Inverleith told to keep things tight

The Edinburgh team kept in touch with champions and early league pace-setters Kelburne with their third straight win, a 4-0 victory over Grove Menzieshill.

All the goals came in the first half from Tom Cousins, Chris Bird, Stephen Beattie and Phil Hall. McCurry said: “We became complacent in the second half and we’ll work on that. They (Menzieshill) also pushed up in the second half, but a 4-0 and a second successive shut-out win will do for me.”

Elsewhere, Grange thrashed Dundee Wanderers 7-1 on Tayside, Cammy Fraser and Duncan Riddell both netting trebles and Phil Sully claiming the other goal which takes the Edinburgh club to six points, three behind Kelburne and Inverleith.

Ramsay Bell netted a double as newly-promoted CALA Edinburgh earned their first win thanks to a 3-2 success at Hillhead while Edinburgh University opened their campaign with a 2-2 at Clydesdale.

Kelburne remain on course for an eighth straight league title having whipped arch rivals Western 7-1 at Bellahouston on Saturday. Alan Forsyth scored two along with Scottish international team-mates Chris Nelson and Johnny Christie while Michael Christie netted a single goal for the runaway win.

Western shocked Kelburne to take the Scottish Cup at the end of last season but Forsyth said: “We were embarrassed by the Scottish Cup defeat but we played some great hockey on Saturday.” Kelburne lead the ten-strong division on goal difference from Inverleith and Forsyth, 19, added: “We’ve scored 16 goals and lost two and we want that eighth title.”