McConnell hat-trick sinks Grange

There was only one game in the Premiership today and three goals from Scotland striker Andy McConnell was the catalyst behind Wildcats 5-2 win over Grange in the top of the table clash at Fettes.

As a consequence, Wildcats leapfrog over Dunfermline Carnegie at the top of the Premiership. They are both on 16 points but the Auchenhowie side has a much superior goal difference. Grange, on the other hand, gets pushed back into third place.

Wildcats` coach Vishal Marwaha was magnanimous in his overview of the game. “It was a great game to play in and Grange deserve the credit for contributing to the occasion. I`m delighted with the three points, but it is nothing more or nothing less than that with a lot of the season still to go.”

Grange manager Martin Shepherdson agreed with that sentiment.

Grange made the initial splash in the first minute when Alan Johnston opened with an open play strike. Back came the `Cats with an equaliser from Owen Jenkins-Garcia.

That was followed by a similar sequence: Fraser Heigh put the Edinburgh side ahead for the second time with a direct shot at a penalty corner only for Andy McConnell to cancel out – and that`s how it stood at the interval.

But in the second half Grange failed to find the net while the `Cats added three to their tally. Rob Harwood put Wildcats ahead for the first time with a back post deflection at a penalty corner.

The result was sealed with a double from McConnell for his hat-trick, the first came from a direct strike at a penalty corner and finished off with another open play strike for 5-2 victory.

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