Dark treble shocks West

MJV Wanderers have Emily Dark to thank for claiming outright leadership of the premier table with Scotland’s newest recruit to the GB Elite Development Programme firing in a cracking hat-trick.

It was the icing on the cake on a polished team performance as the Tayside side put a dent in Clydesdale Western’s title ambitions.

Dark hit the target twice before the break as Glasgow’s best struggled against the pace of strike partners Charlotte Watson and Heather Elder.

It could have been much worse, however, with Clydesdale – inspired by a string of superb saves from youth international keeper Jess Buchanan – responding with a strong finish.

Two strikes in a minute from Millie Steiger and Lexi Sabatelli hauled it back to 2-2 before Dark powered home the match-winner with four minutes left on the clock.

Grove Menzieshill’s trip to the capital also yielded three points as Lucy Smith continued her scoring spree with a double against Grange.

The Dollar pupil is proving sharp in the D, adding a deflection and a rebound from penalty corners to her tally before Strath debutant Izzy Folan fired home for a 3-0 result.

Grove moved up to fifth as Wildcats and Edinburgh University leapfrogged Clydesdale to sit second and third respectively.

In Division 2 St Andrews University took over from Erskine Stewart’s Melville at the top with a single-goal victory.

Grove IIs moved into mid-table in Championship League 1 courtesy of Jojo Johnstone’s match-winner against George Heriots.

But Kinross, Perthshire, Dundee University II and St Andrews University II all fell to defeat in Championship 2.

Stirling University bucked the trend with a 5-5 draw in a thriller of an exchange with Watsonians II.

Midland clubs switched to round 1 of League Cup business with Wanderers II providing an early upset for district champions Madras.

Efforts from youngsters Hannah Murray and Eve Jarron were cancelled out by Tara Pollock and Susan Jackson before Kirsty Jefferies struck the vital blow in a great contest.

Louise Nixon (2), Katy Alexander and Rebekah Rose secured a comfortable 4-1 win over Perthshire II, while Grove’s third team eased past Brechin Thistles as Pat Lindsay and Abby Chapman secured the 2-1 victory.