Semi-final places secured in men`s indoor division 1

POOL A

After today`s matches in Pool A it is Western Wildcats and Grange who will progress to the semi-finals. Dundee Wanderers are in third spot in the Pool and that leaves Uddingston in bottom spot.

Western Wildcats certainly laid out their stall on the opening game of Pool A, they came with a full squad and finished with a 6-0 win over Dundee Wanderers to secure their place in the semi-finals.   It took them just four minutes for Rob Harwood to fire them into the lead, followed by a penalty corner from Jamie Golden to double the tally.  By half-time the Wildcats had clawed their way to a four goal lead courtesy of a double from Fraser Moran.   Another couple for Golden in the second half for his own hat-trick completed the scoring – and no reply from the Taysiders.

Grange were on the brink of a semi-final slot after a closely contested 4-3 win over Uddingston. The Edinburgh side are now six points ahead of Wanderers with two games remaining, and therefore only need a draw against the Dundonians in the afternoon to confirm their status.  A Grange win did not look too promising as the Lanarkshire side were two up at the interval through Louis Gardiner at a penalty corner and Ben Young.  But in an eight minute spell Grange transformed the situation with a double from captain Gordon Amour and one from Livio Belotti to lead 3-2.  Joe Russell brought Uddingston level but Grange`s came from Calum Lothian with three minutes left.

In their second and crucial outing against Dundee Wanderers in the afternoon Grange did just enough to confirm their place in the semi-finals after a 2-2 draw, that was enough. David Nairn put the Edinburgh side one up in five minutes but by half-time Oscar Brown had levelled…and it was still game on! Ritchie McCluskey restored Grange`s one goal advantage only for Callum Ross to level again three minutes from the end, Grange had the chance to claim all three points with an overtime penalty corner, they didn`t convert, but the point was sufficient.

It was the Jamie Golden show as Wildcats gave Uddingston an 8-1 mauling to keep them at the top of the tree in Pool A. It was Uddingston who stole an early lead through Ben Young but that was the end of their resistance as Golden, Fraser and Camerson Moran gave the Wildcats a 3-1 advantage at the break.   Hamish Galt added another in the second half but that was superceded by a string of four from Golden to knock the stuffing out of Uddingston who are now consigned to the relegation play-offs.

 

POOL B

Inverleith and Grove Menzieshill will contest the semi-finals after today`s round of matches but there were some close, and interesting encounters in the process.  Below Clydesdale retain third spot with Warsonians still bottom but there is only one point between the teams and all to play for next weekend.

Grove Menzieshill drew level with Inverleith at the top of Pool B with a 4-2 win in the head to head – although the latter are still in pole position on goal difference.  The first half finished 1-1, Alex Wilson`s opener for Inverleith was cancelled out by Alfi Bonnar.   There was another exchange of goals early in the second half, Theo Wood put the Taysiders 2-1 up only for Rory Steedman to equalise for the champions.  But in the closing seven minutes Menzieshill turned up the volume, a penalty corner conversion from Findlay Duncan put them 3-2 up and the three points were confirmed in the final minute through captain Mike Ross.

Dan Coultas joined the Watsonians ranks for the game against Clydesdale and his hat-trick was instrumental in their 4-3 win.    The result brings the Edinburgh side level on three points with the Dale and only behind on a single goal difference.  The result also means that Inverleith and Menzieshill are six points ahead and within a whisker of the semi-final spots.

Coultas took only two minutes to open the scoring but just before half-time Luke Bannerman levelled for Clydesdale.  Goals from Coultas again the Gabriel Tenner early in the second half gave Watsonians a 3-1 lead, Dale`s David Clark reduced the deficit to 3-2 only for Coultas to restore his side`s two goal advantage.  Bannerman scored again for Clydesdale with two minutes left but they just could not get an equaliser.

Having done the difficult job of taking care of Inverleith earlier in the day, Menzieshill were held to a 2-2 draw by Clydesdale in their second game…but no matter they are still in the semi-finals.  Stuart Eadie put the Glasgow side one up only for Alfi Bonnar to level before the interval.  With five minutes remaining Jack Nairn restored Clydesdale`s lead, and an upset was perhaps in the offing.  But no – Findlay Duncan converted from the spot in the closing minutes to tie the score at 2-2, but the Titwood side move above Watsonians by a point in the race to avoid the relegation play-offs.

Inverleith retained pole position at the top of the pool, two points ahead of Menzieshill, but they only overcame Watsonians by the odd goal in nine in the final match of the day.  In a ding-dong first half Inverleith emerged 3-2 up courtesy of two strikes from Alex Wilson and one from Ollie Wilson, with Danny Cain and Dan Coultas replying for Watsonians.  In the second half Noah Gray levelled for Watsonians but two goals from Sam Hunt and Alex Wilson again for his hat-trick gave the champions a 5-3 lead.   Coultas again pulled one back for Watsonians with a couple of minutes to go, but that proved to be the end of the scoring.

 

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