Top four do battle at Glasgow National Hockey Centre

Aberdeen Asset Management Men’s National League Division 1 Play Offs Preview

Top 4

Scotland’s two European club representatives will be decided over the next two weekends and whilst the permutations are numerous one fact remains, win all your matches and you will be playing in Europe next season.

Glynhill Kelburne who finished comfortably top of the league have home advantage on Saturday as they match up against fourth placed Grange at Glasgow National Hockey Centre.  The sides have met twice this season, with Glynhill Kelburne comfortably defeating a lacklustre Grange at Peffermill, but only managing a draw more recently at home.

This upturn in fortunes for the Capital side will install a belief that they have what it takes to cause an upset on Saturday.  The prize for the winner of this encounter is a place in the Grand Final and a guaranteed place in Europe.  Although both styles of play may negate each other, it will be a great shock if Grange can upset the nine time league champions.

The other teams involved in the play offs on Saturday are Western Wildcats and Hillhead, two clubs separated by only a couple of miles.  Wildcats, once a powerhouse of Scottish hockey before the emergence of today’s Glynhill Kelburne dominance, are proudly back at the top of the game and will be keen to dust off their passports once again and add to their European travels.

They have a serious obstacle to overcome first though, as they face city rivals Hillhead.  In contrast, Hillhead have a less glittering past but have progressed relentlessly over the last decade to become a respected and feared division one side.  Encounters this season so far have seen Western tip the balance with a 3-0 win and 4-4 draw.  The high scoring draw at Auchenhowie is an indication that Hillhead are capable of upsetting second placed Western. We have a very close match ahead of us that could be decided by a single goal.

Bottom 8

Pool A is made up of Scottish Cup holders Grove Menzieshill, AAM Gordonians, Edinburgh University and Division Two runners-up Watsonians.  Saturday’s fixtures match up Edinburgh University and Watsonians in an all Edinburgh tie, and Menzieshill take on AAM Gordonians.

With internationalists Steven Dick, the Moodie brothers and Chris Duncan in the university squad, it will be real test for Watsonians.

The outcome of Saturday’s other match may be a lot closer with the sides drawing earlier in the season, and Grove Menzieshill winning their most recent encounter.  Menzieshill will be favourites for the win and will be keen to get their campaign off to a positive start.

Watsonians’ prospects of top level hockey will be further tested on Sunday against Grove Menzieshill.  With two games at the weekend, the squad with the most depth will hold an advantage with fitness being the all important factor.

The final game of the weekend matches AAM Gordonians up against Edinburgh University.  With a win each during the season, and with both games decided by an odd goal this promises to be a very closely fought encounter, with a lot at stake for both teams.  Home advantage may prove decisive for the students in this one.

Pool B sees Division Two champions Uddingston face Paul Dailly’s Dundee Wanderers at Forthbank.  Uddingston will fancy their chances against the lowest ranked team in Division One, but would be wise to note Wanderers’ recent victory against high flyers Western Wildcats.

The challenge for Uddingston will be acclimatising to the pace and intensity that will have been lacking in the second tier  If they can do this they have enough attacking impetus to start their campaign off with a positive result.  On paper Dundee Wanderers will have more strength in depth, a fact which may prove vital.

Uddingston face an even tougher test of their credentials on Sunday as they face PSL Team Sports Clydesdale at Peffermill. Despite finishing sixth PSL Team Sport Clydesdale only lost five matches and have proven themselves to be a difficult team to beat.

Clydesdale’s other match sees them up against Inverleith.  With only one place separating the two sides in the league this match on paper will be both sides most challenging on their group.

A win for either side here would help give them a really good chance of a top two finish and safety from the relegation scrap.  The teams played out a remarkable match earlier in the year with PSL Team Sport Clydesdale coming from behind in an 8-6 thriller.  Most of the damage on the day done will be done by set play specialists Ciaran Crawford and Inverleith’s Adam McKenzie.

A result is hard to call with both teams closely matched, with match winners in both squads.  On Sunday Inverleith are up against Dundee Wanderers at Peffermill.  Home advantage will be a comfort to Inverleith as they look to seal another three points.

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