Western Wildcats purr into pole position in the Men`s Indoor Division 1

Western Wildcats finished top at the end of the men’s league part of the competition, Inverleith climbed up to second two points behind, Grove Menzieshill drop down to third and Dundee Wanderers move into fourth above Grange. At the other end, the relegation issue looks to be between Clydesdale, Watsonians and bottom side Uddingston – but it`s still all to play for in the group stages next weekend…and beyond.

Perhaps billed as the game of the day, but in the end Wildcats triumphed 11-2 over second placed Grove Menzieshill to confirm their status at the top of the indoor National League at the end of this stage of the competition.

Theo Wood opened the scoring for the Taysiders in five minutes, but any smidgen of a Tayside surge foundered on three quick-fire goals from Wildcats` Jamie Golden, Hamish Galt and Cameron Moran.   Euan Cuthill brought the score back to 3-2 but Golden struck again to make it 4-2 for Wildcats at the interval.

Wildcats advanced their tally to six through Callum Duke and Andrew McAllister…and at that point Menzieshill withdrew their keeper for an additional outfield player to rescue the contest.  The result was five further goals for Wildcats, Golden scored another two, Moran and Galt found the net again and Rob Harwood added another.    The score line may have flattered Wildcats but there is no doubt they deserved the three points on offer and pole position.

In their opening match of the day Wildcats were given a slight shock when Murray Banks opened for Grange in three minutes but the Auchenhowie side finished up 8-3 winners.   By nine minutes Wildcats had purred into a 3-1 lead through Rob Harwood, Jamie Golden and Cameron Moran, although Calum Lothian pulled one back for Grange towards half-time.  But a burst of four goals in six minutes after the interval settled the issue – they came from Golden twice for his hat-trick, Harwood again and Hamish Galt for a 7-2 advantage.   In the closing minutes Albert Rowling got another for Grange and Callum Duke scored again for Wildcats to complete the scoring.

Menzieshill started their day with a win to keep the pressure on Wildcats, but they only got the better of Watsonians by the odd goal in five.  The Dundonians went ahead courtesy of a strike by Connor Chapman in only two minutes but by the interval Watsonians had levelled through Craig Tenner. Menzieshill seemed to be heading for a comfortable win when Alfie Bonnar and Euan Cuthill put them 3-1 ahead but Tenner pulled another one back in the closing minute…but too little too late.

Inverleith`s drive for parity with Wildcats had a stuttering start in the opening game of the day at DISC, they drew 2-2 with Dundee Wanderers.   In a tight first half it was the Taysiders who broke the deadlock with an open play strike from Sean Dowie.   The champions looked to have got their act together in the second half by taking a 2-1 lead through Sam Hunt at a penalty corner and then Rory Steadman, but they failed to hold on to that lead and Kennedy Gibb scored in the closing seconds for a hard fought draw… and frustration for the Edinburgh side.

The champions returned to their former selves in their second outing with an 8-1 win over Clydesdale.   The foundation was laid in the first half with a double from Alex Wilson and other goals from Stuart Hatton and Rory Steadman.  The goal procession continued unabated in the second half through Kyle Taylor, Olly Wilson and two from Charlie Jack.  Clydesdale`s belated consolation came from Luke Bannerman.

Inverleith drew to within two points of leaders Western with a convincing 12-3 thumping of Watsonians – the catalyst was Charlie Jack who came to life with five to his credit. The champions led 4-1 at the interval with goals from Ollie Wilson, two by Rory Steadman and Jack, Jamie Boardman got Watsonians` consolation. But Inverleith cut loose in the second half, Jack added another four to his tally, Wilson got another while the other strikes came from Sean Stewart, Alex Wilson and Andrew Clark. For Watsonians Boardman got his second of the game and Craig Tenner was also on target.

After their draw with Inverleith Dundee Wanderers went one better in their second outing with a 4-1 win over Uddingston to move above Grange into fourth place.  Oscar Brown opened for Wanderers only for Louis Gardiner to equalise for Uddy before the interval.   But the second half belonged to Wanderers with Fergus Sandison providing a couple and Callum Ross the other for a clear victory. A relatively successful day for Wanderers which pushes them up to the top echelons of the table.

Watsonians, meanwhile, finally broke their duck with a 6-4 win over Grange in a game of two halves.   Grange were 3-2 leaders at half-time, a double from Albert Rowling and another from Calum Lothian gave Grange a 3-2 lead at the interval, Euan Burgess and Jamie Boardman replied for Watsonians.   But the second half was somewhat different, Livio Belotti put Grange two ahead but that only sparked off a goal surge from Watsonians, Burgess again, Craig Tenner., Jamie Leonard and then Danny Cain rattled in four goals in as many minutes to grasp the three points.

In the struggle at the bottom it was Clydesdale who emerged on top with a 4-3 win over Uddingston, leaving the latter rooted at the foot.    But it did not look like that for most of the game.  At the 36 minute mark Uddy were cruising at 3-0, Louis Gardiner and two from Angus Sinclair did the damage.   But then the tables turned in a belated comeback, two from Luke Bannerman, Charlie Feeney and Stuart Eadie in the final minute stole the points and kept the Dale in sixth place.

 

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