Inverleith, Western and Grove Menzieshill have all qualified for the men’s indoor semi-finals

Inverleith, Western and Grove Menzieshill men confirmed their semi-final status with some degree of comfort but there is still a live issue in pool A between Dundee Wanderers and Dunfermline Carnegie. With one game to go Wanderers have a single point lead and a better goal difference but next weekend they play Inverleith while the Fifers are up against bottom side Uddingston – so things might change!

Inverleith showed Dunfermline Carnegie no mercy at all in the opening match of pool A with a thumping 11-1 win and are almost certain pool winners the catalyst was the lethal finishing of Kyle Taylor and Keir Robb.

The foundation came in the first half with a 5-0 lead, the opener coming from captain Stephen Dick to be followed by John Stephen, a double from Taylor and one from Robb. The procession of goals continued in the second half with Taylor picking up another two, Robb also scored twice for his hat-trick, Stephen got another and Alex Wilson was also on the score card.

Not such good shooting for Western as the champions went down 4-2 to Grove Menzieshill – the Taysiders now move to the top of pool B on goal difference although both sides look almost certain to make the semi-finals.

The match was a triumph for Grove Menzieshill`s Luke Cranney who scored all four goals and he started with an early double to give Grove Menzieshill a two goal lead at the interval. Cranney completed his hat-trick five minutes into the second half and it looked all over for the champions. But Fraser Moran pulled one back only for Cranney to strike again at a penalty corner. Andrew McConnell made it 4-2 at a set piece but it proved too little too late for the champions.

Dundee Wanderers did their aspirations of a semi-final spot no favours with a 4-4 draw against Uddingston in their opening game of the day – incidentally the Lanarkshire side`s first point of the indoor season. As a result the Taysiders still trail second placed Dunfermline by two points.

A prominent feature of the contest was hat-tricks from Wanderers` Bobby Ralph and Uddingston`s Louis Gardiner.

Grange came off the bottom of pool B with a 6-3 win over Watsonians who now take over bottom spot on goal difference. Fraser Sands gave `Sonians a 7 minute lead but by the interval Grange were 3-1 up through Duncan Riddell and a double from Fraser Heigh. Early in the second half captain Jacob Tweedie added a fourth for Grange from the spot. Sands scored again to make it 4-2 but thereafter Heigh and Tweedie increased Grange`s advantage to 6-2 with two minutes left. Guy Rowson did get a very late consolation for Watsonians.

It started well enough for Wanderers with a three goal lead after 12 minutes, Ralph got two with K Gibb getting the other. But in 14 minutes Uddingston returned to the fray with quick-fire strikes from Luca and Louis Gardiner to pull it back to 3-2 at the interval. Then in the second half Uddingston went into a 4-3 lead with a double from Louis Gardiner, but just when a first victory looked in sight Ralph slotted in the equaliser with three minutes left.

Inverleith confirmed their top status in pool A with a resounding 16-2 win over Uddingston. There was no let up in the avalanche of goals for the Edinburgh side – top striker was once again Kyle Taylor with five, there were four each for Keir Robb and John Stephen while Ollie Wilson, Alex Wilson and Derek Salmond pitched in with singles.

However, Dundee Wanderers have slipped into second spot and a possible semi-final place with a 4-2 win over Dunfermline Carnegie. Although Bobby Ralph put the Taysiders ahead in 8 minutes by half-time the Fifers were 2-1 up through Mike Ross and Andrew Doyle. But the second half belonged to Wanderers with three goals through K Gibb (2) and Ralph again to seal the three points and a disappointing day for Dunfermline.

Western took to losing their pole position in pool B badly, they retaliated in style and beat Watsonians 17-2 in their second match and thereby replaced Grove Menzieshill at the top on goal difference.

The match was a personal triumph for Andrew McConnell with a magnificent seven, Fraser Moran scored a hat-trick while there were two apiece for Adam Mckenzie and Scott Menzies. Not to be forgotten, Guy Rowson and Fraser Sands replied for Watsonians during the goal avalanche.

In contrast, Grove Menzieshill were unable to compete with Western`s goal scoring spree in their 6-2 win over Grange in their final game of the day. A Luke Cranney double gave the Dundonians a two goal advantage at the interval. Chris McFadden added a third three minutes into the second half, but then a Grange comeback looked a very real possibility with two penalty corner conversions from Albert Rowling. However, the revival failed to materialise as Cranney again, Jamie Johnstone and Ollie James pushed Grove Menzieshill into a 6-2 winning score – but not enough goals to prevent Western leapfrogging them at the top.

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