Last gasp winner from Millie Steiger earns Clydesdale Western bronze in Alanya

CLYDESDALE WESTERN 4 RAILWAY UNION (IRELAND) 3

Doubles from Margery Justice and Millie Steiger were the catalyst behind Clydesdale Western`s dramatic 4-3 win over Irish champions Railway Union on the final day at the women`s EuroHockey Indoor Club Trophy in Alanya.

And that was enough to secure the bronze medal.

Prior to the start of the tournament, Clydesdale`s coach Wendy Justice had predicted “we recognise that being amongst the medal winners at this event will not be easy.” She was right, it was far from easy, but Clydesdale stuck to their task and come home with a well-earned bronze.

But there was a dramatic denouement to the occasion.

Clydesdale needed a victory in their last game to secure a medal finish, and they were getting there with a 3-2 lead going into the final couple of minutes.

But then Ireland`s Orla Fox popped up to level the score with a penalty corner conversion… and suddenly the medal seemed in jeopardy.

The Clydesdale coach took decisive action – replacing keeper Jess Buchanan with an additional outfield player in the last throw of the dice.

The gamble paid off. Clydesdale won a penalty corner and Millie Steiger did the needful. In fact, it was Clydesdale`s expertise from penalty corners that won the match – they had six awards and scored from four of them – good shooting.

And now for the rest of the game.

At their third penalty corner Margery Justice put Clydesdale ahead just before the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter Kate Lloyd levelled for the Irish, Margery Justice made it 2-1 from another penalty corner, but just before the interval Lily Lloyd made it 2-2.

The third quarter was goalless, but a minute into the final spell Millie Steiger put the Scots 3-2 ahead. Clydesdale then had to survive a series of Irish penalty corners, they defended three but Orla Fox converted the fourth for 3-3… and then on to the dramatic final seconds.

Clydesdale`s coach said: “Today was a tactical game trying to break down the resolute Irish. Penalty corners were the key to the game and the spirit of the Railway Union team was incredible as they kept equalising

“It was an excellent game with both teams giving everything. The fight shown today was impressive especially the determination to find the winner. The team finished strongly in every game which shows the character of the squad.

“I am delighted that the girls have finished in the top three.”

Turkish side Gaziantep Polisgucu took the gold while Czech champions SK Slavia Prague won silver… and Clydesdale the bronze. In the end Clydesdale were only a single point off the silver.

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