Who will be in the top four for the next stage of Men`s Indoor National League 1?

The situation in the men’s indoor championship is this… unbeaten Western Wildcats are already there… Grove Menzieshill and Inverleith are just about there…and present fourth placed Watsonians could be there if they can take six points from Clydesdale and Grange at DISC on Saturday.

All teams have two games to play on Saturday, so as you would expect, there are several ifs and buts…and a few maybes still to evolve.

Western might look most likely finish top of the table, but will need to make sure they don’t drop points in Saturday`s outings against Dunfermline Carnegie or Dundee Wanderers. The latter might be an extra tricky assignment as the Taysiders need the points to filter into the top four. The Wildcats are a free-scoring pack with the usual suspects Fraser Moran, Rob Harwood and import Jamie Golden in fine form.

There is a dogfight emerging between Grove Menzieshill and Inverleith for second spot – they are both on ten points, three behind Western, with the former having a slightly better goal difference.

The Edinburgh side certainly took the honours in the head-to-head with the narrowest of 1-0 wins, Kyle Taylor got the winner. Then came the 4-4 draws that brought the sides closer together – Grove Menzieshill drew with Western in a game they perhaps should have won squandering a 4-1 half-time lead.. Then Inverleith were held to a draw by Watsonians, a foursome from Dan Coultas did the damage here.

The quest for the coveted fourth spot looks to be a straight contest between Watsonians along with Dundee Wanderers and Grange who are only a point adrift.

Before the second session in December Watsonians were in bottom spot with no points, but then the draw with Inverleith and back-to-back wins over Wanderers and Dunfermline Carnegie propelled the Edinburgh side into their present fourth spot. To maintain that status Watsonians must take the three points from their first game of the day against bottom side Clydesdale, then see off Edinburgh rivals Grange later in the day. That would be mission accomplished.

Any Watsonians falter would give encouragement to Wanderers and Grange. Two defeats back in December dropped Wanderers out of the top four but they have it all to do on Saturday, firstly the Tayside derby against rivals Grove Menzieshill, and then Wildcats – points may be of a premium here.

Grange start with Inverleith and then Watsonians – the latter match might be a top four decider. Grange also came to life in the second December round of matches with back-to-back wins over Wanderers and Dunfermline.

Finally, bottom sides Clydesdale and Dunfermline rest on three points and could well remain there after Saturday. The Fifers have the toughest assignment against Western and Inverleith – points will be at a premium there. Clydesdale start with Watsonians and then Grove Menzieshill – that`s not much easier. However, it could be goal difference that splits these two sides at the end of the day.

At the end of the day on Saturday the bottom four sides start their new competition with a first round of games.

 

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