Unbeaten Delting triumph again
LAST week’s Delting and Whalsay’s hockey match was the decider in the Shearer Shield single league competition. Both teams were previously unbeaten and it was Delting who came out on top, beating the isles team 3-2 to take the title.
Meanwhile the Grutness league saw Spurs remain undefeated, beating Delting 3-1 to remain top of the table. Zetland won 3-1 against Scalloway, Whalsay defeated Burra 3-2 and Delting beat Scalloway 3-0.
Grutness Trophy
Spurs 3, Delting 1
Both teams went out strong with end to end play. With some speedy fast passing Spurs slotted home a smooth goal from the silky Stacey Laurenson.
Delting fought hard and after a long corner equalised through Julie Kirkness. Spurs were quick to respond and made it 2-1 at half time with a stonker from Emma Gray.
The second half was evenly fought again with some brilliant tackling and interceptions from both teams. Spurs were then dramatically awarded a flick, which Laurenson stood up to take, scoring a cracker of a flick into the bottom left hand corner.
Delting remained calm and kept fighting but were unable to score.
Players on the match where Eyvonne Manson for Delting and Emma Gray for Spurs.
Scalloway 0, Zetland 3
In a game full of incidents Zetland were very determined and strong from the very start, although for the first 15 minutes play was zooming from end to end.
Eventually in the 15th minute Margaret Johnston put Zetland ahead after a cross into the far post was expertly struck to send the ball over the line.
The goal led to the best spell of the match for Zetland. Shona and Amy Keith were key players and along with Heather Robertson and Liza Johnston, they kept the pressure fully on Scalloway’s defence, to be rewarded by a brilliant Keith goal in the 25th minute.
Scalloway tried not to let their head go down and Rhiannon Inkster and Heather Miller were tireless in their efforts, but near the end of the first half Keith sent in a lovely shot on goal which ricocheted off a defender for number three.
The Scalloway team were much more focused in the second half and were mounting a good deal of pressure on Zetland’s defenders when Lara Jamieson was struck in the face with the ball. The game stopped to get her some first aid.
By this time the light was fading fast and the lights at one end of the pitch were not functioning. There was discussion between the referees and team captains but it was decided to play on.
Shortly after Lisa Johnston was struck in the mouth and she went off injured. This left Zetland one player short but Scalloway could not capitalise.
The play was all in the Zetland half and Meg Nicolson, Mhari Moncrieff and Naomi Johnson linked well and were constantly pushing into the Zetland circle. But excellent defending, near misses and poor finishing combined to keep the score to three.
Best on the night were Shona Keith who shone for Zetland and Meg Laurenson who fought tirelessly for Scalloway.
Whalsay 3, Burra 2
Whalsay were first to settle putting the Burra defence under pressure with great linking play between the midfield and forwards but Burra’s defence stood strong.
Burra were first on the score sheet when a driving run from Josie Jamieson down the right wing ended with her striking a cracker from the edge of the circle into the back of the net.
Whalsay levelled minutes later when they were awarded a short corner. After a goalmouth scramble Shelley Sandison tapped in to make it 1-1.
The goal spurred Whalsay on and a move involving Maree Simpson and Victoria Duthie resulted in Duthie’s shot being saved, only to be coolly slotted home on the rebound by Simpson.
Burra were denied at the other end when a well-struck shot from Jamieson resulted in a great save from Whalsay gkeeper Ellie Rickard.
Burra came out fighting in the second half, switching the ball around using full width of the pitch.
After five minutes of end to end play Whalsay started applying pressure and were awarded a short corner which Zoe Irvine stopped and struck firmly past Burra’s keeper.
Immediately Whalsay’s defence were again under attack through a break from Jamieson. They had worked tirelessly all night against her continuous fast runs but were unable to stop another powerful strike which found the backboard.
Players of the match for were Maree Simpson for Whalsay and Bethany Laurenson for Burra.
Delting 3, Scalloway 0
Delting were quick to apply pressure in the opening stages and their efforts were rewarded with several short corners. Delting’s Jill Hibbert was the first to get her name on the score sheet when she struck a fantastic ball into the back of the net.
The first half continued with Delting having most of the pressure but a very determined Scalloway side defended their circle well.
Scalloway came out into the second half a more threatening team and this resulted in some good end-to-end play. Delting’s Jillian Copland, Toni Sidgwick, Lauren Peterson and Debbie Robertson defended very well as Scalloway frantically pressurised the Delting goal.
Delting fought back, making some good linking play through their midfield and were again rewarded with another short corner. In a similar fashion to her first goal, Hibbert converted the corner to give Scalloway goalie Christine Laurenson with no chance.
Megan Hibbert sealed the Delts’ victory scoring a great goal when the ball was crossed into the circle. Players of the night were Debbie Robertson for Delting and Michaela Johnson for Scalloway.
Mid Brae Inn Cup
With three teams entered the 11-a-side competition, at Brae on Saturday, took the format of a round robin. All games were to be decided so any drawn games were decided by penalty flicks. As the tournament entered its final game the pressure was on both Juniors and Whalsay who both needed to win to be champions. In the end it was the Juniors who stepped up the pace and collected the silverware.
Zetling 0, Juniors 1
A nine-man Zetling took on a reformed Juniors team. Both teams worked hard throughout pouncing on every available opportunity. Zetling took early control and were awarded a number of short corners but the Juniors defence stuck strong and were determined not to let Zetling score.
With the score 0-0 at half time the second half started frantically as both teams wanted the win. Zetling’s keeper Jillian Copland kept control from the back with Aimee and Shona Keith linking well with Hannah Irvine and Ingrid Nicol.
The ever-vocal Kristen Jeromson of Juniors made sure that her side were not to given up and kept the determination going.
With minutes remaining in the final half Shelley Sandison with good work from Emma Inkster and Michaela Johnson managed to slip the ball past the Zetling defence.
Whalsay 0, Juniors 3
Juniors started well with good accurate passes and Kristen Jeromson netted the first goal 15 minutes into the first half.
Whalsay settled and played some good defending hockey, preventing Juniors scoring again. Whalsay went on the attack and were unlucky not to score.
A good clearance from goalie Stacey Laurenson and good passing from Juniors enabled Emma Inkster to pounce on a Whalsay clearance and scored Juniors’ second of the half.
The second half saw Juniors change their keeper with Kristen Jeromson going in goal and Stacey Laurenson move into an outfield position.
Whalsay played the second half with determination but Juniors were awarded a penalty corner which Stacey Laurenson converted with absolute precision into the bottom right corner.
Whalsay 2, Zetling 2
Maree Simpson opened the scoring for Whalsay with Linda Irvine scoring a second in quick succession.
Zetling were quick to turn the pressure and were pushing Caroline Irvine and Diane Shearer to their limits, allowing them no time to relax.
Jillian Copland linked up well with Lorraine Johnson and Shona Keith, moving the ball from side to side, and they created great space for their team-mates to move into and attack. Zetling’s determination was rewarded with a great strike from Jillian Copland.
With Zetling’s spirits lifted and Whalsay tiring, a second Zetling goal looked imminent. Karen Hutchison of Zetling was able to compose herself in front of goal with nice passing between herself, Hannah Irvine and Ingrid Nicol to secure Zetling’s second equaliser.
Zetling went on to win the game 4-1 on penalty flicks.
Fixtures
Monday – Grutness Trophy: Whalsay v Delting at 6.30pm (Burra rep/Vaila Hough); Scalloway v Burra at 7.50pm (Delting rep/Kerri Moulder).
Thursday – Town Hall seven-a-side knockout tournament at 6.30pm.
