The Hill triumph by a couple of goals
04 February 2012
SUBWAY INDOOR NATIONAL LEAGUE (MEN) - BELLS SPORTS CENTRE, PERTH
Inverleith needed to win the final game against rivals Grove Menzieshill by more than three goals to retain the Subway indoor national league title, but fell short by a couple of goals despite beating the Taysiders 6-4 in the final encounter.
The first half ended a tense 3-2 to Inverleith, John Harris scored twice for the Edinburgh side while the other came from Stephen Dick, Chris Wilson and Gavin Tomlinson from a set piece replied for the Dundonians.
Inverleith raced into a 5-3 lead mid-way through the second half courtesy of a double from Dick while Josh Cairns replied for Menzieshill. Fortune seemed to desert the capital outfit when Dick`s next penalty corner effort rattled off the bar, then Callum Duke picked up a red card. Ross McPherson pulled one back for Menzieshill, and although Dick converted a further set piece, there was no further scoring and the crown made its way back to Dundee.
Earlier in the day the advantage shifted further in Menziehill`s favour when the Taysiders trounced Greaves Clydesdale 13-1 to lead Inverleith by three points and a goal difference of six. The predicted avalanche transpired with hat-tricks for Gavin Byers and Josh Cairns while Michael Ross and Chris Wilson both picked up a couple, others came from Ross McPherson, Sam Tilston and Craig Falconer.
In contrast Inverleith were made to work hard for their narrow 4-3 win over rivals Grange in the Edinburgh derby. It was Grange who took the lead in 3 minutes and it took to four minutes before the interval for Adam MacKenzie to provide the equaliser from a penalty corner. Fraser Sands gave Grange a 2-1 advantage just after the interval, but Inverleith scored three goals in as many minutes through Graham Moodie (2) and John Harris to take a 4-2 lead. Gary Cameron pulled one back for Grange at a set piece with three minutes left but Inverleith held on for the invaluable three points.
Bottom side CALA Edinburgh, with only a single point to their name to date, produced the shock of the day by giving Western Wildcats a 5-1 mauling, unfortunately too little too late to stave off the dreaded drop. Murray Paton`s hat-trick was the highlight but the other goals came from 14 year old Pat Christie and Simon Waugh, although CALA also have to thank their goalkeeper Sean Hadfield who produced a series of good saves.
Glynhill Kelburne got the better of VWS Dundee Wanderers 9-7 in a 16 goal thriller. Willie Marshall was top scorer for the Paisley side with three, Iain Scholefield got two and there were singles for Jack McKenzie, Andrew Duff, Ian Horsfield and Alan Forsyth. The highlight for Wanderers was a hat-trick from Rory Taylor. Another hat-trick from Marshall was the catalyst in the Paisley side`s 4-0 victory over CALA in their final game, but it was not enough to give Kelburne fourth place and a spot in next weekend`s knock-out cup.
That place went to Wanderers following a narrow 4-3 win over Western Wildcats, leaving the Taysiders fourth on goal difference from both Western and Kelburne. Two goals from Euan Borland gave the Dundonians a 2-0 lead at the interval. Despite another strike from Ross Glashan, the Wildcats clawed their way back to 3-3 as the final minute approached. During that finale, veteran Paul Dailly scored the winner and at the other end keeper Cameron Healy made a great save in the final 10 seconds to keep Wanderers in front at the hooter.
Grange finished in third spot after beating Clydesdale 3-2, Cammie Fraser and two from Fraser Sands were enough for the narrow victory.
.jpg)