Grove Menzieshill started with two wins on the opening day of the men’s indoor National League Division 1, with back-to-back wins over Grange and Clydesdale topping the table.
And it was a day of competitive action – with one exception, all matches ended with two goals or less between the teams.
The Taysiders opened with a narrow 3-2 win over Grange, but the three points remained until the final four minutes when Harry Mowatt grabbed the winner. In the first half Menzieshill, again under the coaching of the legendary Bruce Cuthill, went ahead by two through Findlay Duncan and a penalty corner conversion from Michael Ross. But Grange pulled one back before the break through Gordon Amour. The same Grange player equalized late on, only for Mowatt to spoil the recovery.
It was equally close against Clydesdale with the score tied at 1-1 at the break. In the closing minutes Theo Wood scored for the Dundonians, with Stuart Eadie replying for Glasgow. Later in the second half Menzieshill put themselves in front with further goals from Connor Chapman and Findlay Duncan for a 3-1 lead. Everything seemed settled, but Luke Bannerman cut the score to 3-2 with a few minutes to go. Duncan then struck again from a penalty corner to seal the three points for the Taysiders with a 4-2 scoreline.
However, they share first place with Grange, also on six points, but with a match more played.
Despite a shortened squad, this is the best start to the season for Grange in several years. Not the best of starts as they went down 3-1 to Menzieshill but recovered to beat Dundee Wanderers 4-2. Bobby Ralph opened for Wanderers but then they were bombarded with a hat-trick from Livio Belotti and one from Jacob Tweedie for a 4-1 lead. Although Findlay Wright pulled one back, the three points went to Grange.
In the final game of a long day, Grange maintained their concentration and won 4-2 against Clydesdale. The Dale led 2-1 at the break through Ethan Robertson and Jack Nairn, with former Dale player Gordon Amour getting the Grange attack. But the second half belonged to Edinburgh with further goals from Amour from a penalty corner, Jacob Tweedie and Livio Belotti.
Both Inverleith and Western Wildcats started with a win. Inverleith won 3-1 against Uddingston, but it was only a single goal from Alex Wilson that gave them a narrow half-time lead. Rory Steedman doubled their total before Angus Millar reduced the deficit for Uddy with just two minutes remaining. But Inverleith’s blushes were saved with a late strike from Olly Wilson.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats strolled to a 7-1 victory over Watsonians in their opening game. The Cats led 3-1 at the break through Fraser Moran, Andrew Lochrin and Jamie Golden, with Tommy Orr replying for the Edinburgh side. But the scoring was all Wildcats in the second half, Golden completing his hat trick on penalty corners, Moran getting his second of the match and Fabien Goldie completing the scoring.
And so to the mutual clash!
Well, it ended in a points division at 4-4.
Once again Jamie Golden was involved, scoring twice for the Wildcats, only for Alex Wilson and Charlie Jack to draw level for Inverleith. Just before the break, Wilson found the net again in a penalty corner to put Edinburgh 3-2 ahead. The second half bounced back and forth – Fraser Moran made it 3-3, Jack put Inverleith ahead again 4-3, with Andrew Lochrin level again for a 4-4 final finish.
A mixed day for former champions Dundee Wanderers. Things started well enough with a 4-2 win over Clydesdale in the opening game of the day. At half-time it was 1-1, Fergus Sandison opening the scoring only for Jack Nairn to level for Clydesdale. Wanderers took a 3-1 lead through Kennedy Gibb and Callum Ross, but were again beaten back by Clydesdale’s Jack Nairn. However, the points were secured with a final goal from Dundee’s Callum Ross.
Uddingston and Watsonians both lost their opening matches, but collected a point in a 3-3 draw between them. Watsonians’ Danny Cain opened but was canceled out by Uddingston’s Max Strachan. Tommy Adams put Edinburgh 2-1 ahead in the second half but Louis Gardiner’s double gave Lanarkshire a glimmer of victory. In the end Tommy Orr made it 3-3 and a share of the points.
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