Gavin Sommerville reflected on Western’s come-from-behind, 3-2 men’s Premiership success at Edinburgh University and admitted: “They really pushed us.”
Jonny Christie claimed the game-winner three minutes from time for the long-time men’s Premiership leaders.
The victory extended their unbeaten run to 17 games but the pace-setting Auchenhowie combine were 2-1 down with the clock ticking away.
Fraser Moran netted with eight minutes remaining before Christie supplied the killer goal on an option slip from a penalty corner.
The students piled pressure on the leaders with four corners in the final minutes but Western held out much to the disappointment of the students’ player/coach Hamish Imrie.
He said: “We were brilliant, playing some great hockey, but we missed chances.”
Andrew McAllister opened the scoring from a penalty corner for Western before Keir Robb and Edinburgh skipper Robbie Croll from a corner fired the home side 2-1 ahead.
Sommerville, Western’s experienced goalkeeper, said the students are a really good side and added: “It was a hard, intense game.”
Free-scoring Fraser Heigh (pictured by Nigel Duncan) claimed a treble as second-placed Grange kept up their challenge for the title with a 6-0 result at Peffermill over Watsonians and they remain five points behind with five games left with Edinburgh University third on 28 points.
Rory McCann netted a double and Jacob Tweedie a single in the comfortable win.
Men’s Premiership: Edinburgh University 2, Western 3; Watsonians 0, Grange 6; Kelburne 2, Uddingston 0; Hillhead 0, Inverleith 3; Dundee Wanderers 2, Grove Menzieshill 2
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