Kidd and Bunce in scoring form

INDOOR NATIONAL LEAGUE  –  WOMEN        STIRLING SPORTS VILLAGE

After today`s crucial contests, the Tayside monopoly of the women`s indoor scene emerged again as Grove Menzieshill saw off the challenge of CALA Edinburgh 6-3 while Dundee Wanderers beat Milne Craig Western 4-2.    Grove and Wanderers still have perfect records at the top of the table, the latter shade it on goal difference.

Grove survived the CALA challenge with a 6-3 win, Nikki Kidd, playing her first indoor game for the Taysiders this season, was the catalyst with a crucial hat-trick.   Lucy Lanigan opened for CALA in the first minute, but Grove retaliated with strikes by Ailsa Wyllie, Ali Bell and Kidd, before Amber McNeill made it 3-2 at the interval.   The Taysiders stretched their lead in the second half, Kidd scored from two penalty corners for her hat-trick and Wyllie got the other, while Amy Brodie notched a consolation near the end.   

Earlier in the day the Dundonians almost blotted their copybook against Glynhill Kelburne, but eventually came away with a narrow 6-5 win, courtesy of a nap hand from Kidd.   The Paisley side looked to have the shock of the season so far in their sights as they led the champions 5-2 with 13 minutes remaining.   Emma Barlow scored twice and the others came from Rachael Ewing, Julie Bryce and Kristine Ayling, Kidd provided both Grove`s strikes.    But the Paisley assault ran out of steam and Kidd was at the centre of the Grove revival with three goals from set pieces, Bell got the other.

Vikki Bunce was the tormentor of Milne Craig Western as Dundee Wanderers emerged 4-2 winners of the other big game of the day.   The best of starts for Wanderers, Rachael Osborne opened with a strong shot from the middle of the circle in the first minute.   The Taysiders were two up a few minutes later, the chance was created by Bunce and her pass into the circle was driven home by Jessica Ross.    Gradually Western clawed their way back into the contest with some penalty corners, and they finally pulled one back at a set piece with a fierce low shot from Susan McGilveray.   Just as it seemed that Western might finish the half on level terms, seconds before the interval a Jessica Ross shot cannoned off a post and Bunce fired home the rebound with a reverse stick shot.

Western started the second period the brighter side and in 24 minutes McGilveray sunk a carbon copy penalty corner shot to bring the score back to 3-2.   The points eventually headed Dundee way when a Bunce initial shot was blocked by Amy Gibson and the same player followed up for Wanderers` fourth.  

In their opening fixtures both Western and Wanderers ran up a dozen without reply against Granite City Wanderers and Inverleith respectively.    A double hat-trick from Ali Howie was the highlight of the Western performance, and there were also doubles for Morag McLellan, Helen Walker and Susan McGilveray.    Four goals by Vikki Bunce was the foundation of Wanderers` comfortable win, the rests of the strikes were all singles.

CALA`s opening games against Western Wildcats ended in an 8-4 win, Amy Brodie, Emma Watson and Amber McNeill all scored twice while there were single strikes for Amy-Jane Russell and Karen Maguire, Kaz Marshall got a couple of late penalty corners for the Wildcats to narrow the score slightly.  

The Wildcats roared back to beat Kelburne 6-5 in their second outing, Marshall scored the winner from the spot with two minutes remaining.   In total Marshall scored four times from set pieces which was patently the basis of the victory, the other goals coming from Rachael Houghton and Katie Devlin.  Rachel Ewing scored a hat-trick for the Paisley side.

Wildcats continued their move up the table with a 3-0 win over Granite City Wanderers, Lucy McArthur scored in the first half, and after the interval Devlin and Marshall from a set piece added two more.

However, the Aberdonians did finally pick up their first three points with a 7-4 win over Inverleith, Morven Duff scored a hat-trick for Granite City Wanderers while Fiona Cousins notched two for the losers.

Yet, at the end of the day, Inverleith finally produced a win with a 9-4 victory over Kelburne.  Pride of place rests with Sarah McKay who scored four times, Sarah Jamieson netted a hat-trick, while Cousins and Helen Campbell bot the others for the Edinburgh side.

 

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