Goals against the freeze in National League

Kelburne Edin goal

The weather has played a big part in National League this weekend but the games that survived the freeze delivered great hockey, and goals aplenty.

Bromac Kelburne moved into pole position in Men’s National League 1 after seeing off Edinburgh University 5-1 at Glasgow Green. They moved two points above Grange whose fixture against Western Wildcats became a victim of the weather.

It was ominous for the students when the champions created a gilt-edged chance to take the lead in only 20 seconds; Lee Morton was completely through on the goalkeeper but the chance was spurned when he had two fresh air shots at the ball.

The Paisley side did take the lead in five minutes, the Edinburgh defence failed to clear the danger and the ball fell kindly to Johnny Christie who fired home a fierce low reverse stick shot. The visitors had the chance to level but Ross Jamieson`s powerful low shot cannoned off a post.

Aussie Ryan Holding doubled Kelburne`s lead with a simple tap-in after a penetrating cross from Nick Finlayson. The latter added the third himself – the Kiwi picked up the ball in midfield, waltzed into the circle and unleashed an unstoppable reverse stick shot past Dave Forrester.

The students were back in the mix early in the second half, a well-worked penalty corner routine was finished with a clever deflection by Moodie for 3-1. The goal ushered in Edinburgh`s best spell of the game, Antonis Efthymiou had the chance for another goal at a set piece but his effort was blocked by Rory Kerr in the Kelburne goal.

Two goals in as many minutes killed off the game as a contest, at Kelburne`s first penalty corner of the game Josh Cairns sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a low drag flick. Almost immediately after, Christie found Lee Morton in space and his vicious shot went in off the goalkeeper.

Kelburne Edin

A Mohammed Faeez hat-trick was the catalyst in Uddingston Riva`s 6-2 victory over bottom side Gordonians. The result lifts the Lanarkshire side out of the relegation zone – they sit in eighth on eight points. The other goals came from Gordon Anderson and Steven Percy.

Grove Menzieshill might have moved up to third in the table as they led Watsonians 4-0 six minutes into the second half, but the umpires considered the pitch unplayable and the result is now void. Clydesdale versus Hillhead was also a victim of the weather.

In the women`s first division on Friday evening, Edinburgh University moved to within two points of leaders Milne Craig Western and Grove Menzieshill after defeating Dundee Wanderers 6-0 at Peffermill. Sophie Maunder was top scorer with a brace while the other goals came from Amy Brodie, Kirsten Peters, Sarah Robertson and Louise Campbell. The result leaves Wanderers stuck in mid-table, a long way from a top four place. Edinburgh University however have now clocked up 16 points, just two shy of Grove Menzieshill and Clydesdale Western who both now have a game in hand.

The game between Western and Wildcats was abandoned just after half-time due to frost with the former a goal ahead when a penalty corner shot went in off defender Lucy McArthur.

The other games in Edinburgh hosted by Watsonians and CALA failed to begin, also due to the frost.

Photos by Duncan Gray

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