Wanderers earn share of top spot

MJV Dundee Wanderers and Watsonians shot into joint leadership in Scotland’s premier league as both registered identical scores in the season curtain-raisers.

Wanderers made a blistering start to the Dundee derby with international striker Charlotte Watson lying handy for an early tap-in following Heather Elder’s initial effort.

Grove Menzieshill’s defence hardly had time to readjust to the setback when Elder strode purposefully through to put Wanderers in the driving seat with just 10 minutes gone.

Katie Robertson had threatened to cut the deficit before Michaela McCarthy’s delicate chip established a 3-0 advantage. However, an overtime penalty corner pulled one back when Sam Sangster’s power drive was deflected in by Lucy Smith.

Grove edged the second half on play but just couldn’t find a way past the evergreen Carmin Dow in Wanderers’ goal.

Elsewhere, a Glasgow thriller between Wildcats and Clydesdale ended all square at 2-2 with the home side having to claw their way back with a last-minute equaliser from Emily Powell.

In Championship league 1 Grove’s youthful second string found Waverley Inveresk Trinity too experienced, but Dundee High pupil Eve Hewitt marked her senior debut by firing in their consolation in a 5-1 defeat.

Championship 2 side Perthshire made a positive opening to their campaign with a 4-0 away win over CALA Edinburgh II.

Kinross had several stalwarts unavailable, as a result of which Hillhead IIs racked up a 5-1 win with Catherine Wray on the scoresheet for the home side.