Hockey: Kelburne aim to create comfort zone as Grange are idle

Grange’s scheduled hockey match at Grove Menzieshill has been postponed until February as the Dundee pitch is being rebuilt leaving the way clear for Mark Ralph’s men to close the first half of the season with a comfort zone. The odds favour Kelburne who thrashed minnows Harris FP 21-0 in the cup last Sunday with Alan Forsyth claiming five goals.

Kelburne’s Ralph said: “This is our last game before the close and we aim to keep things going. We beat them 4-1 earlier in the season but it was a good game and we expect the same again.”

Fourth-placed Inverleith travel to Clydesdale and coach Steve McCurry believes the Glasgow side should be much higher up the league than eighth. Inverleith have 19 points from nine games, eight behind Kelburne, and McCurry’s side edged Clydesdale 2-0 when the West of Scotland side visited Peffermill earlier this season.

Gordon Shepherd, Clydesdale’s coach, was frustrated at the scoreline as they had a large amount of the possession and McCurry admitted: “They’re dangerous but are looking for the consistency they had last season.” McCurry has watched the videos of Inverleith’s games from the start of the season and he said: “We’re doing a lot of the right things. We’re also creating chances, but we need to take them.”

Elsewhere, CALA Edinburgh, who are seventh, travel to third-placed Western looking to avenge a 4-2 home defeat earlier in the season boosted by last Saturday’s home victory over bottom club Dundee Wanderers.