Hockey: Agony for Grange in cup final

UPBEAT Grange hockey coach Colin Clarke brushed off the agony of losing hockey’s Scottish Cup with a conceded goal two seconds from full-time by looking forward to next month’s European excursion to declare: “We can take positives from defeat.”

Grange were beaten 2-1 by Kelburne in a dramatic Scottish Cup final at Peffermill, Scotland hit-man Alan Forsyth netted with two seconds left to take the cup to Paisley for the sixth time in their history.

Grange came so close to causing a major upset against the newly crowned Division One champions. Phil Sully and Cammy Fraser were both denied by Kelburne stopper Mark Fulton in the dying minutes.

And Clarke, who leads his men into the EuroHockey Club Champions Challenge 1 from May 25 in Zagreb, said: “Congratulations to Kelburne. They are a quality side who go to the final whistle.”

Forsyth put Kelburne ahead after 22 minutes from a penalty corner and Fraser Sands levelled also from a penalty corner after 46 minutes. Forsyth’s match-winner was his 46th goal of the season. Clarke added: “Kelburne had the better of the first-half on Saturday, but we took it to them in the second half. It was just not meant to be.”