Hockey: Pressure on for Inverleith to keep perfect record against Wildcats

Inverleith’s perfect record in the Subway national league will again be under scrutiny when Western Wildcats come calling to Peffermill today.

After beating Grange 2-1 last weekend, unbeaten Inverleith moved to within three points of leaders Glynhill Kelburne, but with a game in hand against bottom side VWS Dundee Wanderers.

“Grange was a big game for us and taking all three points was a great step forward,” said Stevie McCurry, Inverleith’s coach.

There must always be a concern for Inverleith that a perfect record brings with it additional pressure as the winning sequence continues. Stevie McCurry said: “Every game is difficult this season and we try to approach it in the same positive manner and take nothing for granted.”

McCurry is well aware of the threat posed by the Wildcats. “By their own standards, they have had a mixed start to the season, but Western are still a very good side and Saturday will be a very tough game for us.”

The Wildcats have been inconsistent, but coach Vishal Marwaha is upbeat. “I have confidence in every game we go into. With the group of players we have, we can cause any team problems.

“I know it’s going to be a difficult game for us. Inverleith have been playing well, they are on a great run and have a number of current international players. I think we can take a lot from our performance against Clydesdale last weekend, and the challenge for us is to repeat that.”

Marwaha regarded the 3-2 win over Greaves Clydesdale as a great team performance and could be seen as a springboard to a better run of form.

Leaders Kelburne should continue their goal-scoring bandwagon against an Edinburgh University side that have done well in their opening encounters to reach fourth place.

The students have only lost one game – 2-1 against Grange – but will do well to restrict the free-scoring Paisley front line, which has notched up a total of 46 goals in six games already. Kelburne’s avalanche of goals can come from a variety of players, but Alan Forsyth is consistently on target with an average of two a game.

“Yes, at the moment we have had a few big scores, but I think the moment you start to take anything for granted is the time you are likely to fall flat on your face,” said Harry Coles, Kelburne’s manager.

After dropping five points in the last two weeks, Grange will be keen to get back on the rails with a convincing win over city rivals CALA Edinburgh at Peffermill. The two sides met recently in the cup and Grange emerged 4-2 winners. Captain Rob Barr will settle for some of the same.

CALA have quietly moved into sixth position in the table, but last weekend they were on the wrong end of a nine-goal defeat at the hands of Kelburne. It will be interesting to see if coach Neil Allan can restore his young charges’ confidence.

In the remaining fixtures AMN Hillhead will hope to increase Grove Menzieshill’s problems, while Greaves Clydesdale should record their first win of the season against struggling Dundee Wanderers at Titwood.