Dundee – Edinburgh final guaranteed

The Dundee derby, so often the fixture of the indoor
season in the past, kicks off the semi-finals of the Scottish
indoor knock-out competition at the Bells Sports Centre in Perth
this weekend.

Wanderers were late entrants to this competition by sneaking
into fourth place in the league at the expense of Glynhill Kelburne
and Western Wildcats last weekend – all finished on 16 points but
Wanderers had the advantage of a better goal
difference.   Four times Scottish indoor champions
between 1999 and 2003 have since fallen from grace, but there were
perhaps signs of revival this season.

Nonetheless, it would be a major surprise if they got one over
on their great rivals Grove Menzieshill in the opening semi-final,
if league form is anything to go by.  Menzieshill won the
first encounter 3-1 but gave Wanderers a massive 12-1 defeat in the
return fixture, Chris Wilson scored five while Ross McPherson got a
double.

Although Menzieshill have already taken the league title this
season, Wanderers can expect no quarter from coach Bruce
Cuthill.   “I will be out to win the competition, every
game that we take part in is taken seriously.  But winning the
competition will be difficult, you have to be ready for all the
games and you can`t afford any slip ups.”

Cuthill further added:  “If we meet Inverleith in the
final, they will be out for revenge and that should make for an
interesting game.  But the way it is set up, then any one of
the four teams could win.   But it would be nice to get
the league and cup double though.”

If Cuthill achieves his ambition, he will have to do it without
international keeper Andy Ross and defender Andrew Thornton who
returns to his coaching duties in the United States.

The Edinburgh derby between Inverleith and Grange is a difficult
one to call, certainly Inverleith completed the league double over
their rivals, but both games ended only with a single goal
victory.

Stuart Neave, Inverleith`s coach, will want to finish his final
competitive games before next weekend`s European baptism with a
piece of silverware under his belt.  “Grange have run us close
in both league games this season, so it should be good,” he
said.  But he will have to do it without key players, Chris
Grassick`s injury will probably keep him out for the rest of the
season, and goalkeeper Allan Dick is also not available.  The
latter is perhaps not such a loss as Neave commented  on how
well Graham Stuart has been playing recently between the posts.

In contrast, David Knipe, Grange`s coach, hopes to have a full
squad out for the Inverleith clash.   “It will be a
difficult task to win the cup, we haven`t managed to beat either
Inverleith or Menzieshill this season, and our games with Wanderers
are always very tight, but it is always a huge benefit for us to be
playing the top sides so that we continue to learn and
progress.”

Realistically, Menzieshill and Inverleith are favourites to make
the final, but the cup always has the knack of throwing up a rogue
result from time to time.

In the outdoor Arthur McKay Scottish Cup Highland and Granite
City Wanderers play their delayed tie for the right to play first
division Inverleith at home in the quarter finals.

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