Scotland: Western Wildcats move to the top of the Men’s National League with a hat-trick of wins

It’s really quite tight at the top of the Men’s National League Division 1, Western Wildcats moving into pole position but only one point clear of Grove Menzieshill. Inverleith are three points behind after their back-to-back wins, but they have a game in hand. As a result of their defeat to Inverleith, Grange dropped to fourth place. Dundee Wanderers are best of the rest on six points, with the others battling it out for points.

Grange started the day by defending their league leadership… and did just that with a 5-2 win over Uddingston in their opening match. F. Rowling’s double gave Edinburgh a two-goal lead at the break. Grange pushed their lead to four in the second half with goals from Gordon Amour and Rowling again, but then Uddy came alive with strikes from Stephen McKenzie and Louis Gardiner for a reduced 4-2 lead. But the points were secured with a final goal from Rowling for his own fourth.

However, their moment in the sun came to a stuttering end with a 12-2 defeat to Inverleith.

What could be called the match of the day between Inverleith and Grove Menzieshill proved to be a clear winning score for Edinburgh with a 5-0 victory… and all the goals came from open play. The champions led by two at the break through Sam Hunt and Charlie Jack. The second half awaited Tayside’s revival, but it never came. Instead, Ollie Wilson, Hunt again and Keir Robb simply added to the Inverleith tally for the three points, moving them above Menzieshill in the table.

The champions then somehow ended Grange’s success bubble with a 12-2 head-to-head win. However, after twelve minutes it was 1-1, Charlie Jack opening for Inverleith, closely followed by Grange`s Rowling – and that was the end of the tie. The goals flowed for rampant Inverleith for the remainder of the match. Jack followed with another four, bringing his match total to five. Keir Robb also scored four while Alex Wilson got a hat-trick… and in between Murray Banks got a Grange consolation.

However, Menzieshill restored their composure to win 6–1 against Uddingston in their second outing. It was four at half time with goals from Connor Chapman, Ross McPherson, Harry Mowatt and Findlay Duncan. Menzieshill’s total advanced to six through Alfie Banner and Euan Cuthill before Finn Halliday provided a consolation for Uddy.

That was followed by a 7-2 win over local rivals Dundee Wanderers with Alfie Banner scoring an impressive five in the local derby. There were two each during the break, Banner’s double canceled out by hits from Oscar Brown and Callum Ross. But the second half belonged to Menzieshill, another three from Banner, with Gavin Tomlinson and Harry Mowatt contributing the others. And the Hill move back into second spot, although Inverleith still have a game in hand.

Western Wildcats started the day with a comfortable 8-2 win over Clydesdale to take their lead to seven points. The match was effectively over at the break, with Wildcats leading by five through Fabien Goldie, Fraser Moran, Jamie Golden, Rob Harwood and Scott Menzies. Clydesdale’s Ethan Robertson and Stuart Eadie reduced the deficit to 5-2 but there was no comeback as Fraser Moran added another pair while brother Cameron also scored.

Wildcats’ progress further up the table was helped by a 5-2 win over Dundee Wanderers in their second match of the day. At the break they led by three through Jamie Golden, Fraser and Cameron Moran. But Wanderers took revenge with a penalty corner from Bobby Ralph and Kennedy Gibb to reduce the score to a dangerous 3-2. However, Wildcats spun to the three points with further strikes from Rob Harwood and Golden from the spot.

In the penultimate match of the day, Wildcats moved into pole position after a convincing 10-1 win over Uddingston. Once again Western laid the foundation in the first half with a double from Jamie Golden and others from Rob Harwood and Fraser Moran, Luca Gardiner replying for Uddy. Wildcats ran away in the second half with further strikes from Moran twice for his hat-trick, another double from Golden for four in total, Harwood for his second and finally Nikki Homfray.

Dundee Wanderers launched their bid to move up the division with an 8-2 win over Watsonians, marking their second win in the Championship. But it was tight in the first half, with Tayside’s lead limited to 3-2, a double from Callum Ross and one from Bobby Ralph were the Wanderers scorers, with David Cain and Noah Gray replying for Edinburgh. But the second half belonged to the Dundonians, Ross got his hat-trick from a penalty corner, Ralph scored his own second while Oscar Brown and Kennedy Gibb were also on target.

However, their progress upwards was somewhat stifled by later defeats at the hands of Western and Menzieshill.

In the battle for elusive points to move from the bottom rungs of the table, it was Clydesdale who finally broke their advantage with a 2-1 win over Watsonians to move up two places.

The only goal of the first half came from the spot after just nine minutes and it was Ethan Robertson who converted. The Dale doubled their lead through Stuart Eadie, and although Daniel Cain reduced the deficit, Watsonians could not get back on level terms.