Challenge to old order

ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT NATIONAL LEAGUE  – 
WOMEN

There is the slightest of indications that there may be a
challenge to the old order in the Aberdeen Asset Management
national league, certainly current champions Grove Menzieshill are
in pole position with a perfect record after seven games, but
Edinburgh University and CALA Edinburgh are newcomers to second and
third spot respectively.   Meanwhile, Grove`s traditional
rivals Milne Craig Western have dropped to fourth in the table.

The Edinburgh students, under the guidance of player/coach Sam
Judge, seem to have build on last season`s success when they
finished a very creditable fourth.    Although they
trail Grove by five points, having lost narrowly 2-1 to the
Taysiders and drawn with Western, Edinburgh have shown that goal
scoring is their speciality, Scotland players Nikki Kidd, Sam Judge
and Sarah Robertson have the lion`s share of the 36 goals notched
up so far this season.

Judge expressed satisfaction with progress so far this season
despite dropping the five points which she put down to lack of
experience and these games being early in the
season.    

“I think the difference this season has been the introduction of
experienced players like Nikki Kidd and Louise Fleming, and also
having a top goalkeeper in Nicki Cochrane,” remarked
Judge.   “The intensity at training is high and the girls
work really hard during the week, so there is a real competition
for a place in the team now which is great.”

Judge is envisaging a tough match with Dundee Wanderers on
Saturday and she identified Vikki Bunce, Becky Ward and goalkeeper
Carmin Dow as their  influential players.   Last
season`s clashes were close affairs, the students winning both 4-2
and 2-1, but in the interim Edinburgh have gone from strength to
strength while the Dundonians have yet to show any consistent
form.  (Peffermill at 14.45)

CALA have undoubtedly been the surprise packet of the season so
far, culminating in the scalp of Western last Sunday.  
“Winning the game last Sunday has given the girls great confidence,
motivation and ambition to retain this run of form,” said Lee
Pendreigh, head coach.

Pendreigh has put this season`s success down to hard training
along with a talented blend of youth and experience in the
squad.  At the back Pendreigh has identified keeper Anna
Gourley and 16-year-old Shona Mcnab who has stepped up to the
starting line-up at left back.    “Shona`s talents
in tacking and reading the opposition have added great strength to
our squad defensively,” she said.

Up front, Amber McNeill, Millie Brown and captain Emma Watson
have provided the firepower, and it was the latter two that
destroyed Western last Sunday.

On the Giffnock game this weekend, Pendreigh remarked: “We
approach every game in the same professional manner, but the girls
are under no illusion that it will be a very tough game, however
they are determined to keep up their winning ways.”  

Giffnock may not be the side they were in the last few seasons,
and are presently in seventh place, but they will still provide a
stiff test for the emerging CALA outfit.  (Hutchesons`
Grammar School at 14.00)

Grove may not be winning games recently with the same conviction
as in previous season, they were held to 2-2 half-time scorelines
by both CALA and Glynhill Kelburne last weekend, but it is
difficult to see their unbeaten record falling at home to
Grange.  (DISC at 14.30)   Further, Western
will be anxious to recover their lost composure with a home win
against Kelburne at Titwood, but Neil Menzies` charges are now
eight points behind Grove after the shock defeat by CALA, and their
challenge for the title is slowly slipping away.  (Titwood at
16.00)

The scramble to avoid the drop at the bottom end of the table
appears to be a three-way contest between Grange, Inverleith and
Wildcats, and that is what makes the head to head between the
latter two sides so crucial.   Inverleith picked up their
first victory in the top flight last Saturday with a 3-2 win over
Grange, and will be anxious to consolidate on that
breakthrough.    In contrast, the Wildcats are
propping up the division with only a single point from a 2-2 draw
with Giffnock, and are desperately in need of a win to avoid
becoming detached at the foot.  (Mary Erskine School at
14.00)

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