Match Report – U/19 Girls Scottish League – DWPC/Menzieshill v Warrender.

Published: 31 March 2025

Sun 30^th March 2025 – NSA Stirling .

DWPC/M’Hill have lost their final game of the Scottish U/19 girls WP League season, 11-13 in an exciting and closely contested match to a strong combined Warrender team. As a result, Warrender have won the league. Very well done to them.

We lined up with a young team of 13 players but were unfortunately missing our two most experienced players and captain in Lucy MacNair (illness) and Kayleigh Goldschmidt (abroad) both of whom had major contributions in our last game v Warrender when we won 20-7. On the other hand, Warrender had managed to strengthen their team considerably from that game making 7 changes and introducing three new players.

Per 1: Defences were on top in the early exchanges with both teams finding it difficult to score. Warrender went ahead before we equalised through Millie after Erin had gained the penalty on the drive. 1-1 at the end of the period.

Per 2: In the end, this turned out to be the pivotal period. Both teams scored early with Warrender going 2-1 ahead before Libby Wallace equalised. Unfortunately for us, we then let our level drop as we conceded 4 goals in a row. We were inaccurate in our shooting at one end allowing Warrender to counterattack and score through Rosa Green and Emily Lake and then we were slow to put pressure on their strong shooter Eve Kerr who scored from the perimeter and then scored a penalty. We did steady the ship, sharing the last 4 goals of the period through goals from Eleanor at man-up after Millie gained an exclusion and one from Ava from the perimeter. We then defended well but lost a late goal for Warrender to lead 4-8 at half time.

Per 3: We started this period very well, using an active drop to put pressure on their shooters and then cover their centre forward to score 3 goals in a row through two from Libby W and one from Ksenia. We then missed a man-up gained by Millie on the drive before Warrender called a time-out which paid dividends as Guilia Baldi scored immediately from their right wing. Millie worked hard to gain another exclusion which unfortunately was missed again before Millie did really well to force her 3^rd exclusion of the period which this time was converted by Kayla. The score was now 8-9 and we were playing well. It was then disappointing that with just 48 seconds on the clock Warrender managed to score two. The first one on the counter after we lost possession and then again just 20 seconds later after losing possession again quickly and conceding an exclusion which Eve Kerr converted from the perimeter when man-up. We did really well to win the period 4-3 but trailed 8-11 at the three-quarter stage.

Per 4: We started this period defending well but struggled to penetrate Warrender’s press defence. They scored again through left hander Guilia Baldi but as the period progressed, we kept working hard and gained an exclusion through positive driving by Erin who then converted the man up chance. And then an important moment. Erin gained another man-up on the drive but we were slow to get the ball back to her in space, the pass was intercepted allowing Warrender to counter and score to lead 9-13. This effectively was a two-goal swing and put the game just out of our reach. Positively we kept working scoring the last 2 goals of the contest through Ava and also from Erin at man-up after she had gained another exclusion.  We won the period 3-2 but just came up short with Warrender winning 11-13.

Game positives:

• This was a very positive team performance. All our players enjoyed water time and gained the opportunity to compete against a very strong and experienced Warrender team. That we pushed them so close and indeed had opportunities to perhaps win the game is to their credit.
• We did very well to challenge their defensive pressure and to gain 10 exclusions and one penalty and concede only three exclusions and a penalty was a commendable effort.
• We only lost one period and although always behind, the team never stopped working to reduce the scoreline arrears. Our defence and goalkeeping in the 2^nd half were very good restricting Warrender to just 5 goals from 17 shots. We won the 2^nd half, 7-5.

Areas to work on:

• Most of our attacking drives came from our right side so we need to work hard to balance our attack on the left side, driving with intent especially after our first movements are blocked by the defender. We need to work on how drivers can work together to create space for pass or shot.
• Finding the free player quicker when man-up, especially if our player has been fouled off the ball to gain the exclusion as a quick and accurate pass to this player will create a good goal scoring opportunity. When we do set up our 4:2 or 3:3 attack formation, each player needs to receive the ball with an intent to being a goal scoring threat. More team practise is needed in this phase of play.
• As we head into the Scottish Cup, find more time to train together again.

