Western Wildcats take over at the top of men`s indoor

Western Wildcats hit the ground running with convincing victories over title rivals Inverleith and then Watsonians to assert their superiority as it stands. The Cats consequently finished the day three points ahead of Inverleith and six in front of Watsonians.

The day at DISC started with a 6-4 win for Western Wildcats over Dundee Wanderers, the result brought the champions level with Inverleith at the top of the table and left Wanderers on the four point mark after as many games.

Wildcats always had their noses just in front for most of the contest until they raced into a 6-3 lead with nine minutes left, here there were two goals each for Andrew McConnell, Rob Harwood and Fraser Moran. The Taysiders tried hard to keep in touch, helped by a hat-trick from Callum Ross with Bobby Ralph getting the other, but just couldn`t stop the champions picking up the three points.

In the second match Grange moved off the bottom rungs of the table with a comfortable 5-1 win over Hillhead who remain pointless. Aussie Ola Marshall was the catalyst with a first half hat-trick that put Grange well on the road for the three points with Gordon Amour and F Allan getting the others after the interval, James Lynch Small scored Hillhead`s consolation.

Watsonians also moved alongside Inverleith at the top with a card-soaked 4-1 victory over Uddingston – in fact, there were a total of six yellow cards in the mix. However, it was the Lanarkshire side that held a half-time lead through Finn Halliday.  But Watsonians got their act together after the break with Tommy Orr scoring a double and Duncan Riddell and Craig Falconer completed the scoring. The result leaves Uddingston pointless alongside Hillhead at the moment.

And so on to the predestined big game of the day with a predicted feast of goals – however the feast only came from Western Wildcats who were 9-0 winners over rivals Inverleith. The intensity of the result certainly gives the Wildcats an edge in this season`s indoor campaign but, as mentioned in the preview by Inverleith coach Stuart Neave “nothing is going to be decided this week.” While Stuart`s remark is valid, the extent of the Wildcats` win must surely be seen as a significant statement in the title race.

The Cats had clawed their way to a three goal half-time lead through a double from Fraser Moran and another by Scott Menzies.   The second half saw a processions of goals for the champions – two from Andrew McAllister, one each by Tommy Austin, AJ Lochran and Rob Harwood with Moran fulfilling his hat-trick.

Grange recorded their second win of the day with a 5-3 score over Dundee Wanderers whose winless streak seems to continue. With the scores locked at 2-2 it was Grange who took the initiative with three goals in a row from Ola Marshall with two and David Nairn the other. Bobby Ralph scored near the end for Wanderers for his second of the game and Callum Ross was also on target but the Dundonians woes were made worse when Kennedy Gibb was given a red card after two yellows in the final minutes.

Meanwhile Grove Menzieshill moved into fourth spot with a modest 5-3 win over Hillhead. The contest was over by the interval with Ollie Hall and a couple from veteran Ross McPherson giving the Dundonians a three goal lead. In the second half Tom Cole, Fraser Ward and Yan Adams at penalty corners put Hillhead on the score sheet but further strikes from Connor Chapman and Andrew Doyle secured the points for Grove Menzieshill.

Watsonians might be the upstarts of this season`s indoor competition but they also fell to the Wildcats stranglehold. The Cats were three up at the interval through Cammy Moran, Rob Harwood and Jamie Golden. The Western avalanche continued in the second half with another two from Harwood while Tommy Austin, Fraser Moran and Andrew McConnell completed the 8-1 tally, Dan Coultas got the Edinburgh side`s consolation.

Uddingston picked up their first three points of the season with a 6-4 win over Grange – to destroy the latter`s perfect day. It was two each at the interval, a double from Uddingston`s Louis Gardiner was cancelled out by Ola Marshall and Gordon Amour. In the second half Grange took a 4-3 lead through Marshall again and Dylan Bean but Uddy subsequently took control with strikes by Finn Halliday and a double from Angus Millar to secure the win.

After an earlier defeat from Wildcats, Inverleith responded in style with a 12-3 win over bottom side Hillhead. It was 4-2 at the interval, Kyle Taylor, Charlie Jack, Rory Steadman and Ewan Mackie scored for the Edinburgh side while Tom Cole and Craig Hilton replied for Hillhead. But it was Inverleith who fired in the goals after the break – Taylor notched up his hat-trick with a double,

Alex Wilson got a couple as did Sam Hunt, Jack scored his second and Keir Robb got the other.

In the final game of the day Grove Menzieshill slipped into third place with a 5-3 win over Uddingston.  The Taysiders led 2-1 at the break, Ross McPherson and Chris McFadden were their scorers while Louis Gardiner replied for Uddy.  With five minutes remaining the score had advanced to 3-3, Gardiner again and Ben Young were Uddy`s scorers with Findlay Duncan replying for Grove Menzieshill.  However, the Taysiders stepped on the gas and Albert Rowling`s late double secured the three points.

 

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