National League delivers on goal scoring promise
Hillhead moved closer to a top four spot in the first division with a comfortable 3-0 win over third placed Edinburgh University in the cold of Old Anniesland.
The Glasgow side overcame the elements with grit and determination instilled by new coach Mark Ralph, but their cause was ably assisted by the defensive frailties of the students who donated the three goals that separated the teams.
The opener in 11 minutes was a classic example, the Edinburgh defence failed to clear the danger in their own circle, the loose ball fell to Craig Paterson and the New Zealander took his time to flick it past the goalkeeper.
Paul Crooks had the chance to double the tally at Hillhead`s first penalty corner but his shot only found the outside of the net. Soon after, Crooks had another chance – this time his effort went tantalisingly across the face of the goal.
Just before the interval the students put on the pressure and chances fell to Antonis Efthymiou and Jamie Wong but Hillhead goalkeeper Jamie Frail was equal to the task. At an overtime penalty corner George Adams shot seemed goal-bound but was deflected to safety by Hillhead`s Callum Duke.
Early in the second half and again the students` defence failed to clear their lines and Chris Wilson was left with the simple task of poking the ball into the net.
The third goal midway through the second half ended the game as a contest, this time the ball was donated to Duke, he squared it to Andy Maclaine who was left with the simple task of the rolling it into the empty net.
In a desperate attempt to get something out of the contest Edinburgh put the Glasgow side under some pressure, but it was not to be their day as several chances were spurned, although a Jack Henderson shot did cannon off the Hillhead post.
Results elsewhere have seen Grove Menzieshill leapfrog Edinburgh into third spot in the division after they defeated Gordonians 7-2 on Tayside.
Although the Dundonians did not have it all their own way in the first half they did turn round two up through Gavin Tomlinson from the spot and Jamie Golden.
However, the second half was one-way traffic; Ciaran Crawford scored a hat-trick and the other goals came from Albert Rowling and Adam Fallis following a telling pass by Golden.
Grange remain undefeated and in pole position after a comfortable 5-2 win over Edinburgh’s neighbours Watsonians. The game was over in the first half – Luke Cranney opened scoring, Cammie Fraser got a brace of penalty corner strikes and Frank Ryan completed the scoring with a clever deflection.
After the interval Fraser completed his hat-trick with a direct strike at another set piece, Watsonians got two back but the final result was never in doubt.
Bromac Kelburne held on to second spot with a 7-1 victory over PSL Clydesdale; Josh Cairns scored twice from set pieces while the others came from five other individual scorers.
Uddingston Riva finally moved up the table from the relegation zone after a 3-2 win over Western Wildcats, Mohammed Feeze scored twice in the second half from set pieces to secure the victory.
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