Match statistics:

Per 1: 2-1

Per 2: 4-8 – (2-7)

Per 3: 4-3 – (8-11)

Per 4: 2-3 – (11-13)

11 shots scored from 31 taken. (35%), 13 goals conceded from 32 faced – (41%)

1 penalty gained - 1 scored, 10 exclusions gained – 5 scored – (50%)

1 penalty conceded – 1 scored, 3 exclusions conceded - 2 goals lost (33%)

Possession lost: 20/45 – (44%) - Possession gained. 11/44 – (25%)

Team: Goals & Exclusions/Penalties in brackets.

1. GK Bea Meldrum (12/25 saves) 2. Erin Livie (2), 3. Ava Thornton (2), 4. Libby Wallace (3), 5. Millie Wishart (1 pen scored), Eleanor Campbell (1) (1 exc), 7. Aimee Shaw, 8, Ruby Oswald (1 exc) 9. Libby Duncan, 10. Lottie Affleck, 11. Kayla R (1) (1 exc), 12. Ruby R (1 pen conceded), Ksenia M (1)

Match Report: Stirling/Western v DWPC/M’Hill Ladies - SNL

Published: 22 March 2025

Thursday 20/03/25 – Strathclyde Sport, Glasgow.

DWPC/M’Hill Senior Ladies have lost their 2nd away league fixture in 7 days with a 17-27 reverse in a high scoring match against league leaders Kirkintilloch & Kilsyth. Despite the disappointment of a ten goal deficit, there were many positives in this performance. From last week, shots taken and goals scored were almost doubled and possession loss was also reduced.

We lined up with 11 players, with only Caitlin over 20 yrs and 5 of the team U/17. Unfortunately Ava was unable to play as she was unwell, but thanks are extended to Eleanor Campbell and Ksenia Mann for travelling down from Dundee at short notice to enhance our numbers and make their first start for the Senior team.

Per 1: We made a slow start with KK moving into an early 2-0 lead through CF Isla MacDonald, but as we got to grips with the game tempo, we edged the next 5 goals 3-2 with positive efforts from Kayleigh R and 2 from Lucy. Unfortunately, KK upped their driving intensity and were able to feed their CF and as we sagged off to protect our Centre Back, KK were able to score from the perimeter. They scored 6 without reply and we trailed 3-9 at the period end.

Per 2: Although only reducing the score deficit by one by the end of this period, this was a much better performance where we made better attacking decisions, reduced our possession loss to just 4 turnovers, scored excellent perimeter shots and lobs through Lucy (3), Anna and Kayleigh G (1 each) from Kayleigh R when man up and Ksenia’s first senior goal on the counter attack.  In addition to our scoring, Bea made an excellent penalty save to help us achieve a very positive 7-6 period win for a 10-15 score at the halfway stage.

Per 3: A 2-6 scoreline in this period did reflect KK lifting their intensity again but there were missed opportunities for us as we were unsuccessful with the three man-ups we worked hard to gain. We did still struggle though to successfully cut their threat at CF with Isla MacDonald (2) and Neve Duncan (1) scoring from that position. They also gained and scored a penalty from there, and when we attempted to drop, they scored 2 from the perimeter. We did though score two ourselves through Anna and Zara but at the three-quarter stage we trailed 12-21.

Per 4: To the team’s credit we never stopped trying and again traded goals in a high scoring final period. A nice man up goal from Molly after good combination passing pulled back one back before KK scored again. We reduced the deficit again through Kayleigh R but KK replied with 2 goals to extend their lead again. An excellent man down save led to us gain a penalty which Lucy converted with a strong bounce shot and then scored again after a change of possession and an excellent 2 v 1 counter-attack. With just 19 secs on the clock KK scored the last goal of the contest for a 6-5 period win and a 27-17 win. Well done to them for the win and some excellent attacking play.

