Inverleith won all their three games to take pole position in the men’s indoor National League Division 1, but close behind are champions Western Wildcats with six points from their two games, and Watsonians who moved into third spot also on six points.
It may have been an early start to the opening match in the men`s Division 1 campaign but Grove Menzieshill were wide awake as they cruised to a 6-1 win over Grange. It was 4-1 by the break, veteran Ross McPherson opened the scoring in the first minute followed by a penalty corner conversion from Connor Chapman and a Albert Rowling double, Gordon Amour got Grange`s only reply. McPherson again and Rowling for his hat-trick added two more in the second half.
Title aspirants Inverleith also got off to a flyer with a 6-2 win over Edinburgh neighbours Watsonians. Again the foundation was laid in the first half with Charlie Jack opening to be followed by three from Keir Robb for a four goal lead. The second half finished even at 2-2, Alex Wilson from the spot and a fourth from Robb scored for Inverleith while Tom Steingold and Jack Cahalin from the spot were Watsonians scorers.
Then came the Tayside derby between Grove Menzieshill and rivals Dundee Wanderers – it finished 4-4 and no cards! There was never more than a goal between the sides and Tayside honour was satisfied, but points were dropped by both.
Andrew Doyle opened for the Hill in two minutes and soon after a penalty corner conversion from Callum Ross levelled. Findlay Duncan restored the Hill`s lead only for Kennedy Gibb to equalise just before the interval. Connor McCartney put Wanderers ahead for the first time but quick-fire strikes from Michael Ross and Chris McFadden put the Hill 4-3 up. But six minutes from the end Ross levelled from the spot for Wanderers – and that is how it finished, but both sides dropped points.
Keir Robb added another four goals to his tally for the day in Inverleith`s comprehensive 12-1 win over Uddingston. It was four at half time with doubles from Robb and captain Kyle Taylor. The second half was another flow of goals; Taylor completed his hat-trick, there was another couple for Robb, Alex Wilson also got two and the others emanated from Charlie Jack, Stuart Hatton and Sam Hunt for a comprehensive victory. Finn Halliday got Uddy`s late consolation.
In their second match of the day Watsonians picked up three points in a 5-2 win over Grange. It was 2-1 for Watsonians in the first half, Dan Coultas at a penalty corner and Tom Steingold were on target with Gordon Amour pulling one back for Grange. Then Watsonians raced into a 5-1 lead through Coultas, Jack Cahalin and Gabriel Tenner before Amour notched a late consolation for Grange.
Wanderers moved their points tally up to four with a narrow 3-2 win over Hillhead. The only goal of the first half came from Bobby Ralph for the Taysiders. That is how it stood into the final five minutes; Sean Dowie doubled Wanderers` tally, Fraser Ward pulled one back for Hillhead, Callum Ross sunk a penalty corner for 3-1 before David Gay made it 3-2, but there was no further scoring and the points went to the Taysiders.
And so to the game of the day.
But it was Inverleith who stole the show with a 9-4 win over Grove Menzieshill to finish the day with three victories and nine points. Inverleith captain Kyle Taylor led the charge with four goals six minutes into the second half. Luke Cranney scored for the Dundonians but that only opened another flood of goals from Inverleith through Alex Wilson, Charlie Jack and Taylor again for his fifth. Grove Menzieshill elected to replace their keeper with an additional outfield player and notched up three goals from Albert Rowling, Chris McFadden and Rowling again to advance the score to 7-4. But the Hill ran out of steam and the Edinburgh side stifled any semblance of a comeback with further goals from Wilson and Jack for a comfortable score line in the end.
And now entered the champions Western Wildcats to defend their title. They started off with a 9-2 win over Uddingston.
There was no doubting the winner when the Cats clawed their way to an eight goal score at the interval. In the avalanche there were doubles for Jamie Golden, Fraser Moran and Rob Harwood with Cammy Moran and Fab Goldie supplying the others. The pressure subsided in the second half, Scott Menzies added another for the champions but Stephen Mackenzie and Finn Halliday scored for Uddingston.
Watsonians showed an appetite for the indoor game with a 6-3 win over Dundee Wanderers. Bobby Ralph gave the Taysiders an early lead but by the interval Duncan Riddell, Gabriel Tenner and Jack Cahalin had put the Edinburgh side 3-1 up. Dan Coultas made it 4-1 from the spot for Watsonians but Wanderers retaliated with goals from Kennedy Gibb and Ralph again to bring the score back to 4-3. But the Edinburgh side were not to be denied their three points and Coultas and Tanner again advanced the score to 6-3 at the end.
Western Wildcats showed no mercy to Hillhead with an 8-1 win in the final game of the day. It was a personal triumph for Jamie Golden with five goals – the highest tally of the day. Teenager Tommy Austin bagged a couple and the other emerged from Fraser Moran. At the end Iain Hilton notched a consolation for Hillhead.
