win match in Glasgow, and with only one substitute, it looked like they might be in for a long afternoon – especially when Hillhead opened the scoring from the first penalty corner of the match.

But Loch Lomond didn’t let their heads drop, and one of a series of penetrating attacks down the right hand side saw Kirsten Bruce pick out Bongiwe Tshabalala for the equialising goal.

READ MORE: Loch Lomond bring home the bacon from Ayrshire away day

More brilliant play down the right saw Bruce combine with Rebecca Lightfoot for the visitors’ second; this time Tshabalala’s strike was well saved by the Hillhead keeper, but Vanesa Sabala kept her cool to put the rebound into the back of the net.

Hillhead, though, were in no mood to lie down, and their front line continually switched positions to put Loch Lomond’s defence under pressure.

That tactic saw the visitors give away another penalty corner, and though the hosts’ first shot at goal was saved well by goalkeeper Elaine Brown, Loch Lomond were unable to clear their lines and the ball dribbled across the line to make it 2-2.

But the visitors were first to every ball throughout the half, with Sabala breaking up the play and spreading the ball about with great passes and Sophia McDermott working hard on the left.

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And just as the half-time whistle was about to blow, the visitors regained the lead from a penalty corner; Sabala’s shot on goal was deflected, and Tshabalala pounced at the back post to score with a lovely reverse hit.

That gave Loch Lomond a real boost going into the second half, and the visitors chalked up their fourth goal soon after the break, with Sharon Crossan finding Bruce with a great searching pass, before a quick pass set up Lightfoot to shoot past the Hillhead goalkeeper.

The whole team stepped up their performance in the second half, and the fifth goal wasn’t long in coming – and it was a great team effort too, with Lightfoot driving along the baseline before cuting it back to Eliza Ritchie, who provided a lovely assist for Rosie McColgan to smash the ball home.

Hillhead pushed back in the closing stages, but the Loch Lomond defence proved too strong, with Sharon Crossan doing some great clearance work from another penalty corner before Brown made a great save to keep out a lifted shot which was heading for the top corner.

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Player of the match was Bongiwe Tshabalala, and the runner-up was Sophia McDermott, while Hillhead gave their opposition player of the match award to Vanesa Sabala.

Thanks to Andy Richardson for umpiring.

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

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In contrast to their first team clubmates, Loch Lomond’s second XI had a squad of 18 players boasting both youth and experience for their home match with Hillhead 5 – though the hosts suffered a blown when Eilidh Hill was injured in the pre-match warm-up.

Loch Lomond’s goalkeeper Heather Smith, and defenders Caroline Lyall, Anna Currie, Amy Daveney, Jane Neil and Kirsty Richardson, were tested repeatedly in the first half, but never succumbed to the pressure from Hillhead’s quick-thinking forwards, while they also stayed strong during all of the three short corners that were awarded against them during the first half.

Despite having the majority of the possession and chances, Loch Lomond were unable to score before the break – but the hosts kept working away after the interval.

READ MORE: Loch Lomond's second XI earn battling Rottenrow draw

Great hits from the back, brilliant play by Eve Howard, Lucy Macrae and Jenna Gallacher, and hard work by Alanna Hill, Amber Wells and Ava Currie in midfield allowed the team to dig deep and create plenty of opportunities for strikers Elaine Wotherspoon, Gillian Finch, Rachael Peacock and Kathryn Fish.

And the hosts’ pressure finally paid off when Peacock picked the ball up from the back and set up Finch for what would turn out to be the only goal of the match.

The entire squad worked exceptionally hard to earn this victory and keep their post-Christmas unbeaten run intact.

READ MORE: Finch at the double as Loch Lomond see off Ayr challenge

The player of the match prize was awarded to Lucy Macrae, with the two runners up being Gillian Finch and Jenna Gallacher – who was also made the opposition’s player of the match.

Thanks to umpires Peter Robertson and Richard Schooling.

Squad: Heather Smith, Anne McGregor, Anna Currie, Jane Neil, Caroline Lyall, Kirsty Richardson, Amy Daveney, Jenna Gallacher, Eve Howard, Lucy Macrae, Alanna Hill, Amber Wells, Ava Currie, Gillian Finch, Kathryn Fish, Elaine Wotherspoon, Rachael Peacock, Eilidh Hill (unused due to injury prior to the match starting).

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This Saturday, March 7, Loch Lomond’s first team play host to Glasgow University 3, while the local club’s second XI are at home to Glasgow University 5.