Long wait is finally over as Grange capture Scottish Cup

GRANGE sniper Michael Watt saluted hot-stop Colin Johnstone as his team-mates celebrated winning hockey's Scottish Cup for the first time in 15 years.

The Irishman had earlier helped steer the Stockbridge-based side to a 4-0 victory over city rivals Inverleith with a glory double. Singles from Phil Sully and Cammy Fraser also sealed the victory at Peffermill.

But former Inverleith stopper Johnstone, who saved four penalty flicks as Grange edged holders Kelburne in the semi-final, played a massive role by saving three goal-bound attempts.

And two in particular near the break were out of the top drawer. The 22-year-old Edinburgh student's stops broke Inverleith hearts and booked a showdown with Glasgow-based Western at Peffermill on Thursday (8pm) with the final European place up for grabs.

Watt said: "Colin is exceptional. He could be in the Scotland squad and he has been fantastic for us this season."

Razor-sharp Watt played a massive part in the historic win and he broke the deadlock after seven minutes, pivoting to finish off a darting move down the right initiated by Colin McIvor.

And Watt was on hand again ten minutes from the break after being sent through by a superb pass from Martin Johnstone, also down the right. A minute later, Martin's brother Colin used his cat-like reflexes to turn away a shot from Inverleith forward Ramsay Bell.

And he denied Inverleith's Olympic star Stephen Dick by diving low to his right before foiling Scottish international Adam Mackenzie following a penalty corner.

Inverleith pressed early in the second half but Sully struck a killer third with 13 minutes left.

And a near-post blunder two minutes from time by Inverleith goalkeeper Jamie Ballantine, who has enjoyed a superb debut season, allowed Great Britain Superleague sniper Cammy Fraser to score from an acute angle to make it 4-0.

Watt said: "We played really well in the first half and the two goals settled us. Inverleith came back at us in the first 15 minutes of the second half as we knew they would and we held out."

Watt, who has completed his degree at Heriot-Watt University, revealed: "It will be my last game for the club. We set our targets for the season early on. They were to make Europe and we're within one game of achieving that."

Watt, who hopes to play professional hockey next season in Holland or Belgium, added: "It's been 15 long years since Grange won the cup and, since then, the hockey scene has been dominated by clubs like Kelburne and Western from the West of Scotland.

"Our win, and the fact that Inverleith got to the final, is great for the sport in the East of Scotland and now we've got to focus on Thursday to make sure we secure that European place."

Earlier, skipper Ross Young hung up his stick following Stewart's-Melville's 5-3 victory over Inveross in the Scottish men's Plate Final.

A treble from Liam Roberts plus singles from Gareth Tenner and Michael Cooper saw them home against the Highland combine who were level at 3-3 at the break.

Young is retiring to spend more time with his family but Inveross made it tough for the Capital side. Roberts opened the scoring after ten minutes and Tenner increased the Edinburgh side's advantage two minutes later.

Inveross pulled one back two minutes after that but Roberts was on the mark a minute later to make it 3-1.

The battling Highland side levelled at 3-3 with two goals in five minutes just before the break.

And it took until the 52nd minute before Cooper put Stew-Mel ahead. Roberts completed his treble with the fifth 11 minutes after that.

Two other Edinburgh sides celebrated wins at Peffermill on Saturday. Edinburgh University Ladies beat Hillhead Ladies 4-0 to take the National League Plate after a second-half surge.

Sue Johnson put the students ahead after 28 minutes Jenifer Surgess doubled the lead eight minutes into the second half.

Rona Stewart made it 3-0 two minutes later and Fiona Thomson completed the scoring with 13 minutes left.

Meanwhile, Dundee-based Grove won the National League Cup final 6-4 on penalty strokes after drawing 2-2 with Western at the end of regulation time.

• INVERLEITH host a summer hockey camp for eight to 17-year-olds in Edinburgh from 10-14 August. Taking place at the National Hockey Academy at Peffermill, the cost is 10 a day.

To find out more, e-mail juniors secretary Neil Sinclair on [email protected] for full details.