Watsonians and Western on the verge of Premiership titles

In the women`s Premiership Watsonians can secure their first ever title with a win over Clydesdale Western at Titwood on Thursday evening, and that would open up the way for a historic double as the Edinburgh side are also in the Scottish Cup Final.

Thursday evening could be a milestone in the history of Watsonians women – their first ever Premiership title. A tremendous achievement for a side that in the past frequented the lower echelons of the Premiership, but recently began to challenge at the top end.

Now they have the crown within their grasp – a win against Clydesdale Western at Titwood would start the celebrations. And it would be a perfect ending to a run of 18 straight victories to date. It would be a remarkable achievement for coach Keith Smith and the entire squad.

However, it gets a little more complicated if Watsonians falter on Thursday evening. A draw would not be terrible for them, it would eliminate third placed Edinburgh University from the race but Clydesdale would still hang in there…six points behind but with a game in hand.

Finally, a Clydesdale victory would put the affair back into the melting pot, the Titwood-based side would now only be three points behind and still with that game in hand, and Edinburgh University would come back into the reckoning.

It’s all a little convoluted – but Thursday evening`s result should at least lend some clarification to proceedings.

After the end of the first phase of the Premiership undefeated Clydesdale looked on course for title, but since then there has been a dip in their form, the loss of Jen Eadie to the Great Britain call has not helped. In the last few weeks they lost to Watsonians (3-2) and then Edinburgh University (4-1) and fell from pole position.

But Clydesdale under Derek Forsyth are more than capable of taking the three points on Thursday evening.

Whatever the outcome Edinburgh University must take the three points at home to Hillhead – even if the title is beyond them, the runners-up spot has the second European place tagged on to it. In March the students won 2-0 with goals from Ava Smith and Sophie Hinds.

Western Wildcats could regain fourth spot in the table if they can see off the challenge of GHK and Hillhead go down to Edinburgh University – the Auchenhowie side have a much superior goal difference.

Both sides have struggled to find a win since the restart in February and their previous head-to-head ended in a goalless draw, so both sides will be eager to end the drought.

Relegation in the lower half of the table is all but sorted – Erskine Stewarts Melville are automatically relegated while Grove Menzieshill seem locked in to the play-off spot. The former make the long trip to Gordonians while the latter are involved in an all-Tayside derby with a Dundee Wanderers side that have picked up 16 points in their eight games since the winter break and now occupy ninth spot in the Premiership.

Glasgow University`s clash with Uddingston is a top-of-the-table confrontation in the lower six. At the moment the Lanarkshire side have a four point lead over the students.

Uddingston have had an impressive run since the winter with seven victories in their eight games, ironically their only reversal was at the hands of the Glasgow students. That day Georgia Smith put a shot into the corner of the net in the final quarter to give Glasgow the points.

The students have also had a good run in 2022, they have only lost once in their eight games.

So this could be a cracking encounter between two teams on the up.

Western Wildcats only need a draw against Grange on Saturday to secure their first men’s Premiership title since 2004, but you can bet your boots that coach Vishal Marwaha is entertaining no such thoughts – the three points is his only goal.

Such a result would ensure that Western retained their season`s unbeaten record – that in itself is a fair achievement. But also to seal the title at Auchenhowie in front of their own supporters would make the perfect day.

Vishal confirmed that most of the players were back from injury, so a full squad is expected.

Asked about whether the approach would be any different on Saturday, hardly surprising Vishal replied: “The approach to this game will be the same as the whole season. We have always taken one game at a time and this weekend will be no different.

“One of our assets has been our goal scoring although I think that’s a consequence of how we approach games. For me our biggest asset has been the character and togetherness of the squad which has proved vital in certain games recently.”

However, 111 goals in 19 games is a phenomenal strike rate – but then again Grange have also notched up 100 goals, so it could be a high scoring encounter.

So what of Grange? If they can recapture some of the form shown in Terrassa last weekend – then we might be in for a cracking game.

Stevie Grubb`s young charges did themselves proud there – certainly they were well beaten by Waterloo Ducks but the score flattered the Belgians, they should have taken more from the game against Hampstead & Westminster, they deserved a draw and a shot at the shoot-out when keeper David Forrester`s brilliant form would have stood them in good stead. Then the Grange youngsters totally dominated Post SV in the final game and thoroughly deserved their 3-0 win.

But most importantly for Grange is that their talented group of youngsters – Jamie Croll, Jacob Tweedie, Peter Caughey, Fraser Heigh, Murray Banks, and not to forget 16-year-old keeper Tom Shanks – will have benefitted greatly from the Terrassa experience.

A repeat of that grit and determination at Auchenhowie on Saturday could give the home side a run for their title.

However, even if Grange do manage a win at Auchenhowie, Western could still seal the Premiership against Dunfermline Carnegie next week.

In the only other top six game of the day Watsonians need the three points against Dunfermline Carnegie to ensure a fifth place finish. Both sides did well to secure a top tier place but they have fallen away since the restart after the winter break with neither outfit winning a scheduled Premiership fixture since then.

The last game between the sides in March ended in a 2-2 draw, goals by Dunfermline`s Andrew Doyle and Michael Ross were cancelled out by Danny Cain and Owen Hunter.

At the other end of the spectrum Grove Menzieshill`s hopes of avoiding the automatic drop spot rests solely with taking the three points from Kelburne at Glasgow Green – even then that might not be enough.

Ironically if Grove Menzieshill do succumb to the Paisley outfit it would consign their Tayside rivals Dundee Wanderers to the relegation play-off spot – however they get on at Hillhead. And, in any case, Wanderers will not find the Scottish Cup finalists anything remotely like a pushover – they will find Fraser Ward in clinical mood in front of goal.

Last time out the contest did end in a 3-3 draw, Ward scored twice for Hillhead while Bobby Ralph`s hat-trick secured a share of the points – but even that is of no use to Wanderers.

The Inverleith – Uddingston clash has no such relegation issues, in contrast it will decide who will finish top of the lower six table. At the moment Inverleith have a two point lead and a win would confirm that position. Further, the Edinburgh side did win 2-1 in last month`s contest with goals from Livio Belotti and Tom Barton.

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