Hockey: Own goal secures close victory for Inverleith

Stevie McCurry, Inverleith’s coach, had made it clear that a win over PSL Clydesdale was essential if his side’s targets for the season were to be viable. The victory was achieved, but only by a single goal in the Aberdeen Asset Management men’s national league.

The winning goal came 15 minutes into the second half from an own goal. John Harris fired the ball into the circle, it cannoned off the sticks and feet of Clydesdale defenders and went into the net in the bottom corner.

Grange’s aspiration of challenging Glynhill Kelburne for the title is still on course after a narrow 3-2 victory over Edinburgh University. Grange’s proficiency at penalty corners was the difference between the sides with Rob Barr giving his side a single-goal lead from a set piece at the interval. Barr again and then Fraser Sands put Grange 3-1 ahead before Graham Moodie gave the students a consolation in the final minute.

Grove Menzieshill moved to the top of the table with a very convincing 5-0 away win over Western Wildcats. Gavin Tomlinson opened from a set piece, then Stuart Bracegirdle made it two with a brilliant deflection into the roof of the net. Tomlinson again and Ross McPherson scored in the space of three minutes and the final goal came just on the final whistle from a low shot by Jamie Carnegie.

At the bottom end of the table, Watsonians surrendered a three-goal lead in their 3-3 draw with AMN Hillhead.

In the women’s competition, Nikki Kidd celebrated her debut for Edinburgh University with a hat-trick in the 6-0 defeat of Glynhill Kelburne at Peffermill. It was a comprehensive win for the students with Scotland striker Sam Judge getting a double and Sarah Robertson finishing the scoring.

Grove Menzieshill started the defence of their title with a crushing 9-0 victory over newly promoted Inverleith. Ailsa Wyllie, Sarah Jamieson and Karin Belch gave the Taysiders a three-goal foundation at the interval. In the second half, Jamieson got another two for her hat-trick, Scotland captain Linda Clement scored twice while Ali Bell and Louise Carroll completed the rout for the champions.

Three goals by Holly Cram and two set piece strikes by Catriona Ralph were the basis of Milne Craig Western’s seven-goal mauling of Wildcats at Titwood. Grange went down 4-0 at Giffnock while CALA lost 5-1 to Dundee Wanderers on Tayside.