Weekend to bring more top Premiership action

Scotland`s top sides were due to perform in Europe this weekend, but continuing COVID restrictions have kicked that into the long grass. Instead, Edinburgh University entertains Clydesdale Western in the women`s Premiership but the men`s clash between Grange and Wildcats has been postponed.

When the women`s Premiership came to an abrupt conclusion in March 2020 it could hardly have been closer at the top with between Clydesdale and the Edinburgh students.

18 months on the two sides lock horns again at Peffermill – but will the balance of power have changed in any way?

Clydesdale have had two toughies under belt, they were away to Watsonians and Wildcats and came through both with narrow victories. So they are used to the close encounter.

But Clydesdale coach Derek Forsyth is playing down the significance of the occasion. “The season is only just started and with so many matches still to be played both teams will have many more challenges to negotiate throughout the season.”

Certainly Edinburgh`s start to the season has been less intense, they have only played one game and that was a gentle 5-0 win over Gordonians.

Sam Judge, the students` coach, was also measured in her approach to the Peffermill contest. “We approach every game with confidence and looking to win irrespective of the time in the season. It`s always a competitive game which is great and the girls are looking forward to it.”

Whatever else, Judge will have to be aware of the clinical finishing of Clydesdale`s Fiona Semple, her hat-trick certainly blunted the Wildcats` claws two weeks ago

Another mouth watering tussle could be at Old Anniesland where table-toppers GHK take on a Watsonians side that is awash with talent.

The Edinburgh side could be a real test for Susan McGilveray`s renaissance at GHK – they have Ellie Wilson, keeper Lucy Camlin and strikers Sarah Jamieson and Emily Dark in the present Scotland squad as well as several other talented players. Watsonians had a curious start to the campaign, firstly going down 1-0 to Clydesdale Western, then putting 15 past Erskine Stewart`s Melville, but what is certain is that McGilveray`s charges will simply concentrate on their own game for success.

Another side that has made an impressive start is Glasgow University, they sit second with wins over Uddingston and Grove. On Saturday they travel to Erskine SM and will hope that striker Emily Simmers can keep up her goal scoring form.

Dundee Wanderers and Wildcats are uncharacteristically in the bottom rungs of the league after a couple of games and they clash on Saturday on Tayside with only the winner progressing up the table.

Hillhead has another interesting start  with four points from their two outings so far, and on Saturday travel to Uddingston keep the momentum going. After a goalless draw against Wildcats, the Glasgow side went to Tayside and came away with a 4-3 win, courtesy of a hat-trick from Emma Blackstock.

Uddingston might seem another three points for the taking, but the Lanarkshire side finally got points on the board with a 4-1 win at Gordonians – that result could give the Premiership newcomers just the confidence boost they need for life in the top flight.

Monday evening sees a catch-up Premiership fixture when Hillhead entertain Edinburgh University at Upper Windyedge. In past seasons this might have seemed a routine three points for the Edinburgh students, but perhaps not so this season. Like some other sides there appears to be a bit of a renaissance in the air… and Hillhead under coach Andrew Hilton seem to fall into that category.

He said: “The team have put an incredible amount of work in at training. The work ethic and desire to finish in the top six shows at each training session.

“We have a strong mix of experience and youth in our team but they play as a unit as was show in the Wildcats game.

Hilton noted that the Wildcats game ended in a 0-0 draw, while in the 2019-20 season they lost 6-0 – hence progress. However, there is other early evidence of progress in that Hillhead currently sit unbeaten in fourth place with four points, so Edinburgh may find Hillhead a tougher nut to crack than in the past.

On the match Hilton remarked: “Edinburgh University is always a tough game home or away especially with the experience they have on the pitch but also on the side with their coaching team. We are approaching each game individually and know that if we prepare right we can compete against the top teams in the league, but it requires us to be as close to our best.”

Hillhead will almost have a full squad for Monday`s game, only Rachel Osborne is missing

It`s like “the good old days at Whitehaugh” with Kelburne, who won 13 titles in a row between 2005 and 2017, sitting in the top rungs of the men`s table. Two wins and a draw have propelled the Paisley side to second behind the Wildcats, and they might consolidate that progress with a home win over Watsonians.

Coach Gordon Shepherd has stayed on at Whitehaugh and is now having to blood several raw youngsters in the club`s transition period – and so far it seems to have been successful.

Shep said: “They are motivated, enjoying themselves and everyone in the squad is working together and challenging each other.”

What Shep and his youngsters can expect from Watsonians on Saturday is difficult to determine, the Edinburgh side have only had one outing so far this season, and that was a 2-2 against Inverleith.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh University have the chance to move towards the top with a double header weekend against Clydesdale at home and then away to a still pointless Dundee Wanderers. Although there is undoubted young talent in the students` ranks, the outcomes have been slow in coming – a draw with Uddingston and 2-1 win at Hillhead.

You would expect Clydesdale to be the bigger obstacle for Hamish Imrie`s charges, they are a strong side but have opened with a 4-1 win at Wanderers followed by a 7-3 at Wildcats – so not easy to predict their form on Saturday.

Another difficult prediction is the clash between Grove Menzieshill and Uddingston – both are in the bottom six with one point each – so perhaps another draw might be the likely outcome.

Finally, there is a second match on Sunday between Inverleith and Hillhead. The former`s return to the top flight was full of confidence, they had the services of Chris Duncan as coach and spokesman Arnie Sathiy predicted “we`ve an exciting and very talented group of lads and are absolutely not in the Premiership to make up the numbers.”

The Edinburgh side have started off with a win, draw and loss and are in sixth place, but a home win over Hillhead would certainly push them further into the top six. As for Hillhead, they almost got something out of last weekend`s game against Edinburgh University but finally succumbed to a late winner, so perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel for them.

 

 

 

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