Alpha Data Carnegie Hockey Club’s first team now seem to be playing to their real potential, having only managed three points from the fifteen available in their first five league games, the strong performances in recent games is highlighting the fact they are more than capable of holding their own in this division.

On Saturday the team recorded another win, with a clean sheet and with it a further three points to add to their league tally. With a 2-0 away victory over rivals Falkirk HC, Carnegie have now taken seven points from a possible nine in their last three games providing a very positive change in fortunes.

Despite some early pressure by Falkirk, they were unable to take advantage, whilst the self-confidence developed by improved performances ensured Carnegie were able to cope. In fact Carnegie were able to counter with strong attempts of their own resulting in the opening goal coming when Andy Doyle combined with his fellow forward Gary Clark who converted from close range. Strong defending ensured this lead was maintained through to half time.

Falkirk continued to force the issue in the second period in an effort to get back on terms, but resolute defending including strong goalkeeping from Matt Jones denied Falkirk an equaliser. Carnegie countered towards the end of the game and were awarded a penalty corner, which was successfully converted by veteran sweeper Ewan Ogilvie. Some indiscipline by Falkirk resulted in them having a player sent off and Carnegie were able to see out the game and take full points.

St Andrews University HC are the visitors next weekend in the final league game before the outdoor league's winter break. A win will leave Carnegie mid-table and although the students are yet to secure their first point of the season and bottom of the league, Carnegie will be looking to guard against complacency.

Alpha Data Carnegie Hockey Club’s 1st eleven ended the first half of this season’s campaign on Saturday with a win and in doing so consolidating a mid-table place in National Division 2. Due to the start of the National Indoor League, which Carnegie will be participating in, the National Outdoor leagues close down until February 2010.

Coming into the fixture Carnegie were on a three game unbeaten streak and looking to secure a victory over bottom of the table St Andrews University HC, whilst on paper it certainly looked like the outcome would be a formality, such games have previously been the undoing of the Dunfermline side.

Carnegie's game plan almost immediately began to pay dividends, as the students struggled to break out of their half, as chance after chance was created. It was not long before the deadlock was broken, with Andy Doyle scoring his first from open play, quickly followed by Stuart McArtney finishing off a well worked attacking play.

However, after being awarded a penalty corner, the visitors got on the score sheet when the ball was deflected into the Carnegie goal by defender Jamie Stewart, with keeper Matt Jones stranded.

Despite resulting pressure from the students, Carnegie extended the lead, when a penalty corner of their own was converted by skipper Craig Duncan and the first half ended 3-1 to Carnegie.

Carnegie started the second in the same positive fashion, with Andy Doyle scoring his second, followed up by Craig Duncan's second, with the final goal of the game and completing his hat trick coming from Andy Doyle, a convincing 6-1 victory for Carnegie.

Saturday's result capped a very impressive recovery to Carnegie's league
campaign for the first half of the season; the emphasis now switches to Indoor hockey.

Other Carnegie teams results on Saturday: -

Carnegie 3’s v Edinburgh 2’s – 2-4 defeat
Carnegie 4’s v Kinross – 2-4 defeat
Carnegie 5’s v Edinburgh Colts – 2-2 draw
Carnegie 6’s v Kinross 2’s - 0-3 defeat
Carnegie 7’s v Inverleith Development XI – 4-1 victory

Hockey is not only played outdoors, the indoor game is also an important discipline of the sport and Alpha Data Carnegie Hockey Club recognises this aspect, with a Men’s and Women’s team competing in this seasons’ National Indoor Leagues.

The Men’s side are participating in Division 3, together with teams representing Quasar Kinloss, Tinto GC Wanderers, Stepps, Garscadden, East Kilbride, Waverley Inveresk Trinity & Inverleth Hockey Clubs, whilst the women are competing in their Division 3, against Perthshire, Quasar Kinloss, Haddington & Grange Hockey Clubs.

Last weekend both sides kicked off their respective indoor campaign, with the Men’s side comprehensively beaten in both opening fixtures. However, Dunfermline Carnegie Ladies travelled to Dundee for their two fixtures on Sunday and having been relegated last year were looking forward to playing different teams in National Division 3.

In the first game, against Quasar Kinloss, the Ladies dominated, taking the lead after only 20secs of the start, eventually running out 8-1 winners, goal scorers were April Wardlaw 2, Gillian Oswald 2, Gillian Thornton 2, Kat Mollison and Sheila Duncan.

The opposition for the second game were Perthshire, who were a much stronger team, in the first half the Ladies competed well but tiredness set in, likely the result of having no substitutes and Perthshire won went on to record a 10-5 victory. Dunfermline Carnegie Ladies goal scorers were Gillian Thornton 2, Sheila Duncan 2 and April Wardlaw.

An encouraging start, the team travel back to Dundee this weekend with Haddington and Grange the opposition.

Other Carnegie teams outdoor results on Saturday: -

Carnegie 3’s v Grange Development XI – 0-7 defeat
Carnegie 4’s v Grange 5’s – 0-3 defeat
Carnegie 5’s v Grange 7’s – 3-0 victory
Carnegie 6’s v Eskvale – 4-1 victory