No joy for Kelburne as Inverleith edge it

Paisley side come up short despite impressive performance

Craig Ritchie

Bromac Kelburne came up just short in their first indoor final as Inverleith ran out 5- 3 winners in Perth.

The Paisley side, led by coach Jeff Cairns, headed into the clash high in confidence as they looked to make club history by rewarding their recent indoor resurgence with some silverware.

And despite the eventual scoreline, Kelburne never let themselves down in a game that was quick and entertaining from start to finish, contested between two side playing some impressive hockey.

However, Kelburne were made to rue some missed opportunities after being handed a golden opportunity to open the scoring early on.

The Paisley side were handed a penalty stroke and few would have bet against set- piece specialist Josh Cairns when he stepped up.

But it proved to be dismay for Cairns as he could only watch on as his effort was superbly saved to keep the scores level.

Inverleith soon edged themselves in front after a penalty corner, with a strike from Patch Christie skidding low and hard beyond Cairns in goal.

Kelburne would equalise with a stunning finish by striker Jonny Christie, with the experienced forward sending the ball crashing into the top corner to give the Inverleith keeper no chance.

Cairns then rattled the post as Kelburne ramped up the pressure with a penalty corner.

And Christie then thought he had scored again after being teed up by Cairns at another corner but Stephen Dick somehow made a fantastic block on the goalline to keep the scores level.

At the other end Patch Christie had a goal chopped off when he fired into the top left hand corner, but he was deemed to be offside.

But Christie wouldn’t be denied for too long and he fired into an empty net on the fast break to put Kelburne behind.

It soon went 3- 1 and it was Stuart Hatton who converted to give Inverleith the advantage.

But Cairns issued an instant response for Kelburne from a penalty corner when he picked out the top right corner to pull the scores back to 3-2.

The next goal would be crucial – but unfortunately for Kelburne it was Inverleith who doubled their advantage. And it was to be another Patch Christie effort after he picked his spot from a tight angle to put Inverleith in the driving seat.

Kelburne bit back when they were awarded their second penalty stroke of the match. Cairns stepped up again and this time dispatched perfectly to make the score 4-3 to Inverleith.

But a penalty stroke for Inverleith took the score to 5-3. Patch Christie stepped up to blast it to the right of Cairns and into the net.