Whalsay secure hockey’s Shearer Shield after 2-0 victory over Delting

Whalsay won senior hockey’s Shearer Shield on Monday, finishing off the campaign with a 2-0 win over Delting and maintaining a 100 per cent record in the competition.

Shearer Shield

Zetland 0, Scalloway 4

Zetland had come out on top in the last encounters between these two teams but Scalloway were to get their revenge.

Scalloway made a very positive start and had Zetland pushed back into their defensive area early in the game. Good connecting play between Kate Moncrieff and Lynne Scollay opened up the Zetland defence and a through ball found Moncrieff at close range who scored after just four minutes.

Zetland stepped up the tempo and Aimee Keith and Kara Thompson put in some strong challenges in the middle of the pitch to give Maisie Unsworth a chance to open the scoring. However, she didn’t quite connect and the ball went wide.

A quick counter attack followed for Scalloway with a great build-up between mother and daughter Mel and Rhiannon Inkster down the right wing. Again Moncrieff and Scollay were involved and a mistimed tackle in the Zetland defence gave Moncrieff an opportunity for her second. Debi Kane made the first save but the rebound was slotted home.

Again Zetland came back at the village team with Keith covering a lot of ground. But it was not their night and Inkster and Anne-Marie Robinson tidied up every penetrating ball from Zetland. Desperate to get on the score sheet, Zetland were caught out in a counter attack and Meg Laurenson slotted home to make it 3-0 at half time.

Zetland rearranged their team at half time and looked much more settled. Julie Ramsay was looking dangerous down the right and Hannah Irvine and Abbey Irvine were connecting well on the left. It looked like it could be a comeback. However, Scalloway stayed cool and cleared everything in defence.  Zetland began to run out of ideas and had not capitalised on any of their chances and short corners.

Rhiannon Inkster sealed the game for Scalloway in the last 10 minutes when she directed a shot into the goal following a rebound from Kane in goal during a short corner.

Scalloway were deserved winners, having continued to develop as a team throughout the season.  Zetland were unlucky not to get on the score sheet as they were in possession in Scalloway territory for a good part of the second half.

Best for Scalloway was Rhiannon Inkster while Thompson and Maisie Unsworth shone for Zetland.

Delting 3, Spurs 0

Spurs had the initial pressure on a damp night at Brae. Delting soon settled and after a period of possession has a direct shot on goal which was initially saved by Emma Gray in the Spurs goal but Brenda Leask was on hand to convert the rebound.

Jillian Copland organised the Delting team well and they used their substitutions to great effect. Spurs built up numerous attacks through good play from Gayle Johnson linking through to Morag Fox and Gayle Henry but they were unable to convert.

The second half began in much the same vein, with extreme determination shown by both sides. This paid off for Delting when Julie Kirkness was able to scoop the ball past the keeper during a goalmouth scramble.

Delting got the third and final goal of the game shortly after with a beautiful drive from the 25-metre line by Brenda Leask to reach the inside of the circle and slot the shot past the keeper.

Best on the night were Gayle Johnson for Spurs and Julie Kirkness for Delting.

Burra 2, Scalloway 2

Scalloway started the stronger, passing well and using the whole pitch to spread the play around. A lack of communication at times between Burra players resulted in more than one player going for the tackle and either losing the ball or conceding a free hit.

Scalloway opened the scoring through Sandra Petrie who found herself free in the circle and slotted the ball past the keeper. Burra’s Stacey Laurenson equalised with a reverse stick sweep and scored a cracker of a goal.

End-to-end play continued and a very fast-paced match  saw the scores level at half time.

Burra’s Kaytie Jeromson, who had played at right midfield, was moved to left back and she intercepted a number of balls much to the annoyance of the Scalloway attack.

Rhiannon Inkster in Scalloway’s defence kept her players well organised and made sure they knew where they were supposed to be, which worked well as Burra had to work really hard to get any attempts at goal.

Burra’s Josie Jamieson had a fantastic solo run from beyond the halfway line. She went streaming up the pitch but was unlucky not to score from a superb strike which struck the outside of the goal.

Scalloway did some skilful passing and the ball was struck into the circle where Mhari Moncrief finished it off to make it 2-1.

Not to be outdone, Burra made a quick break from the centre pass and Lorrie Robertson, in a perfect position, coolly smashed the ball into the back of the Scalloway goal to equalise.

Unfortunately the final whistle blew before either team could score again, but it was a fair result for an evenly matched game.

Both teams fielded some younger players who showed some impressive skills which goes to show what an exciting future there is for Shetland hockey.

Player of the match for Burra was Kirsty Halcrow while for Scalloway it was Naomi Johnson.

Delting 0, Whalsay 2

Whalsay were immediately on attack, applying pressure on Delting. However, defenders Nicola Blance, Janetta Williamson and Debbie Robertson stayed strong and were able to clear the ball out of danger.

Whalsay’s Maggie Kay Irvine and Zoe Irvine showed excellent linked passes to drive Whalsay’s attack forwards once again.

Whalsay scored their first goal from a strike at the top of the penalty circle by Victoria Duthie. Delting fought back well showing determination and were able to drive on into the Whalsay defending half with good runs down the wings by Rowan Nicholson and Lorraine Johnson.

Delting were awarded two penalty corners and were unlucky not to score. Whalsay then had a good strong period of possession, testing the Delting defenders as they were awarded a short corner with minutes to go till half time. Deborah Mowat and Shelly Sandison showed skilful passing in the circle but Blance was quick off the mark and cleared the ball.

The second half saw Delting begin confidently, eager to get a goal back and even the score. Delting were awarded a short corner early on but the shot was blocked by Whalsay defenders.

Whalsay were then quick to make a fast break, with Maree Simpson free to drive the ball up the park. Delting’s defenders tried their best to kill any chances for Whalsay but they were soon awarded two penalty corners which were both cleared by Delting’s Janetta Williamson.

Both teams continued to play well, applying pressure and showing great teamwork. Whalsay managed to come out on top as Deborah found space and remained composed to get round the keeper and push the ball goalwards.

Delting’s attack were determined and continued to push for goals, narrowly missing out on several occasions in the dying minutes of the game.

Players of the match were Nicola Blance for Delting and Maggie Irvine for Whalsay.

The Shearer Shield was presented to the winning team by Louise Cheyney.

• For tables and fixtures see Shetland Times on Friday.