Hockey: Forrester No. 1 as Edinburgh Uni settle into fifth spot

GOALKEEPER David Forrester was the toast of his Edinburgh University team-mates as the students consolidated in fifth place in the ten-strong Division One hockey table at the winter closedown.

The hard-running University combine moved onto 14 points after a 5-0 victory at bottom club Dundee Wanderers, with three goals coming in the final ten minutes.

Jay Harman, Callum Duke, Craig McCrossan, Mick Bryan and Neil McNiven netted and their player coach, former Olympian Graham Moodie, said: “I’m really pleased to complete the first-half of the season in the top half.

“We played some nice hockey on Saturday and had a few more chances, but the guys have done really well and our goalkeeper, David Forrester, made some great saves.”

Elsewhere, the Capital’s two other clubs lost. CALA Edinburgh were beaten 6-3 at Western, who go into the break in second spot, and were 5-0 down with 15 minutes left.

In-form Scott McCartney top scored with four goals and their coach Vishal Marwaha said: “CALA were stuffy, but we lost concentration in the last 15 to 20 minutes.”

Clydesdale coach Gordon Shepherd has been a frustrated man recently as his side have played well without reward, but they leapfrogged CALA and Grove Menzieshill into sixth spot after beating Inverleith 3-0 in Glasgow. Ben Peterson scored two and skipper Ross McPherson claimed the other goal, but Inverleith’s forwards missed a number of clear-cut changes.

Gareth Hall claimed his first treble for over a season as defending Division One champions Kelburne collected their tenth straight victory.

The comprehensive 7-1 win over struggling Hillhead means the defending champs have a maximum 30 points and are seven clear of arch rivals Western.