Competitive contests scheduled for this weekend’s Premiership action

The Premiership is back in action this weekend with some tasty fixtures scheduled for both leagues.

A competitive contest is on the cards at Titwood in the men’s Premiership where fifth placed Clydesdale host Watsonians, who are only a point ahead of them, and the prize for the winner is that coveted fourth place in the table.

Prior to the start of the season Watsonians captain Tom Swarbrick declared that finishing in the top four was the aim – and fourth is where they are now after six games.

We caught up with Tom to see if anything had changed in the Watsonians psyche, he said, “Our target of finishing in the top four is going well, however we would like to be more competitive with the top teams.” Perhaps a reference to their back to back 5-0 defeats at the hands of Grange and Western.

Tom went on, “Beating Clydesdale, and putting a small gap between us, would be a great start, but we know that will be difficult. It`s a pivotal fixture.

“I`m sure it will be a tough game and hopefully a high standard. They`ve had some good results drawing with Edinburgh University and coming close to Grange.”

Clydesdale, again under the coaching eye of Ciaran Crawford, have made a solid start to the season and, as mentioned above, were desperately unlucky not to get at least a share of the points against Grange last weekend. Having clawed their way back to 2-2 with strikes from Andrew Allan and David Clark, and with the seconds ticking away were floored by a scrambled goal from Grange`s Calum Lothian.

A similar plucky effort from the Titwood based outfit could see a positive outcome against Watsonians.

In the men`s league, leaders Grange, the only side with a perfect record, are away to a Kelburne side that have won two of their fixtures and lost the other four. The Paisley outfit are in rebuilding mode under Gordon Shepherd and only Iain Scholefield remains from the 14-in-a row Paisley side – and he is still slotting in the goals.

Edinburgh University are still two points adrift of Grange but are banging in the goals in large dollops – it is now 43 in six games after last weekend`s nine against ESM. The students are at home to an Uddingston side that has risen to seventh and will hope they can put a halt to Edinburgh`s goal avalanche.

The same may be said of Western`s visit to Dunfermline Carnegie, especially as Andrew McConnell is on fire at the moment with 15 goals this season of which seven came in last weekend`s 9-1 win over Inverleith. The trouble is that it is not only McConnell that can find the net, there is also Rob Harwood, Adam Mackenzie, Jack Mackenzie, Jonny Christie… and others. In the meanwhile, the Fifers have slipped back to tenth in the table and will look to dig deep for Saturday`s visit of Western to try and reverse that trend.

Hillhead have climbed into sixth and a home win against Inverleith could lift Yan Adams’ troops even higher. Adams, Hillhead`s player/coach, led from the front last weekend with a double in the 4-1 defeat of Monarchs.

However, although Inverleith lost 9-1 to Western last Saturday on perhaps a day to forget for them, they have recorded positive results against Monarchs and Kelburne, Charlie Jack scoring seven goals in the process, and occupy eighth place in the table.

The final game on the men’s card is the battle of the newcomers – FMGM Monarchs v ESM. Both have struggled to find their sea legs in the Premiership but it`s a chance for one of them to gain their first victory in the top flight.

The women`s top end of the table now looks firmly established. Watsonians, the only unbeaten side in the division, are at home to Glasgow University and the champions’ coach Keith Smith will have noted the students midweek 3-2 win over Wildcats.

The same may be said of Edinburgh University who welcome bottom side Dundee Wanderers to Peffermill. Although the students lost to Watsonians, their other encounters have produced five solid victories with 34 goals in the process.

Fourth placed Western Wildcats take on Grange following Tuesday night`s 3-2 defeat by Glasgow University. Wildcats had a horror third quarter conceding three goals – Ciara Forgie got two while Dara Devine scored the other for the students. Goals from Becky Ward and Rachel Bain in the final quarter clawed the score back to 3-2 but the Auchenhowie side`s comeback ran out of time and Glasgow emerged with the three points.

Clydesdale Western make the trip to Aberdeen to face a Gordonians side that have moved up to eighth in the table after four points in their last two games – but taking points off Derek Forsyth`s outfit in the North East is a challenge they will hope to overcome.

GHK are on the verge of the top four with ten points from their six games – they put up a good show against Watsonians two weeks ago but succumbed 4-0 in the end. With a similar performance coach Fiona Semple will target to pick up another three points at home to an Inverleith side that have managed one win in their five matches to date. A home win would certainly keep GHK in fifth spot in the table.

Last night Hillhead moved above GHK into fifth spot with a 2-1 win at Uddingston although now they have played a game more. After a goalless first half it was left to captain Carla MacNiven to calmly flick the ball into the net after a good build-up move. The score was doubled with Ava Wadsworth casually pushing the ball past the keeper, again after a well-worked move. The home side finally got on to the score sheet with a late penalty corner conversion by Caterina Nelli. The result leaves the Lanarkshire side in the bottom echelons of the table.

Meanwhile in Edinburgh Grange moved up to eighth after a 2-1 home win over Inverleith. Becky Mill and Heather Croll were on target for Grange while Elise Miller got Inverleith`s consolation.

Sunday sees the catch-up fixture between Gordonians and Glasgow University, both sides looking for points to progress up the league table, so this could be a close one.

 

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