Goal Difference is the Dividing Line

After today`s Premiership contests, it is only goal difference that divides the teams at the top of the table: in the women`s, Edinburgh University lead Clydesdale Western by 23 goals; while Grange have a nine goal advantage over Wildcats in the men`s league.

Wildcats ended Dunfermline’s fairy-tale challenge at the top of the Premiership with a 6-2 win at Auchenhowie, they share top spot with Grange but with a game in hand.

Nikki Homfray opened for the Wildcats at a penalty corner when he forced home a rebound from his own initial shot. Liam Witt levelled for the Fifers, but Wildcats put their paws on the pedal and a double from Rob Harwood along with Fraser Moran gave them a 4-1 lead. Gary Clark pulled one back but another open play strike by Adam MacKenzie gave the Wildcats a 5-2 lead at the interval.

Western Wildcats v Carnegie 11th Nov 2021 Photo: Mark Pugh
Western Wildcats v Dunfermline Carnegie 11th Nov 2021
Photo: Mark Pugh

The second half was more sedate, and the only addition came from Wildcats` Callum Duke to complete the scoring.

Western Wildcats v Carnegie 11th Nov 2021 Photo: Mark Pugh
Western Wildcats v Dunfermline Carnegie 11th Nov 2021
Photo: Mark Pugh

Grange returned to winning form with a bang and a 14-goal defeat of a young Kelburne outfit. In the goal avalanche there were five goals each for Fraser Heigh, taking his total for the season so far to 22, and Albert Rowling, while the others were singles from Jacob Tweedie, Alan Johnston, Rory McCann and Peter Caughey.

Fourth placed Edinburgh University were also in fine striking form with a 12-0 win over Grove Menzieshill. Here there were two goals each for Costa Stylianou and Declan Bradley while the others came from eight single strikes.

Watsonians continued their unbeaten run with a 2-1 win over Clydesdale at Titwood. Jack MacKenzie put the home side in front in the first half, but the contest was decided in Watsonians favour with goals from Jay Harman and Fraser Sands. Clydesdale pressed in the fourth quarter for the equaliser but no cigar… and the points headed back to Edinburgh.

Perhaps the shock of the day emanated from Tayside where Dundee Wanderers beat Inverleith 3-1 for their first points of the season. The opener came from a penalty corner rebound in the first quarter from Callum Ross.

Wanderers added a second through Robbie Ralph who smashed the ball past the keeper. Inverleith might have clawed their way back into the contest but their chance from the spot was saved by keeper Connor Downes.

The Edinburgh side then pushed to get back into the contest and replaced their keeper with an additional outfield player, but the tactic failed to pay off, a move involving Ross and Ralph in the circle allowed the latter to score for his second of the game.

Guy Fawkes` Night at Upper Windyedge, Uddingston came with a couple of sparklers while hosts Hillhead were left with a few damp squibs as the Lanarkshire side departed with a 2-0 victory.

Keith Joss, Hillhead`s Director of Hockey, summed up the occasion: “Poor performance from us. Uddingston deserved the win.”

Winning goal. Uddingston v Hillhead. 5th Nov. 2021 Photo: Andy Lovat
Uddingston v Hillhead. 5th Nov. 2021
Photo: Andy Lovat

The opener came in the second quarter from a penalty corner option which was converted by Connor Evans. After half-time, Andrew Lochran took the ball from midfield into the circle and casually fired a reverse stick shot past the keeper. Harry Dunlop, Uddingston`s Director of Hockey, particularly made mention of their keeper Craig Wallace who made several crucial saves during the course of the contest.

The result is that Uddingston now move up the table towards the top six while Hillhead remain fixed in tenth spot.

Hillhead were knocked off the women`s Premiership perch by Gordonians who left with a 2-2 draw. The chasing pack took full advantage of Hillhead`s loss of points.

Edinburgh University were in merciless mood with an 11-0 win over Grove, the highlight was hat-tricks from Georgia Jones and Georgia Brown, the rest were singles. As a consequence, the students move into pole position on goal difference from Clydesdale Western.

Clydesdale continued their perfect run of victories with a 7-0 win over Glasgow University. There were two goals each for Lexi Sabatelli and Holly Steiger while Heather Lange, Fiona Semple and Millie Steiger got the others.

Watsonians are now in fourth spot after seeing off Uddingston 4-0, the goals came from Susan Hamilton, Nicki Skrastin, Sarah McKay and Ellie Wilson.

Watsonians coach Keith Smith said: “That was probably our most controlled performance of the season so far, we just couldn`t quite apply the finishing touch as often as we would have liked given all our possession and chances.”

Wildcats moved into the top six for the first time this season after a 3-0 win over GHK. Sue Campbell opened with a stunning first time shot, and that was followed by a deflection goal from Alex Stuart for a half-time two-goal lead. In the second half, player-of-the-match Olivia Finch spun past her defender and fired home a third for a comfortable victory.

At the bottom end of the table, Dundee Wanderers recorded their first victory of the season by beating Erskine Stewart`s Melville by the odd goal in seven. In a close contest it stood at 3-3 with five minutes to go – Sam Sangster at a penalty corner and a double from Kirsty Jeffries scored for the Taysiders while Connie Roxburgh, Evie Young and Kerrie Craig replied for the Edinburgh side.

However, the winner for the Dundonians came from a traditional penalty corner conversion from Sangster for the three points.

Western Wildcats v Carnegie 11th Nov 2021 Photo: Mark Pugh

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