WEST DIVISION ONE:

STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY 0

MONKLANDS 3

MONKLANDS were top of the class after emerging from their two-week break with a hard-fought win.

Three goals in five second-half minutes from Colin McAdams, Andy Paterson and Jamie Mathieson earned the Coatbridge outfit victory at Millerston.

Strathclyde University gained pass marks for a resolute performance which tested Monklands’ resolve but Sheila Moodie’s men held their nerve to stay in the West District Division One title hunt.

Keeper Andy Watt played his first game of the season but Monklands were missing the injured Lewis Fitzpatrick-Lane. George Armstrong and Andrew Leaker were also out.

It took the visitors just two minutes to apply pressure with David Aitken’s drag flick from a penalty corner crashing off the post.

That was a warning to the students who were thankful to their goalie in the 14th minute when he thwarted McAdams.

Chances were at a premium but Monklands were awarded a second penalty corner in the 19th minute with Aitken again denied by the upright.

Monklands suffered an injury scare soon after with McAdams falling awkwardly on the slippy surface and removed from the game as a precaution until the break.

The students’ busy keeper was in fine form, blocking twice in quick succession from Paterson and midfield maestro Aitken.

Monklands came out for the second period fuelled by a stirring team talk and pinned the university team deep inside their own territory.

The hosts’ custodian was proving to be a real thorn in Monklands’ side but he was eventually beaten for the first time in the 47th minute.

A careless pass was intercepted in midfield with McAdams rounding a defender as he ran through and scored in deadly fashion.

In the end, it turned out that Monklands goals were like town centre buses - you wait ages for one and then three come along at once.

Paterson doubled his side’s lead when he successfully converted a penalty flick after McAdams was fouled.

And the points were in the bag in the 52nd minute with Mathieson starting and finishing a short corner move involving Andy McKellar and Paterson.

Monklands were forced to play the final seven minutes with ten men after Mathieson was given a green card for obstruction.

But Watt was rarely called upon as Monklands closed out the game and make it five wins in a row.

Monklands are next in action this weekend when they face Kelburne at Millerston.

Monklands: Watt; McGinley, A Paterson, McKellar, Walker, Aitken, Mathieson, McAdams, Ford, McGrath, Cheung, Leaker, D Paterson, Zakaria, Currie.