So close and yet so far for Grove Menzieshill but it is Western Wildcats and Inverleith who will contest the men`s final

It was a day of drama at DISC with many close games, often decided on winning goals in the dying seconds. The catalyst of the day was Grove Menzieshill`s courageous attempt to make next weekend`s final with a hat-trick of wins over rivals Western Wildcats, Inverleith and finally Watsonians, but in the end they came up short, agonisingly on goal difference. In the final game of the day Inverleith gained that crucial point with a 6-6 draw with Western and consequently shut out the Taysiders on goal difference – the ultimate in frustration.

At the other end Hillhead were finally relegated and Uddingston will contest the relegation play-off.

Grove Menzieshill handed themselves a lifeline to finals day with a 3-2 win over league leaders Western Wildcats in the opening game of the day, but they are still five points adrift of that place with only two matches remaining.

But any upset did not look to be on the cards when Wildcats purred into a 2-1 half-time lead, Fraser Moran scored twice while Luke Cranney replied for the Taysiders at a penalty corner. Western Wildcats failed to find the net at all in the second half, but Andrew Doyle levelled for Grove Menzieshill and in the dying seconds Cranney secured the crucial three points from the spot to keep the Dundonians` aspirations alive.

However, Western`s reversal seemed to spur rivals Inverleith into action with a 7-1 win over Watsonians.  The contest was over by the interval, Sam Hunt from the spot in only two minutes, Hamish Norval, Hunt again and captain Kyle Taylor furnished a four goal lead.  Inverleith`s dominance continued in the second half with Taylor completing his hat-trick with two more goals and Norval collected another, and in between Jack Cahalin scored a consolation for Watsonians.

Grove Menzieshill were making a herculean effort to make the finals, this time they saw off Inverleith 4-3 to come within two points of the current top two sides.   It looked curtains for Grove Menzieshill when it stood at 3-3 going into the final minute, but a last gasp spot conversion by Luke Cranney secured the crucial three points.

Charlie Jack put Inverleith ahead in only three minutes but back came the Dundonians with a quick-fire double from Euan Cuthill and Findlay Duncan for a 2-1 lead at the interval.   It looked even more promising for Gav Byers` charges when Chris McFadden sunk a penalty corner for 3-1.   Inverleith captain Kyle Taylor pulled one back to be followed by Jack again in the 39th minute and a draw looked the final outcome until Cranney`s belated counter.

Despite being depleted, Western Wildcats clawed their way to Finals day with a 3-1 win over Watsonians, and on 24 points they cannot be caught by Grove Menzieshill. Cammy Moran opened the scoring in two minutes, Tenner levelled for Watsonians soon after, and in eight minutes Euan Cowan put the Wildcats 2-1 ahead.   And that is how it stood until five minutes from the end when a third goal by Fraser Moran confirmed Western’s final status.

It meant Grove Menzieshill must beat Watsonians in their last game, and then hope that second placed Inverleith are mauled by Wildcats in the final game of the day.

Menzieshill went on to do their bit and see off Watsonians 6-3 to move into second place, a point ahead of Inverleith – a hat-trick of victories.   But will second spot be temporary or permanent?

It was 2-2 at the interval, Menzieshill`s Connor Chapman and Michael Ross were on target, but so also were Fraser Sands and Jack Cahalin of Watsonians.  The latter put the Edinburgh side 3-2 up in the second half, but thereafter the Dundonians took control with a flurry of goals from Ollie Hall, Andrew Doyle twice and Ross again.

And so to the final clash between Western Wildcats and Inverleith – crucial to Grove Menzieshill`s aspirations.

But Inverleith were to gain that vital point in a 6-6 draw with Wildcats and so drew level on 22 points with Grove Menzieshill, but secured second spot on a superior goal difference.

Inverleith`s place in the finals looked secure when they lead the Wildcats 3-2 at the interval, a double from captain Kyle Taylor and a penalty corner from Hamish Norvel were their scorers while a Fraser Moran double replied for Western. It looked even better for the Edinburgh side when Charlie Jack and Ollie Wilson put them into a commanding lead. However, the depleted Wildcats clawed their way back into the contest with Luc Harrison, Adam McKenzie and Cammy Moran levelling at 5-5. Norvel`s 40th minute strike then  effectively secured Inverleith`s place next weekend although a belated spot conversion by Fraser Moran for his hat-trick finished the game square.

It remains tight at the bottom end of the division as Uddingston were held to a 3-3 draw by bottom side Hillhead who collected only their second point of the campaign – a result that really helped neither side. It was a slightly ding dong affair, Uddingston`s Connor Spouse opened only for Matt Carder to level by the break.  Then Fraser Ward put Hillhead 2-1 ahead from the spot but Uddingston replied through Ben Young and Spouse again for a 3-2 advantage.  However, in the closing minutes Carder rescued a share of the spoils for the Glasgow side.

A late penalty corner strike from Callum Ross secured a narrow 4-3 victory for Dundee Wanderers over Grange, the result moved the Taysiders further towards safety while the latter remained stuck in the relegation play-off spot. The first half ended level at 1-1 through Grange`s Callum Wood to be cancelled out by Bobby Ralph.  In the second half Kyle Reid made it 2-1 for Grange but Ralph and Ross propelled Wanderers into a 3-2 advantage. Although Murray Banks made it 3-3, it was Ross who had the belated last laugh for Wanderers.

The final games in the relegation zone have seen Hillhead relegated while Uddingston will have to endure the play-off. Grange clawed to safety with a 4-1 win over Hillhead and it was Gordon Amour who scored all the goals after Fraser Ward have opened for Hillhead.

After, Uddingston fell 3-1 to Dundee Wanderers to push them down to second bottom spot by a point from Grange. A Callum Ross double and a penalty corner conversion from Bobby Ralph were the scorers for Wanderers but the catalyst would appear to be keeper Richard Wright who saved twice from the spot and several penalty corners.  Connor Spouse got a late consolation for Uddingston.

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