Promotion secured in style by Inverleith in Sofia

INVERLEITH  10  RACA (SLOVAKIA)  1

Prior to the tournament Inverleith coach Stuart Neave stated: “I firmly believe Scottish clubs are capable of playing in a higher division and see it as our responsibility to make that possible for Grove Menzieshill next season.”

And his side delivered just that with a powerful 10-1 victory over Slovakian champions Raca which more than claimed one of the two promotion spots.  A good effort from Inverleith to advance the cause of Scottish indoor hockey.

Asked if it was mission accomplished, Stuart remarked: Yes it is.  I am extremely proud of the performance of the whole squad.   Delighted that a Scottish team will be participating in the Trophy next season.”

In addition, Inverleith`s Keir Robb finished top goal scorer for the tournament with a dozen strikes while Greg Mackenzie took the best goalkeeper award.    Not a bad haul!

The contest was effectively over after six minutes with Inverleith thumping in four goals before the Slovaks had time to collect their thoughts.    Captain Kyle Taylor led the goal rush with an early strike, and that was followed by a penalty corner conversion from Keir Robb.    Then Charlie Jack punished the stunned Raca side with a quick-fire double inside the sixth minute for 4-0.   At the end of the quarter Sam Hunt entered the scoring act with a penalty corner corner strike of his own for Inverleith`s fifth.

Early in the second quarter Kyle Taylor scored his second of the match from a set piece, to be followed by another penalty corner goal from Ewen Mackie –  four penalty corners and four goals is good shooting.    Then just on the interval Ollie Wilson added an eighth – and promotion was well secured.

The goal avalanche somewhat dried up in the third quarter although Charlie Jack found the net again for his own hat-trick.   Then Raca finally came to life with a penalty corner strike from Juraj Bogar for 9-1, but any comeback was well gone.

It looked as if the final quarter would peter out goalless until Alex Wilson popped up for his first goal of the tournament with a penalty corner strike for a 10-1 final tally.

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