Hockey: Play-offs will be tougher warns promotion-chasing CALA coach Allan

CALA EDINBURGH hockey coach Neil Allan today warned his promotion-chasing squad: "It gets tougher from here."

Allan has guided his young side into the promotion play-offs and the Meggetland-based outfit don't know who the opposition will be until next month. But Saturday's 6-1, come-from-behind win over struggling Waverley Inveresk Trinity at Bangholm secured the Division Two title. Allan said: "We've achieved one of our targets now we have to re-group and ensure that we are ready for whoever we play in the play-offs."

Allan praised Waverley for taking the game to CALA, particularly in the opening stages when the Bangholm side led through a well-taken Martin Johnston goal after 18 minutes. And goalkeeper Sean Hadfield, a Scotland uner-18 player, made some fine saves to deny the eager Edinburgh forwards.

Simon Waugh opened Edinburgh's account after 25 minutes and David Guy and Gordon Lamb added two more before the break. Guy, Lamb and Ramsay Bell netted in the second half and Neil Shaw, Waverley's president, said: "Tiredness beat us. We have four under-18s in the side and we're progressing.

"We still have a chance of staying up and we'll be doing all we can to be in Division Two next season."

Watsonians were drawn nearer relegation when they let a 2-1 interval lead slip to go down 4-2 at Dundee Wanderers.

Goalkeeper Keith Smith said: "We've got three home games left and we believe we have to win them all to stay up."