Weekend preview 18th March

NL1 - Watsonians v Hillhead

With the season entering the latter stages and the top three teams comfortable in the play off spots, everything is to play for, for the chasing pack.  Hillhead will have mixed emotions after last weekend’s loss to Kelburne and a disappointing draw away to Clydesdale on Sunday.  They have broken their recent scoring drought which is a positive and have found Michael Sherry in fine form at penalty corners.  Surrendering a 2-0 lead at Titwood, however, will leave them feeling some regret.  Goals for Hillhead came from Michael Sherry.   This weekend they face Watsonians who are three points behind Hillhead in seventh, making this a proverbial six pointer.  The two sides played out a thriller at GHK earlier in the season with Hillhead scoring a late winner to triumph 6-5.  This promises to be another very tight match which both teams will fancy their chances in.  

RL1 – Grange v Hillhead

Hillhead’s recent run does not get any easier when faced with an away trip to runaway league leaders Grange.  Having had a weekend off Hillhead will be keen to blow away any cobwebs early on and to stifle Grange for as long as possible.  Despite a heavy league defeat, Hillhead pushed Grange all the way in the cup losing 4-3 on the day.  Hillhead can trouble any team in the league on their day, but will have to be on top form to take something away from Fortress Fettes.

RL2 – Hillhead v Rottenrow

Hillhead face bottom side Rottenrow at GHK on Saturday on the back of another high scoring win against Falkirk IIs.  Despite a lacklustre first half Hillhead went in at halftime level at 2-2.  As has happened so often this year Hillhead came out on top in the second half scoring six unanswered goals.  Goals came from Matt Appelquist (3), Phil Godsiff, Ciaran Quinn, Lewis Morrison, Alan Meikle and Marcus McIntyre-Kemp.  Hillhead struggled against Rottenrow when the two sides met at Glasgow Green with their keeper in terrific form to keep the score to 3-1.  Hillhead have sharpened their shooting skills up since then and will fancy their chances of a few goals again.  Rottenrow will do well to prevent on form striker Matt Appelquist scoring, as he has scored hat tricks in his last two outings.

WD1 – Hillhead v Clydesdale IIIs

Hillhead have a date with destiny as they face up against title hopefuls Clydesdale threes on Saturday.  Buoyed by a strong performance and a 7-0 win against Kelburne, Hillhead will hope to take that scoring form into the crucial and potential league decider.  Scorers for Hillhead were Dan Ebbatson (3), Ben Laing, Andy Macey, Stuart McGregor and Callum Millar. Clydesdale have lost more games than Hillhead season, with draws proving costly for Ebbatson’s men.  This will be a very tight match with both teams only too aware of its significance.

WD3 – Hillhead v Clydesdale IVs

On Saturday Hillhead fives have the opportunity to seal West District Third Division barring the club’s own sixth team overturning an inferior goal difference amounting to 16 goals in their remaining three matches.  Hillhead having only lost one game all season so will be favourites against Clydesdale who currently sit third but will be aware of the threat they pose having been pushed all the way in an earlier 2-0 league win.  They have maintained good form recently though with the most recent result another shut out in a 4-0 win against Kelburne.  Goals from James Irvine (2) and Adam Brady (2).

WD3 –  Helensburgh v Hillhead VIs

Hillhead sixes are making a late push for the title and did their slim chances some good with a thumping 9-0 win against Anchor twos on Saturday.  Goals from Gregor Munro (4), Euan Menzies (3). Yet to drop a point in 2017, Hillhead need to keep scoring barrel loads of goals to overturn what in 2016 seemed like an unassailable lead.  Helensburgh will prove difficult opposition having inflicted the sixth XIs only defeat in the last eleven outings.  If Hillhead are at full strength and have an experienced back line they will have enough quality to win this testing encounter.

WD4 – Giffnock v Hillhead VIIs

Hillhead’s seventh XI travel to the southside on Saturday on the back of what on paper reads a disappointing draw against Dumfries seconds at home.  This weekend they face Giffnock twos who currently sit two places below them in the league but with games in hand.  The teams have met twice before this season with a win for each so this one could go either way, with home advantage the decisive factor.