Inverleith clinch indoor hockey title and return to Europe

Coach Stuart Neave was delighted that their target of winning the title had been achieved with a new-look, young side.

Inverleith opened the scoring from a penalty corner when Christie’s low shot found the net. Kelburne equalised with an outstanding finish by evergreen Jonny Christie.

Josh Cairns rattled the post with a penalty corner then Christie thought he’d scored again after being teed up by Cairns at another penalty corner but former Olympian Stephen Dick blocked the ball on the line.

Inverleith edged ahead when Christie fired home on a breakaway and the Edinburgh side were 3-1 ahead when Stuart Hatton converted.

Cairns pulled one back from a penalty corner but Inverleith went 4-2 up early in the second half through another Christie strike. He picked his spot from a tight angle and put Inverleith in the driving seat.

Kelburne refused to give up and penalty-corner specialist Cairns made it 4-3 before a penalty stroke for Inverleith took the score to 5-3, Christie blasting the ball into the net.

And the East of Scotland combine held out despite late Kelburne pressure.

Grange EL beat Western Wildcats 4-1 to gain promotion to women’s indoor National League 1.

Grove Menzieshill claimed third spot in women’s Indoor National League 1 with a 5-3 win over Edinburgh University.

FMGM Monarchs secured promotion to men’s National League 2 when they defeated Inverleith 2nds.