Dumfries hockey club closed 2009 with what would be their toughest game of the season, a home game to league leaders Strathclyde University.
Having not played for two weeks due to frozen pitches, the Dumfries players were clearly struggling to find any rhythm.
The Strathclyde players showed their class as they stroked the ball around the field with relative ease as the Dumfries team struggled to get possession of the ball.
Strathclyde took the lead early in the first half after some nice moves.
They continued to press the Dumfries defence but they could not find a way through.
Even from penalty corners, Strathclyde could not double their advantage, quick pressing from the runners saw Strathclyde struggle to get their shots on target.
As the half rolled on, three last-ditch stops on the goal line from Ross Wilson kept Dumfries in the game at half time.
The second half started with Dumfries having the better of the play, some neat play down the right-hand-side saw chances for Clark, Coulter and Robertson but all shots were off target.
Dumfries had another chance to get back on terms when Campbell found himself free inside the area but his shot scraped the post as it went wide.
Strathclyde got themselves back into it and doubled their lead mid way through the half.
Towards the end of the game a controversial decision from the umpire saw the Strathclyde team awarded a penalty stroke.
Dumfries keeper Moscrop was looking to keep up his amazing record defending penalty stokes, the striker was clearly phased by the presence of the Dumfries keeper.
He stepped up and sent the flick towards the top corner of the goal but Moscrop reacted like a cat and a magnificent diving save saw him save the shot and send it wide of the post. The Dumfries players were clearly delighted as they surrounded the keeper to congratulate him.
Dumfries were, however, undone again in the dying moments when a break away saw Strathclyde score again.
Two defeats in a row for Dumfries sees them slip to fourth place in the league but they still have two games in hand against teams towards the foot of the table.
Team: S Moscrop, R Wilson, G Edgar, J McCoskry, R Hopkin, J Bennett, A Ross, J Campbell, J Clark, M Coulter, S Robertson (C) Subs (all used): J Busby, M Redman.
Anyone interested in playing hockey is welcome to our training sessions on Tuesday nights from 6pm-8pm at the KGV Park, Dumfries. Training will be on all through the Christmas and New Year period.
Dumfries and Galloway Standard
Dumfries Sports Club 