Kelburne on the march to Grand Final

 

Glynhill Kelburne have advanced to the Aberdeen Asset Management National League Grand Final courtesy of a 3-1 win over Grange at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
Matt Connor gave Grange the early advantage in the sixth minute after he fired the ball home after Glynhill Kelburne ‘keeper Mark Fulton had parried the initial penalty corner drag-flick.
However, the defending champions hit back immediately when Johnny Christie beat Sean Hadfield with an exquisite little dink over the Grange goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
In the 29th minute, Kelburne were awarded a penalty corner and Scott Sutherland stepped up to slam home the ball for a 2-1 lead.
Eight minutes into the second half, player-coach Mark Ralph gave his side a 3-1 lead, firing a drag-flick into the top right hand corner and sending Glynhill Kelburne to the Grand Final.
In the other Top 4 match, Western Wildcats defeated local rivals Hillhead with a 3-2 win.
Dougie Simpson and Gary Maitles gave Wildcats a 2-0 lead at the interval, before Alan Meikle dragged Hillhead back into the match two minutes after half-time.
However, Scott McCartney fired Wildcats back into a two goal lead three minutes later following a penalty corner to make it 3-1.
Andrew Hilton made it 3-2 with a penalty corner effort in the 49th minute, but it was Western Wildcats who hung on to progress.
Hillhead will now play Grange tomorrow in the ‘second bite’ fixture at Peffermill (3.30pm).
In Pool A of the Bottom 8 Play-Offs, Grove Menzieshill came back from being 3-1 down against AAM Gordonians to clinch a 3-3 draw.
Craig Falconer broke the deadlock for the Taysiders in the eight minute to give Chris Anderson’s side a 1-0 lead, before Gordonians hit back with three goals, including a double from Ian Coffey and a Martin Babicky strike.
However, captain Gavin Tomlinson pulled his side back into the contest from the penalty spot in the 60th minute before Paul Martin equalised in the 69th minute.
Edinburgh University were comfortable winners over Watsonians with a 5-2 success in Stirling.
Goals from Alastair Wood, Ian Moodie, Graham Moodie, Koen Waasdorp and Robbie Greenhalgh ensured the students got off to a good start in the play-offs. Watsonians’ strikes came from Thomas Swarbrick and Fraser Sands.
Meanwhile, in Pool B, Inverleith have started their play-off campaign strongly with a convincing 4-1 win over PSL Team Sport Clydesdale.
Stuart Hatton opened the scoring for the Edinburgh side shortly before half-time, netting from open play in the 30th minute.
However, the Titwood outfit responded in the 42nd minute courtesy of a penalty corner strike from Murray Collins to make it 1-1.
Inverleith were then awarded a penalty corner in the 50th minute, with Scotland international Adam MacKenzie stepping up to rattle home an expert drag-flick.
Five minutes later, Hatton grabbed his second of the match to make it 3-1 before MacKenzie wrapped up the scoring in the 63rd minute, again from the penalty corner set-piece to complete an excellent performance.
Equally, Division Two champions Uddingston have made an equally impressive start to their play-offs campaign, giving their promotion push a huge boost as they defeated Dundee Wanderers 4-1 at Forthbank.
Josh Cairns completed a double, together with goals from Martin Lorimer and Johnny Roy. Bobby Ralph got the consolation goal for the Dundonians.

Glynhill Kelburne have advanced to the Aberdeen Asset Management National League Grand Final courtesy of a 3-1 win over Grange at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Matt Connor gave Grange the early advantage in the sixth minute after he fired the ball home after Glynhill Kelburne ‘keeper Mark Fulton had parried the initial penalty corner drag-flick.

However, the defending champions hit back immediately when Johnny Christie beat Sean Hadfield with an exquisite little dink over the Grange goalkeeper to make it 1-1.

In the 29th minute, Kelburne were awarded a penalty corner and Scott Sutherland stepped up to slam home the ball for a 2-1 lead.

Eight minutes into the second half, player-coach Mark Ralph gave his side a 3-1 lead, firing a drag-flick into the top right hand corner and sending Glynhill Kelburne to the Grand Final.

Kelburne v Grange 2

(Michael Bremner of Glynhill Kelburne battles for the ball. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

In the other Top 4 match, Western Wildcats defeated local rivals Hillhead with a 3-2 win.

Dougie Simpson and Gary Maitles gave Wildcats a 2-0 lead at the interval, before Alan Meikle dragged Hillhead back into the match two minutes after half-time.

Western v Hilhead 2

(Western Wildcats progress to the next round of the play-offs at the expense of Hillhead. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

However, Scott McCartney fired Wildcats back into a two goal lead three minutes later following a penalty corner to make it 3-1.

Andrew Hilton made it 3-2 with a penalty corner effort in the 49th minute, but it was Western Wildcats who hung on to progress.

Hillhead will now play Grange tomorrow in the ‘second bite’ fixture at Peffermill (3.30pm).

In Pool A of the Bottom 8 Play-Offs, Grove Menzieshill came back from being 3-1 down against AAM Gordonians to clinch a 3-3 draw.

Menzieshill Gordonians 2

(Grove Menzieshill came back from 3-1 down to clinch a draw against AAM Gordonians. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Craig Falconer broke the deadlock for the Taysiders in the eight minute to give Chris Anderson’s side a 1-0 lead, before Gordonians hit back with three goals, including a double from Ian Coffey and a Martin Babicky strike.

However, captain Gavin Tomlinson pulled his side back into the contest from the penalty spot in the 60th minute before Paul Martin equalised in the 69th minute.

Edinburgh University were comfortable winners over Watsonians with a 5-2 success in Stirling.

Goals from Alastair Wood, Ian Moodie, Graham Moodie, Koen Waasdorp and Robbie Greenhalgh ensured the students got off to a good start in the play-offs. Watsonians’ strikes came from Thomas Swarbrick and Fraser Sands.

Meanwhile, in Pool B, Inverleith have started their play-off campaign strongly with a convincing 4-1 win over PSL Team Sport Clydesdale.

Stuart Hatton opened the scoring for the Edinburgh side shortly before half-time, netting from open play in the 30th minute.

However, the Titwood outfit responded in the 42nd minute courtesy of a penalty corner strike from Murray Collins to make it 1-1.

Inverleith were then awarded a penalty corner in the 50th minute, with Scotland international Adam MacKenzie stepping up to rattle home an expert drag-flick.

Five minutes later, Hatton grabbed his second of the match to make it 3-1 before MacKenzie wrapped up the scoring in the 63rd minute, again from the penalty corner set-piece to complete an excellent performance.

Equally, Division Two champions Uddingston have made an equally impressive start to their play-offs campaign, giving their promotion push a huge boost as they defeated Dundee Wanderers 4-1 at Forthbank.

Uddingston - Dundee w 2

(Uddingston’s Josh Cairns scored two goals to give his side a great start to the play-offs. Photo Credit: Andy Lovat)

Josh Cairns completed a double, together with goals from Martin Lorimer and Johnny Roy. Bobby Ralph got the consolation goal for the Dundonians.

Visit the Aberdeen Asset Management Men’s National League for all the results and fixtures.

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