Hillhead men and Glasgow University women make the top six cut
GHK continued their impressive run in the women’s Premiership with a 2-1 win at St Andrews University, a result that knocked the students out of a top six place. Both sides leading scorers were on target again, Lucy Williamson got both for the Glasgow side while Liz Agatucci replied for St Andrews. The prize for GHK is second spot behind leaders Clydesdale.
That is because Watsonians lost for the second week in a row – this time a 1-0 reversal at the hands of Western Wildcats in Edinburgh. This is the second week in a row the champions have drawn a goal blank which is surprising given that they scored 64 goals in their first nine games.
Watsonians had a lot of chances in the first quarter including four penalty corners which the Wildcats keeper Becky Hague blocked. Just before the interval a great team move from the Cats was finished off by Lexi MacMillan for the opening goal – which transpired to be the winner. The Cats got their claws into the contest in the second half with a resilient defensive effort which prevented a frustrated Watsonians forward line from grabbing an equaliser.
However, Clydesdale Western are still the pace makers with a four point lead over GHK after a nine goal win over Hillhead – and they still have a game in hand. The catalyst was a five goal spree from Jen Eadie – easily top scorer of the day – while the others came from Heather Howie, Anna Winter, Ciara Forgie and Ava Graham.
However, it was the Glasgow students who moved back into sixth place with a 2-1 home win over Grange.
On Thursday evening Inverleith pulled themselves further away from the danger zone with a 7-1 win over Fjordhus Reivers in Edinburgh. Elise Miller was top scorer with a double while the other goals came from Kerry-Anne Hastings, her first goal for Inverleith, Amy Harrison, Bopii Monte, Rachael Campbell and Eva Hodge.
However, Inverleith lost the odd goal in seven to neighbours Edinburgh University in what transpired to be a close encounter. It was 2-1 for the students at half-time, then in the third quarter Inverleith went into a 3-2 lead, but in the end Edinburgh triumphed 4-3. The students’ scorers were Zara Kennedy in five minutes, then they missed from the spot, but Kirston Murison fired the ball into the corner for 2-1. In the final quarter Ava Findlay put the ball into the top left corner of the net and 70 seconds later Ava Smith converted from a penalty corner for the winner. In the interim Steph Bain scored twice for Inverleith along with Bopii Monte.
Uddingston were 5-0 winners over Fjordhus Reivers.
There seems no stopping Western Wildcats in the men`s Premiership, they visited ESM and came away with a 5-1 win to open up a five point gap at the top of the table. Western were two up at the interval, Jamie Golden scored a penalty corner and that was followed by an open play strike by Tommy Austin. Although ESM pulled one back through Ali Irvine after good work from Jamie Hogarth, the Cats continued to find the net through Golden again with a flick from the top of the circle, Fraser Moran scored a penalty corner and Cameron Moran completed the victory with a deflection tap in for a conclusive victory.
It is Watsonians who hold on to second spot after a convincing five goal victory over Grove Menzieshill on Tayside. The goals emanated from a penalty corner strike by Danny Cain, a spot conversion by Dan Coultas, two goals from Roddy Craig and finally Tommy Orr. Grove Menzieshill coach Gav Byers admitted that “Watsonians were stronger than us today.” The result meant the end of the Dundonians’ aspirations for a place in the top six.
Grange suffered their third loss in five games when they went down 2-0 to Edinburgh University and consequently drop down to fourth in the table. The catalyst behind the students` victory was a quick-fire double in the second quarter, the first came from a direct penalty corner strike by Iain McFadden followed a minute later by an open play goal by Keir Robb. Grange came more into the game in the second half but could make no inroads into the students lead.
However, pride of place should go to Hillhead – they started the day two points adrift of a top six place but rivals Uddingston and Grove Menzieshill stumbled and the Glasgow side went on to beat Inverleith 3-2 to grab sixth for the next phase of the Premiership. It was 1-1 at half time, Kyle Taylor opened for Inverleith but Ruari Thomson levelled with a deflection. In the second half the scored advanced to 2-2 with Ewan Campbell scoring a scrappy goal for Hillhead then Charlie Jack equalised at a penalty corner. The winner, and a top six place, was secured by a late winner from Andrew Black.
Uddingston dropped out of sixth place with a 3-2 defeat against Dundee Wanderers on Tayside. Fahmi Khalid and Finn Halliday found the net for the Lanarkshire side but a double from Sean Dowie and another from Callum Ross gave Wanderers their first win of the season and they move up to tenth.
Finally, Clydesdale are back in winning form with a 4-2 win over Dunfermline Carnegie, that leaves the Fifers adrift at the bottom. Jack Tweddle from a penalty corner slap and Andrew Doyle with a tap in were Carnegie`s scorers
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