Grange opened their account in the EuroHockey Club Trophy, Division One, with a 3-1 win over Ukraine-based Vinnitsa in Portugal in a game delayed for 40 minutes at half-time due to flooding.
Martin Shepherdson (pictured), the club’s team manager, praised his men saying this was a much-improved performance from the 4-0 defeat by Irish cracks Lisnagarvey in their opener in Lousada.
This, said Shepherdson, was a very strong Ukranian side but a short-corner conversions from Robbie Croll and Aidan McQuade put the Scottish champions 2-0 ahead. Their rivals pulled one back before the break.
Grange went further ahead after the enforced break with an open play strike from David Nairn who rounded the goalkeeper and tucked the ball away from a tight angle.
Shepherdson added: “There were chances at both ends but no goals and we now have a final pool game against the hosts Lousada (on Sunday).”
In their opening game, Grange went behind in the first quarter to Lisnagarvey when Ollie Kidd netted and chased the game after that. The Scots created opportunities but failed to take them and Andy Williamson and Kidd added to the total of their rivals.
Pressure in the fourth quarter saw Williamson net again to kill the game and Shepherdson said: “We put a lot into the game and were disappointed that we couldn’t match our recent (domestic) form.”
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