Still all to play for after Play-Off first legs in Glasgow
It’s still all to play for in all four of Scottish Hockey’s National League Play-Offs after today’s first legs at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre today.
In the Men’s National League Grand Final, an entire seventy minutes were not able to seperate both Bromac Kelburne and Grange as both sides played out a 0-0 draw.
Clear-cut chances fell to both sides throughout the duration of the match but neither side were able to register on the scoresheet in what was a tense, close affair with the league winners shading the contest.
(Kelburne’s Mark Ralph in action during the Men’s Grand Final. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)
Edinburgh University will have to overcome a two goal deficit in the second leg of the Women’s National League Grand Final after losing 2-0 to Grove Menzieshill.
(Grove Menzieshill have the advantage after a 2-0 win over Edinburgh Uni. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)
After a goalless first half, it was Grove Menzieshill who seized the ascendency two minutes into the second period. University defender Becky Merchant was dispossessed immediately in front of her own scoring circle and Ali Bell was on hand to collect the loose ball and strike the ball low into the bottom left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.
In the 57th minute, the Taysiders extended their advantage to two goals when Amy Brodie’s speculative reverse stick pass into the scoring circle was cutely deflected home by Sarah Jamieson, who had stolen in front of the defending Merchant to make the crucial intervention.
Dundee Wanderers will carry a slender one goal advantage into tomorrow’s Men’s National League Relegation Play-Off after a 2-1 win over Inverleith.
Wanderers got off to the best possible start in the second minute when Paul Dailly’s cross from the right hand side was inadvertantly turned home off Andy Malcolm’s stick to give them a 1-0 lead.
(Wanderers’ first leg triumph puts them in pole position. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)
On the stroke of half-time, a cross from Inverleith’s Patrick Christie reached Magnus Ferrier, whose shot was half-blocked by Wanderers’ goalkeeper Lewis Beer, but Josh McLean was on hand to touch the ball over the line to leave the two teams level at 1-1 come the interval.
In the 52nd minute, a speculative pass from outside the circle by Wanderers’ Bruce Rowan was kicked out by Inverleith goalkeeper Greg McKenzie, only for Frank Mulgrew to control the ball a unleash an unstoppable reverse stick shot past McKenzie to give his side the lead again at 2-1.
A scrappy contest concluded with Wanderers taking the one goal advantage in tomorrow’s second leg.
(Inverleith are still in the hunt to retain their Division 1 status despite narrow defeat. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)
The Women’s National League Promotion / Relegation Play-Off will go down a deciding second leg match after Inverleith Ladies and Kelburne Ladies played out a tense 1-1 draw in today’s first leg.
Kelburne will rue a number of missed opportunities throughout the match, and the opening goal did not come until as late as the 63rd minute when Laura Carlton’s strike into the circle was deflected by Stevie McInally into the path of Molly Godfrey, who cooly dispatched the ball past Inverleith’s goalkeeper Nikki Monaghan.
(Kelburne’s Molly Godfrey celebrates the opening goal. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)
However, Inverleith struck back almost with the last play of the game, Amy Costello winding up to power the ball past Lauren Grant from a penalty corner to equalise in the 69th minute.
(Amy Costello’s last minute equaliser means it’s all to play for in tomorrow’s second leg. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)
Entry to tomorrow’s National League Grand Finals and Play-Offs at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre is FREE of charge for all spectators for what will be a great day of hockey.
Sunday 3 May
11.00 Kelburne Ladies (1) v (1) Inverleith Ladies
13.00 Inverleith (1) v (2) Dundee Wanderers
15.00 Edinburgh University (0) v (2) Grove Menzieshill
17.00 Bromac Kelburne (0) v (0) Grange
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