Reflections:

To score 17 goals in any game is a very positive effort and the team are to be commended in doing so against the ever developing and improving Kirkintilloch. We played smartly in attack making much better decisions on when to shoot, when to feed the CF and when to dump the ball on 30 seconds than we did last week v Western/Stirling.

Pre-match we discussed the driving and goal scoring threat of Nicole Morrison and Eugenia Arbus and it is to the team’s credit that these excellent players were limited to just 2 goals with determined 1 v 1 defending on the drive and scramble defence. KK are a strong outfit with goal threats spread across their team however and whilst we blunted this particular threat, we struggled to deal effectively with their CF prowess and strength.

Areas for improvement:

• Defensive speed mobility to try and apply:
  • Tighter marking when pressing to stop balls being passed into the CF from the perimeter or wing positions.
  • An ability to spin around the CF to front or then get behind again in relation to the ball and distance from the goal
  • An ability to move out to put pressure on perimeter shooters and then crash back to the CF when employing drop defence.
  • An ability to force more opposition turnovers before they can shoot.
• 6 v 5 offensive situations:
  • We need to find time to practice different formations and personnel in different positions so that we can become a more consistent goal threat.

Match summary:

1. Team: Goals(): Bea Meldrum GK , Erin Livie, Eleanor Campbell, Kayleigh Roy (3), Kayleigh Goldschmidt (2), Molly Meldrum (1), Anna Campbell (2), Lucy MacNair (6 + 1 pen) Caitlin O’Malley, Ksenia Mann (1), Zara Christie (1)
2. Exclusions/Penalties: Eleanor (2 exc), Kayleigh R (1 exc), Molly (1 exc, 1 pen), Anna (1 exc), Zara (1 pen)
3. Man-up: 3 scored from 6 attempts (50%) – Penalties: 1 from 1 scored (100%)
4. Man-down: 2/4 saved (50%) - 1 scored from 2 penalties conceded (50%)
5. Possession lost before shot: 21/57 – 37%
6. Possession Gained before opposition shot: 11/58 – 19%
7. Shots taken: Open Play – 12 scored from 27 (44%) – Man-up: 3 scored from 6 (50%) – Penalties: - 1 from 1 (50%) – Total: - 17/34 (50%)

MHW/DWPC U17 Boys in Action on Sun 16 Mar - Match Reports

Published: 17 March 2025

An entertaining and successful double header for the U17 Boys today in the last two games of the season.

Menzieshill / Dunfermline 27-13 Warrender Blacks
The game posed a perfect opportunity to give the younger and more inexperienced players lots of game time and responsibility. With the usual core players all starting the game on the bench, the young crew played the majority of P1 and went to toe to toe with Warrender in an end to end opening period. Toby and Zety contributing significantly defensively and Logan offering a threat on the counter.

In the second period the boys took complete control of the game scoring 9 unanswered goals, with Aaron a real force in goal. Logan ended the period with a quickfire hat-trick catching the Warrender defence napping each time.

After further extending the dominance in P3, the boys went into overdrive in the final quarter scoring 12 goals which included first goals at U17 level for Toby and Zety. Alongside Logan's hat-trick, Toby and Zety's efforts John managed to grab an additional seven goals before Aaron for the second time in a weekend score a last second thunderbolt from own half.

Menzieshill / Dunfermline 32-7 Portobello
Backing up in game 2 of the day, the boys were faced by stronger opponents and the talk before the game was to finish the league season on a high and putting a marker down for the upcoming Scottish Cup.

The boys came out firing and Porty just couldn't live with their speed, strength and accuracy. Toby grabbed an early goal before John ended the period with a 60 second hat-trick, ended the period 10-1 up.

The boys didn't let up in P2 with a further 10 goals netted including 4 from John and a few excellent saves from the ever improving Aaron.

