MATCH 5: WESTERN WILDCATS 6-5 ROSLAGENS IF
Western Wildcats finished on a winning note with a narrow 6-5 victory over Swedish champions Roslagens, but it took a last gasp strike by Andrew McConnell to secure the triumph.
Wildcats finished top of the relegation pool with maximum points, normally enough to guarantee survival in the Trophy level, but this year it is in fact four teams that are relegated to the third tier in order to get the top flight back from ten to eight teams.
The Swedes were two up at the start of the second quarter through Simon Ponten and Max Olavsson, but then the Wildcats roared into action with four goals in six minutes for a 4-2 lead at the interval. A penalty corner score by Fraser Moran started the process to be followed by Andrew McAllister, AJ Lochrin and Callum Duke.
Early in the second half Joe McConnell advanced the score to 5-2. But then the Swedes perked up and Oskar Soderstrom, Leo Torner and Ponten again brought the score back to 5-5 in the final minute. And a draw looked on the cards, but up popped Andrew McConnell to fire in the winner.
It was a profitable weekend for Dundee Wanderers in the men`s Premiership, Saturday`s win over Clydesdale was followed by a 5-4 victory over Kelburne, and the Taysiders have taken huge strides away from the relegation zone. The catalyst was a hat-trick by the evergreen Bobby Ralph while Sean Dowie and Steven Moir got the others. Kelburne`s replies came from Miles Goldie, Charlie Feeney, Luke Bannerman and Rory Donaldson.
In the women`s Premiership it was also a profitable weekend for GHK, they picked up their second win with a 2-1 score over Grange. The Glasgow side are almost certain of a top six place after the weekend`s six points, in theory Uddingston could still end up with the same 19 points if they win their three outstanding games but have a much weaker goal difference.
GHK laid the foundation for the three points in the first half when Fiona Semple opened from the spot to be followed by a penalty corner strike from Lucy Williamson. Hanna McKie pulled one back for Grange in the second half which led to a tense finale.
GHK`s captain Carly Bisset recounted: “It was really end to end with chances to both teams – leading to a particularly nervy final few minutes when they played with eleven outfield, but ultimately we`re proud of grinding out the win and defending our corners well.”
Grange are already assured of a top six place.
