Uddingston Stun Unbeaten Watsonians as Scotland’s Premiership Race Blows Open
Watsonians went to Uddingston unbeaten. They came home beaten, and it wasn’t even close.
Uddingston won 3-1 on Saturday, and by their own account the scoreline flattered the visitors. Two quick field goals late in the third quarter from Euan Gilmour and Ewan Hutchison put Uddy in control, and Joe Russell added a third early in the fourth. Watsonians’ only reply was a late penalty stroke, too little and far too late.
It was a repeat of last season’s equivalent fixture, when an unbeaten Watsonians side sitting top of the league were taken down at Bothwell Castle by the same 3-1 scoreline. Some grounds just have a team’s number.
The win keeps Uddingston unbeaten too, seven games in, and third in the league with a game in hand. The number that jumps out is at the other end: they’ve conceded just five goals in those seven games, three of them against top opposition in Edinburgh University, Western Wildcats and now Watsonians. That’s the best defensive unit in the country right now, and they know it.
Clydesdale cash in
Watsonians’ weekend got worse. Clydesdale’s men beat them 4-1 at Titwood, with Struan Walker scoring twice, Ali Douglas adding a smart finish and Chris McFadden converting a trademark drag flick from a penalty corner. The win lifted Clydesdale into the top four play-off places, and like their women’s side they’ve now won three league games in a row.
Clydesdale Western’s women kept their side of the bargain too. They beat GHK 4-0 at Titwood, Jen Eadie scoring twice and Lexi Sabatelli and Heather Lang adding one each, to stay top of the Women’s Premiership, three points clear, with one game left before the indoor break.
Elsewhere, Edinburgh University’s home match against Hillhead was postponed as frost hit fixtures across the weekend.
For our money, Uddingston are the real story here. Seven games unbeaten, five goals conceded, and they’ve now beaten the side everyone had pencilled in as champions. The title race in Scotland just got interesting.
