Watsonians (women) and Grove Menzieshill (men) are indoor champions and in Europe

CLYDESDALE WESTERN 1  WATSONIANS 8 (WOMEN)

Eight goals and Watsonians retained their indoor title in some style with a convincing win over Clydesdale Western in the women’s final.  The fact that Watsonians retained the indoor title is perhaps not surprising, but the extent of their victory is.

It didn’t start off that way when Clydesdale galloped into an early lead through a penalty corner conversion by Margery Justice with a low hard shot.

The game went from end to end and in nine minutes Katie Crawford levelled for Watsonians when she forced the ball home.    The foundations of the champion’s triumph came in the second quarter – Tabitha Peck pounced on a loose ball and prodded it home for 2-1, then Milly Berndes-Cade fired a shot into the bottom right corner, and finally in a swift counter-attack it was Peck again who finished with a scoop.   That was 4-1 at the interval.

Clydesdale coach Fiona Semple took the gamble of replacing her keeper with an additional outfield player to rescue the cause. It failed as Milly Berndes-Cade embarked on another counter-attack and finished by putting the ball into the empty net.  To add insult to injury Tabitha Peck repeated the scenario a minute later to complete her own hat-trick…6-1 and end of contest.

Yet the Watsonians goal tally was not yet finished.   Four minutes from the end the champions were awarded a penalty and Emily Dark duly converted with a low flick.   And in the closing seconds Watsonians made it eight when Millie Skidmore launched a penalty corner shot into the roof of the net…and that ended Clydesdale’s misery.

 

INVERLEITH 3 GROVE MENZIESHILL 3  (MEN)  –  MENZIESHILL WON SHOOT-OUT 5-4

Grove Menzieshill have ended their sojourn in the indoor wilderness by winning the championship with a dramatic 5-4 shoot-out win over Inverleith at the men`s final.   And it was their captain Mike Ross who delivered the winning sudden death strike after the sides had finished normal time 3-3 in a tense encounter.   The Taysiders will now compete in Europe after several years absence.

After only four minutes Inverleith put their noses in front, Ollie Wilson flicked his shot into the top right corner of the net.   The champions were the busier side in the first quarter but no further chances resulted.   However, the Taysiders were level after 14 minutes, a quick exchange at a penalty corner routine left Alfie Bonnar with the chance to score.  But it was the Edinburgh side that went into half-time 2-1 ahead, a cut back across the circle allowed Rory Steedman to fire the ball into the roof of the net.

The third quarter was a fairly even affair although Inverleith perhaps had the edge, both sides had a penalty corner chance but neither was on target.

Into the final quarter, it was the Taysiders who struck first, at a penalty corner the ball went across the circle and Alfie Bonnar again was on hand to flick it into the top left corner to level at 2-2. And that is how it stood going into the final minutes, it looked like the champions were going to retain their crown as they went for the winner, they were awarded a penalty and Charlie Jack sent his effort into the top left corner of the net for a 3-2 lead.

But it didn`t end there.  Now Menzieshill were awarded a spot opportunity and Findlay Duncan buried it high for 3-3…and it was on to the shoot-out.  It all went to plan in the first round, and indeed into the first sudden death efforts, but the Menzieshill keeper Steve McIlravey saved the next Inverleith attempt and Ross then buried his strike…and it was Menzieshill`s crown after several years in wait.

 

PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAY-OFFS

HILLHEAD  5  EAST LOTHIAN  1  (WOMEN)

Hillhead live to fight another day in the top flight with a comfortable…in the end…5-1 win over second tier East Lothian.   There were two catalysts in the game, Hillhead`s Alex Burdon scored a hat-trick and East Lothian missed from the spot with the score only at 2-1.

The opening was competitive but gradually Hillhead began to edge proceedings and took the lead when Alex Burdon scored a far post tap-in after a quick move up the right.  But the second tier side were level within a minute and it came with a spot conversion from Aimee Dudgeon.   The Glasgow side nudged ahead through captain Jenny Campbell who pounced on a rebound after a good save by the East Lothian keeper.

Aimee Dudgeon went from saint to sinner when she failed to convert her second penalty of the match and Alex Burdon took full advantage with a near post shot for a 3-1 lead…and Hillhead did not look back.  In the final quarter Olivia Carder made it four when she slipped home a low shot, and finally Alex Burdon got her own third with a powerful run through the East Lothian defence and finished up with a shot into the net.

WATSONIANS  5  HILLHEAD 4 (MEN)

Watsonians retained their first division status with a 5-4 victory, but what would have happened if Hillhead`s keeper Ewan Campbell did not have to off injured in the second quarter?

However, it was a close encounter throughout,    The first quarter ended one each, Jamie Boardman put Watsonians ahead only for Andrew Black to level.  It was an even contest but Hillhead looked dangerous on the quick break and Watsonians` keeper Craig Yelland had to look lively on occasions.   But it was the top tier side who took a 2-1 lead with a low shot from captain Gabriel Tenner.   Then the injury to Hillhead`s keeper and almost immediately Craig Falconer added a third for Watsonians.

Despite no keeper Hillhead were the more aggressive side in the second half, pinning Watsonians in their own half.   And the reward came with a penalty corner conversion from Fraser Ward into the top right corner.

And it stood at 3-2 until the final five minutes.  An amazing swivel and scoop across the keeper by Fraser Ward tied the scores at 3-3, then Watsonians` Tom Swarbrick made it 4-3 from a very tight angle, only for Ward to repeat his swivel and shot into the roof of the net to restore parity at 4-4.    That was Fraser Ward`s second half hat-trick.

Anybody`s game in the final minutes, but it was Watsonians who stole the occasion with a run through to an empty net by Dan Coultas to finally settle the issue and survival.

Recent posts:

Back to all news
Back to top