Crunch games at Stirling

INDOOR NATIONAL LEAGUE  –  WOMEN        STIRLING SPORTS VILLAGE

“Wanderers will definitely be the team to beat this season” – that is the view of Neil Menzies, coach to Milne Craig Western, the side that top the women`s indoor first division after two games, albeit by a single goal from Wanderers.

Whether Menzies can achieve his aspiration will soon be made clear as Western and Wanderers clash head to head on Sunday at Stirling.

Certainly the Taysiders seem to have a good all-round squad – they have goalscorers in Sam Sangster from the set pieces along with Vikki and Ashley Bunce, Heather Elder and the youngsters Charlotte Watson and Jessica Ross.   Menzies also reckoned that with Carmin Dow in goal and international Becky Ward, Wanderers have the platform on which to build up a solid defence.

Yet Menzies remarked: “I think we do have the ability to beat them, but we will have to up our game from the first set of matches.    Defensively we will have to be a bit more secure, and in attack we will need to be more efficient with what will almost certainly be fewer opportunities.”

The Western coach was nonetheless pleased with the first day of competition last Sunday, in particular as his squad managed to score 18 goals with Susan McGilveray, Anna-Mae Morton, Morag McLellan and veteran Helen Walker well on target.

Perhaps Wanderers will start slight favourites for the contest, but international goalkeeper Carmin Dow is far from overconfident.    “I think the game against Western will be tougher that the games we have already played, but it will be a good challenge and I`m sure we`ll come out on top.”

Both sides have an earlier obstacle to overcome first, Wanderers take on Inverleith while Western are up against Granite City Wanderers – and they should pick up three points each.

The other intriguing game of the day brings together champions Grove Menzieshill and CALA Edinburgh.   The latter started their indoor programme with back to back wins over Glynhill Kelburne and Inverleith, and that without conceding a single goal.    Perhaps not surprisingly coach Lee Pendreigh paid tribute to keeper Anna Gourley, “her mobility and speed around the circle definitely makes life tough for the opposition.”

Pendreigh was happy with last weekend`s back to back wins, she maintained that this had given the squad confidence for the coming games against Western Wildcats, and then the big one against Grove.   In the latter contest, much may depend on the lethal finishing of Amy Brodie, double hat-tricks in the two games already played is good shooting.

“I think our squad is stronger this year, and with that in mind I would like to take some points from Grove.    In my eyes they are still the team to beat – they are very well structured with a great mix of talented youth and experience – so we will have to play our best hockey to date to win”.

The champions may not have been firing on all cylinders last weekend, in particular they struggled to dominate in the first half against both Wildcats and Granite City Wanderers, but they still picked up the available full points with improved second half displays.

Kat Cameron, Grove`s captain, reflected: “We were happy to get the six points, but after any game there are areas to develop.  This week at training we will look to improve these.

“We never got a chance to watch CALA, but we know what their strengths are.   The most important thing of us is to concentrate on our own performance.”

The Grove game will be the first real test of CALA`s renaissance, or will Grove`s immense experience be the final telling factor?

If there is an early logjam at the top, there is also one appearing at the bottom with Kelburne, Granite City Wanderers, Inverleith and Western Wildcats all without a point.    It will be interesting to see which sides emerge from the pile as some games on Sunday feature head to head contests.

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