Inverleith and Dundee Wanderers retain indoor crowns

Inverleith and Dundee Wanderers were the winners of the main prizes on what was a fantastic spectacle of hockey at the Indoor Gala Day at Bell’s Sports Centre, Perth.

A full round-up of the day’s action follows.

Grove Menzieshill v Inverleith – Men’s Division 1 Grand Final

A fearsome battles between Grove Menzieshill and Inverleith in the Men’s Division 1 Grand Final saw the Edinburgh side claim their third title in a row with a captivating 5-4 win over their great indoor rivals.

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After a tense opening period, it was Inverleith who registered first, Dan Coultas’ penalty stroke giving his side a 12th minute lead.

However, the Taysiders hit back right on the stroke of the half-time hooter, Mike Ross’ strike at the penalty corner making it 1-1.

A prolific five minutes of goal-scoring followed; Gavin Tomlinson put Grove Menzieshill 2-1 up in the 24th minute, only for Coultas to respond in kind for Inverleith two minutes later. Gordon Amour made it 3-2 to the capital outfit straight after the re-start, but Duncan Riddell pegged back the ‘Robes to 3-3.

A brilliant penalty corner set-play enabled Coultas to seal his hat-trick, with Amour on target with a near finish to make it 5-3 to Inverleith.

Chris Wilson pulled Grove Menzieshill to within one goal with two minutes remaining but it was sadly too late for the Dundonians, another runners-up spot the consolation prize.

Dundee Wanderers v Milne Craig Clydesdale Western – Women’s Division 1 Grand Final

Dundee Wanderers retained their indoor title for a fourth straight season after a 5-3 win over Milne Craig Clydesdale Western in the Women’s Division 1 Grand Final.

Vikki Bunce was the stand-out performer, scoring four of Wanderers’ goals.

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The Scottish indoor captain broke the deadlock with a field goal in the second minute, only for Heather Howie to equalise for the Glasgow side shortly after.

Amanda Maxwell put the Dundonians 2-1 up sixty seconds later, a lead that stood up until the half-time hooter.

Clydesdale Western hit back three minutes after the break, Jen Eadie putting her side back on parity from open play.

A tight second half battle ensued with end to end action, although both Nicki Cochrane and Carmin Dow kept their goals excellently with key saves.

Nevertheless, a penalty corner opportunity was seized in the 34th minute when Bunce fired home low and hard to make it 3-2, and her hat-trick goal four minutes later looked to have settled the tie.

Millie Steiger had other ideas though, reducing the lead to 4-3 in the 39th minute, but with Clydesdale Western attacking with a kicking back, it was inevitable that Wanderers would get another chance to finish off the match, which Bunce duly took with almost the last strike of the ball.

Grove Menzieshill II v Hillhead – Men’s NIL Division 2 Grand Final

Grove Menzieshill II were crowned Men’s Division 2 champions with a 5-2 win over Hillhead.

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Ben Cosgrove opened the scoring in the 10th minute after a swift counter-attack and finish from the right of the circle.

Nevertheless, Scotland international Callum Duke had the Hornets back on level terms shortly after with a well struck penalty corner low down the middle of the goal.

After the sides headed into half-time all square, Ben Cromar put the ‘Hill back in front three minutes after the re-start, but again, Hillhead struck back almost immediately from Andrew Black.

Two goals inside two minutes shortly before the second half mid-point proved to be vital for the Taysiders; Cromar rifled the ball high into the net for his second goal in the 27th minute, before Cosgrove grabbed his second of the match sixty seconds later after great individual play.

David Petrie’s bobbling penalty corner put the icing on the cake for the Dundonians.

Grange v Uddingston – Men’s NIL Division 1 3rd / 4th Play-Off

Forty minutes were unable to seperate both Grange and Uddingston in the Men’s Division 1 3rd/4th place play-off. The match finished 1-1 in regulation time.

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The Stags’ Callum Milne opened the scoring only for Barry Platt to equalise for the South Lanarkshire side.

Uddingston prevailed in the shoot-out 2-0 to seal third place.

Aberdeen Bon Accord MBC v Hillhead Ladies – Women’s NIL Division 1 / 2 Play-Off

Aberdeen Bon Accord MBC retained their place in Women’s Division 1 after a dramatic 1-0 penalty shoot-out win.

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An Amber McFarlane finish in the fourth minute had given the Glasgow outfit an early lead, one that they retained until the end of a nervous first half.

However, Ruth Cox was on hand to pull the Aberdonians back into the contest in the 31st minute, and with defences clearly on top the match fizzled out towards a penalty shoot-out.

With neither side able to convert their opening three penalties, sudden death followed, with Cox proving the match-winner courtesy of coolly taken penalty after Bon Accord MBC goalkeeper Siobhan Cowie had saved her fourth penalty in a row.

Harris Academy FP v Edinburgh University – Men’s NIL Division 2 / 3 Play-Off

Edinburgh University dramatically won promotion to Men’s Division 2 after overcoming Harris Academy FP in a penalty shoot-out.

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A solitary first half goal from Albert Rowling had given the former pupils at slender 1-0 lead at the half-time break, although the students hit back through Antonis Efthymiou shortly after the interval.

A thunderous Rowling penalty corner in the 25th minute restored his side’s lead only for Efthymiou to match his efforts with his second goal of the match shortly after.

Tom Kemsley gave the scholars the lead for the first time in the match following a penalty corner set-play, only for Rowling to peg back the university with his hat-trick goal three minutes from full-time.

vWith scores deadlocked at full-time, it was Edinburgh University who held their nerve in the shoot-out to win 2-0 on penalties.

Alpha Data Carnegie v Watsonians – Men’s Division 2 Play-Off

Alpha Data Carnegie earned the opportunity for a crack at promotion to Men’s Division 1 with a Division 2 play-off win over Watsonians.

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Following a goalless first half, it was the capital outfit who opened scoring with a field goal from Andrew Harris-Fraser in the 25th minute, only for Carnegie to respond immediately through Gary Clark.

Watsonians then manufactured a two-goal cushion for themselves courtesy of two Blair Wynd penalty corners inside two minutes at the mid-point of the second half.

With two minutes to go, and the game seemingly out of sight for the Fifers, Andrew Doyle dramatically levelled the scores with a field goal and penalty corner in the 39th and 40th minute.

Penalties look inevitable until Carnegie striker Martin Daw popped up in the centre of the circle to divert a cross into the net to the delight of his team-mates, leaving the Watsonian contingent crestfallen.

Western Wildcats v Alpha Data Carnegie

A hat-trick from Western Wildcats striker Scott McCartney ensured a comfortable win for the Glasgow side over Alpha Data Carnegie in the Men’s Division 1/2 play-off.

Andrew Sinclair and Rhury Smith were also on target for the Wildcats.

The Fifers’ consolation came from Gary Clark.

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All Photo Credits: Duncan Gray

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