There’s no real change at the top of the women`s Premiership but GHK have put their stamp on proceedings with a 3-1 home win over Edinburgh University – the side that finished runners-up last season.
The victory was hailed as “another great game for GHK with a convincing win over Edinburgh University” and it puts the Glasgow side fourth in the table on goal difference. GHK`s goals emanated from Beth Campbell, Hanna McKie and Lucy Williamson. Now they take on Grange tomorrow. Ava Smith replied for the Edinburgh students.
However, others were also on winning form.
Champions Watsonians were 12-1 winners at Glasgow University, Emily Dark was top scorer with four; there were doubles for Katherine Holdgate and Sarah Jamieson while Ailsa Small, Jenna Park, Katie Crawford and Jess Garden completed the scoring.
Clydesdale Western went to Lanarkshire and came away with a 4-0 win over Uddingston. Here Jenny Eadie bagged a couple while Millie Steiger and Emma McGregor got the others.
Wildcats travelled to St Andrews University and returned with a 3-0 win. The Cats were two up at the interval, Alex Stuart carried the ball over the line from a rebound off the keeper, and then Lexi Macmillan found the net through a crowded circle. The result was confirmed in the final quarter when Steph Curran fired at the keeper and Rachel Bain finished off the rebound.
So Watsonians, Clydesdale Western Wildcats and GHK all sit on maximum points.
Fjordhus Reivers picked up their first point of their Premiership baptism with a 3-3 draw against Grange. Emily Newlands at a penalty corner and a double from Lily Byers scored for the Borderers while Heather Croll, Marianna MacLean and Jen Cain replied for Grange.
In the final game Inverleith notched up their first Premiership win of the season with a 5-2 home win over Hillhead. The Edinburgh side were three up at the break, Kirsty Cannon, Elise Miller and Rachael Campbell were on target. Miller again put Inverleith four up in the third quarter before Hillhead converted two penalty corners to reduce the tally to 4-2, but the final result was confirmed when Cannon scored Inverleith`s fifth. And the Edinburgh side leapt up to fifth in the table.
The talking point in the men`s Premoiership is that Watsonians are still top guns – albeit on goal difference. They were 3-1 winners at Inverleith with Euan Burgess, Danny Cain and Matthew Leiper the scorers, Thomas Temperlay replied for the home side.
Western Wildcats slipped into second spot with a comfortable 4-0 win at Dundee Wanderers. The visitors were one up at the interval when Fraser Moran converted a penalty corner option. Further goals arrived in the second half through Jamie Golden with a direct shot at another set piece, Adam MacKenzie who waltzed past three defenders to fire the ball into the bottom corner and finally Rob Harwood with a back post tap-in.
Grange found a winner 15 seconds from the end through Aussie Dylan Bean to secure a 3-2 win over a plucky ESM side. Grange went ahead through David Nairn but 16-year-old school boy Will Kelly controlled an aerial ball in the circle and calmly slotted home a half volley to level. Then the champions were in trouble when Jack Collister converted from the spot to give them a 2-1 lead. ESM could not retain their advantage, Nairn levelled with a deflection only for Bean to grasp his belated winner.
Edinburgh University, runners-up last year, were held to a 1-1 draw by Grove Menzieshill in Dundee. The students took the lead through Iain McFadden at a set piece, but with three minutes left the Taysiders equalised with a back post deflection by Alfie Bonnar. Grove Menzieshill coach Gav Byers said: “It was a good tactical battle…they were better in the first half, we came into it and played really well with lots of circle pressure in the fourth quarter.”
Elsewhere FSEG Clydesdale were 1-0 winners over Uddingston at Titwood, a Kyle Bannerman deflection at a penalty corner was the only goal. The home side then defended well to maintain their advantage.
Hillhead were 3-1 winners at Dunfermline Carnegie that coach Yan Adams described as “a bit of a laboured performance.” Ruari Thomson put Hillhead ahead only for Sam Eadie to level at a penalty corner. The Fifers had the better of the third quarter but it was Hillhead that scored the crucial goals through Graeme Campbell and Sean Horgan with a far post deflection in the final five minutes.
