Final pool matches the key to Scottish chances in Europe

The target of promotion is now on a shaky peg for
Scotland`s sides in their respective European Nations
Championships, the men were held to a 2-2 with Austria in Vinnitsa
while the women surprisingly went down 2-1 to a strong Belarus
outfit in Poznan.  Only victories tomorrow will give the Scots
a chance to secure a place in the crucial semi-finals, the men take
on Belarus while the women are up against Poland.
The draw with Austria was far from a disaster, but
the Scots were left to rue eight squandered chances as well as
losing needless goals minutes before the end of each half.
Glynhill Kelburne striker Kenny Bain opened the
scoring for Scotland midway through the first half, he picked up a
through ball from Niall Stott, his first effort was blocked by the
goalkeeper but he fired the rebound low into the net.  The
Scots had their chances to increase their lead, but both Gareth
Hall and Gavin Byers failed to capitalise.  The missed
opportunities were inevitably punished when an Austrian penalty
corner shot went in off Jamie Cachie`s left toe for the
equaliser.
In the first minute of the second half Russell
Garcia`s charges should have been 3-1 up, but Bain fired his effort
over the bar and Alan Forsyth`s shot went wide of the target.
 In addition, the Scots wasted five penalty corners, some were
saved by the Austrian goalkeeper while the others fell to a poor
routine.  Eventually the Scots did go ahead, a penalty corner
ended in a melee but the ball finally popped out to Gordon McIntrye
who slid the ball home from one yard out.  With victory in
sight, the Scots gave away possession just outside the circle,
Cachia saved the initial shot but the rebound squirmed into the
net.
Scotland`s women never really got to grips with a
physical Belarus outfit and have goalkeeper Abi Walker to thank for
keeping them in the game for so long.  After a Kareena
Marshall set piece effort was blocked, Walker had to make several
crucial saves to keep a blank scoresheet.  Scotland`s chances
were restricted to a coupled of opportunities for Vikki Bunce and
Emily Maguire, but Gordon Shepherd`s charges did take the lead just
on the interval.  At a penalty corner Nikki Kidd`s shot seemed
to have been saved by the goalkeeper but the ball was allowed to
roll over the goal line.
Belarus dominated proceedings in the second half
and again and Walker was called upon on several occasions to keep
the opposition at bay.  In 54 minutes the Scots defence was
caught in possession and the resulting shot was deflected past
Walker for the almost inevitable equaliser.  Scotland`s only
real chance came from a set piece shot from Maguire but it went
directly at the goalkeeper.  With three minutes remaining the
Scots conceded a debatable penalty corner and Iryna Kazachok
deflected the shot high past Walker for the winner.

The target of achieving promotion to the EuroHockey
Nations Championship in 2013 will require both Scotland squads to
record a positive result in the final pool matches of their
respective EuroHockey Nations Championship II
competitions.

Scotland Men were held to a 2-2 with Austria in Vinnitsa while
the women surprisingly went down 2-1 to a strong Belarus outfit in
Poznan. Only victories on Friday will give the Scots a chance
to secure a place in the crucial semi-finals; the men take on
Belarus while the women are up against Poland.

The draw with Austria was far from a disaster, but the Scots
were left to rue eight missed chances as well as losing goals
minutes before the end of each half.

HDM striker Kenny Bain opened the scoring for Scotland midway
through the first half; as he picked up a through ball from Niall
Stott, his first effort was blocked by the goalkeeper but he fired
the rebound low into the net.

The Scots had their chances to increase their lead and the
missed opportunities were inevitably punished when an Austrian
penalty corner shot went in off Jamie Cachia`s left toe for the
equaliser.

In the first minute of the second half, Russell Garcia`s charges
could have been 3-1 up, but Bain fired his effort over the bar and
Alan Forsyth`s shot went wide of the target.  In addition, the
Scots had five penalty corner opportunties but the Austrian
goalkeeper was in good form.

Eventually the Scots did go ahead, as a penalty corner ended in
a melee but the ball finally popped out to Gordon McIntrye who slid
the ball home from one yard out. However, with victory in sight,
the Scots gave away possession just outside the circle, Cachia
saved the initial shot but the rebound squirmed into the net.

Scotland Women had to contain  a physical Belarus outfit
and had goalkeeper Abi Walker to thank for keeping them in the game
for so long.  After a Kareena Marshall set piece effort was
blocked, Walker had to make several crucial saves to keep the
scotes level.

Scotland`s chances were restricted to a coupled of opportunities
for Vikki Bunce and Emily Maguire, but Gordon Shepherd`s charges
did take the lead just on the interval.  At a penalty corner
Nikki Kidd`s shot seemed to have been saved by the goalkeeper but
the ball was allowed to roll over the goal line.

Belarus dominated proceedings in the second half and
again Walker was called upon on several occasions to keep the
opposition at bay.  In 54 minutes the defence was caught in
possession and the resulting shot was deflected past Walker for the
almost inevitable equaliser.

Scotland`s only real chance came from a set piece shot from
Maguire but it went directly at the goalkeeper.  With three
minutes remaining the Scots conceded a debatable penalty corner and
Iryna Kazachok deflected the shot high past Walker for the
winner.

 

 

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