Grove Menzieshill has mixed fortunes at NAVAX

By CRAIG MADDEN
Published on 16/02/2013 02:43

Grove Menzieshill had mixed fortunes on the opening day of the NAVAX European Indoor Club Trophy in Vienna yesterday, beating Minsk HC 7-3 in the morning but then losing a 5-2 half-time lead against English Champions East Grinstead to succumb 6-5.

On the positive front, the Taysiders need only beat bottom side Lousada from Portugal this morning to qualify for the promotion pool.

The foundation of the win over Minsk was a stirring second-half display that followed a frustrating goalless first period. The Belarus champions played a tight defensive formation in the opening period, giving Menzieshill no clear scoring chances. The tension was lifted four minutes into the second half, Chris Wilson picked up a ball from Ross McPherson and his spin took out both a defender and the goalkeeper, leaving the Menzieshill captain to stroke the ball into the empty net.

Minutes later McPherson doubled the score and although Minsk pulled one back, the Dundee momentum was now in full swing, a move involving Wilson and Michael Ross seeing the latter slotting the ball home before Sam Tilston entered the fray with a simple tap-in following a square pass by Wilson.

Minsk pulled the score back to 4-2, but Tilston immediately added his second tap-in.

Minsk took the gamble of replacing their goalkeeper with an additional outfield player, but the tactic failed, Byers adding a sixth and Ross sealing victory. Minsk added a third from an overtime penalty corner, but it was merely a consolation.

In the afternoon game Menzieshill seemed to be cruising to victory but failed to find the net at all in a second half which saw the English side claw back and overhaul the three-goal deficit.

After falling behind in the first half, Ross levelled matters before the Scots took a 2-1 thanks to a Craig Falconer goal. Wilson added a third before East Grinstead pulled one back from a set piece. However, the Scots went 4-2 up at a penalty corner, a three-player move being finished by McPherson.

Just before the interval Ross Stott flicked the ball into the roof of the net for 5-2.

However, the English side’s comeback rocked the Scots, whose woe was compounded when Allan Law’s late effort to equalise hit the side netting.