Silverware for Watsonians after last-gasp goal

Captain Tom Swarbrick held the Scottish Cup aloft to signal wild celebrations for underdogs Watsonians at Glasgow’s National Hockey Centre.

They turned the form book upside down to edge newly-crowned Premiership champions Grange 3-2 with a goal inside the final two minutes.

Watsonians, beaten on three previous occasions by their Capital rivals this season, opened the scoring in the second quarter of the game through Fraser Sands who guided a pass from Owen Hunter into the bottom corner, but Grange levelled minutes later via a penalty corner from Robbie Croll and the scoreline stayed that way at half-time.

Grange then took the lead half way through the third quarter, Dylan Bean netting a drag flick, but two goals in the final session, one from Dan Coultas, who fired the ball low into the backboard to level and another from Nathan Liggett, who forced the ball home from close range, secured the silverware.

Watsonians finished fourth in the Premiership table with 20 points, 23 points adrift of Grange. In fact, Watsonians only won six games out of 16 in the league while Grange won 14 and lost only once.

The defeat is a major blow for Grange who only weeks ago eyed a glory treble but also lost to Western Wildcats in the play-off final.

On Sunday, Watsonians women face Western Wildcats in the women’s Scottish Cup Final and victory for them, and they are outstanding favourites, would secure a memorable double for the Edinburgh club.

In the men’s Scottish Plate Final, The University of Edinburgh won 5-1 against Dundee Wanderers but Erskine Stewart’s Melville lost 3-1 to Grove Menzieshill in the men’s District Plate Final.

And in the District Cup Final, Hillhead 2s lost 4-1 to The University of Edinburgh 2s.

PICTURE: Watsonians in action against Western Wildcats at Tipperlin earlier this season. Picture Alex Rose