Promotion on hold for Inverleith in Sofia

After today`s proceedings, the simple fact is that Inverleith must avoid defeat against Slovakian champions Raca on the final day to ensure their promotion aspirations.

 

INVERLEITH  17  TRIGLAV PREDANONCI (SLOVENIA)  1

Inverleith confirmed their promotion pool status in some style with a massive 17-1 win over Slovenian champions Triglav Predanonci.    They will be joined there by Sirvintos from Lithuania who had a 2-1 win over Hungarians Soroksari to occupy second spot in the pool.

The good news for Inverleith is that they carry forward into the promotion pool their 7-0 win over the Lithuanians in the opening match and consequently start this new campaign with a five point start.

The morning game against Triglav was a procession of goals which started in the first quarter.   Sam Hunt opened in five minutes but the Slovenians were soon level through Mitja Dsuban…but that proved to be the end of their scoring contribution.   It was followed by a couple from Rory Steedman and then Ollie Wilson.

The goals continued to flow with Andrew Clark adding a fifth.   Then up stepped Keir Robb with a hat-trick inside two minutes for a total of eight at half-time.

No let up…goals followed from Sam Hunt again, Charlie Jack, Kyle Taylor, Rory Steedman for his own hat-trick, and Keir Robb then added his own fourth of the game for 13 at the end of the third quarter.

The final quarter saw the flow of goals continue through Andrew Clark, Sam Hunt for his hat-trick, Stuart Hatton entered the scoring list, and finally Keir Robb topped it off with his own fifth for a tally of 17.

And now on to the promotion pool.   Inverleith will face Italian side Bra in this evening`s top of the pool clash – both sides finished this part of the competition with maximum 15 points, and the winner here would be almost certain of one of the two promotion places.

 

INVERLEITH  5  BRA (ITALY)  7

It was the top of the promotion table clash between the two sides who topped their pool with a perfect record but the honours went to Italian champions Bra by 7-5.

So what does this mean for Inverleith…their first reversal of the tournament.  Essentially they must not lost to Raca from Slovakia on the final day.    Inverleith hold most of the cards, they have a point advantage and a superior goal difference but they must ensure they do not lose the encounter.

The opening quarter was full of action as Bra went into a 3-2 lead,    The Italians opened with a first minute goal from Andrii Koshelenko, but soon after Charlie Jack replied in style with a double to put Inverleith 2-1 ahead.     But the lead was not sustained as Dario Saoncella dnd then Koshelenko again put Bra 3-2 into the lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter failed to alter the balance, Nicholas Chiesa made it 4-2 for the Italians but midway through the quarter Keir Robb pulled one back…and so at half-time Bra led by the narrow margin of 4-3…with all still to play for.

The third quarter narrowly belonged to Inverleith, and it started after four minutes when Ewen Mackie levelled at 4-4.  But then Chiesa restored Bra`s lead at a penalty corner only for Inverleith to retaliate with an equaliser from Andrew Clark…and so it was 5-5 going into the final quarter.

Unfortunately the final quarter belonged to the Italians, five minutes in Priyesh Bhana put his side 6-5 up, the yellow card to Andrew Clark didn`t help the cause, and finally Simone Ghiglia gave the Italians a two goal cushion which they held to the end.

 

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