Period 3 was the opportunity to rotate and give players opportunities in different positions, with Logan performing well at CB and Toby enjoying CF for the second time this weekend.

P4 was another dominant quarter (9-1) with Zety causing a constant threat on the break and working extremely hard in defence, a couple more goals from John took his tally to 9 for the game.

Match Report – U/17 Girls Scottish League – DWPC v Warrender

Published: 16 March 2025

Sat 15^th March 2025 – Carnegie Centre Dunfermline

In a very positive performance, DWPC have won their first game of the 24-25 Scottish U/17 girls WP League season with a 15-10 defeat of Warrender. The result a reverse of the 12-18 loss to the Edinburgh team back in December.

Fielding a team of 10 players, as unfortunately Bethany couldn’t make the game, this was a fluctuating contest with us controlling the game in the first two and a half periods to lead 9-3, before Warrender staged a great comeback scoring 5 in a row to trail by only 1 at 10-9 mid way through the last period. Positively though, our team rallied again to win the last minutes of the game 5-1 for a deserved victory.

Per 1: The two teams shared the first 4 goals of the contest with us scoring through Ruby Reid and Ava from a penalty before Hali put us ahead to lead 3-2 at the period end.

Per 2: We continued to defend well at the start of this period managing to restrict Warrender’s shooting and on gaining possession we counter attacked well through Molly and Ellie on the right, Ruby R and Isla on the left and Hali and Ava centrally. We scored 4 in a row through a double from Isla and one each from Hali and Ellie to lead 7-2 before Warrender pulled one back for a 7-3 scoreline at half time. Contrast this with the 2-11 scoreline at half time the last time we played the same opponents.

 Per 3: We continued our positive play at the start of this period scoring another 2 goals through Hali and Ava, but just as we did in the last fixture, Warrender fought back with strong defensive press to force possession turnovers and wrong option shooting from us to then hit us on the counter to score 3 without reply to trail by only 3 at 9-6 at the three quarter stage.

Per 4: Warrender’s positive play continued at the start of this period as they pulled a further two goals back to trail by just one. Isla extended our lead to 10-8 but Warrender scored quickly to reduce arrears again. To our team’s credit we then rallied again, became more solid in defence, Eve made some good saves and we were much more accurate in possession and pass and shot selection to score 5 goals without reply through Ruby R and a double each from Hali and Ava to lead 15-9. Warrender finished the scoring for a final result of 15-10. Very well done girls.

Game positives:

• A very determined and hardworking performance in which all 10 of our listed players gained water time and made positive contributions.
• Our press defence was for the most part effective leading to several possession steals, making Warrender have to work very hard for shot opportunity and also provide the springboard for a counter-attack that produced several goals.
• We had a 100% record of defending the four opposition 6v5 situations.
• After equalising at 1-1 we were never behind for the remainder of the game.

Areas to work on:

• Pass more accurately and concentrate on good shot selection and accuracy when man-up. If the opposition players press out on the wings and perimeter our post players must move into the spaces left to receive the ball and shoot.
• Pick up the ball quicker when counter attacking to avoid possession loss and then attack the goal to try and draw defensive cover to allow a cross pass or be in a strong position to shoot.
• Make strong efforts to secure the ball on gaining possession. Swim or kick away with it into space. Avoid pushing the ball to team-mate under pressure.
• See you all on Tuesday!

Match statistics:

Per 1: 3-2

Per 2: 4-1 – (7-3)

Per 3: 2-3 – (9-6)

Per 4: 6-4 – (15-10)

1 penalty gained - 1 scored, 3 exclusions gained – 0 scored

4 exclusions conceded and 0 goals lost (100%)

Team: Goals & Exclusions in brackets.

1. Eve (GK), 2. Ruby O (1 exc), 3. Ava T (4), 4. Hali F (5) (1 exc), 5. Ruby R (2) (1 exc), 7. Poppy R, 8. Isla E (3), 9. Molly O, 10. Ellie T (1) (1 exc)