Scotland triumph over South Africa in seven goal thriller

 

Scotland Senior Women began their three match Test
series against the touring South Africans with an entertaining 4-3
win on neutral territory in Dublin on Friday evening.
South Africa were first to show in the first minute
when goalkeeper Amy Gibson was called on immediately but
comfortably palmed away an effort from a ball driven hard into the
circle. However  Scotland responded by opening the scoring
minutes later when Laura Bartlett, celebrating her 50th cap, won a
short corner from which Nikki Kidd continued her fine recent
scoring form from set pieces by drag flicking the ball low into the
keeper’s left hand corner.
Scotland, with Bartlett particularly prominent at
this stage, continued to create further goal scoring chances for
Vikki Bunce, Holly Cram, Sam Judge and Ailsa Wylie but alert
goalkeeping kept the South Africans in the game. However when
Scotland failed  to clear their defensive lines, from one of
the few South African attacks, Jayde Mayne was on hand to drive the
ball low into Gibson’s right hand corner to level matters with five
minutes left on the clock. Scotland responded quickly  to
restore the lead before the break when Sam Judge netted a set
piece.
Coach Gordon Shepherd could not have been happy
with the start to the second half. Keeper Gibson had to look lively
on several occasions as South Africa opened brightly creating a
little sustained pressure for almost the first time in the match.
However Shepherd’s team increased their advantage when a set piece
was bundled home by Ailsa Wylie following a goal mouth scramble
shortly afterwards.
Both teams had further chances before an apparent
lapse in concentration in the Scottish defence midway through the
half allowed the tourists to claim possession and Kathleen Taylor
to roll the ball home despite Gibson’s best efforts. The South
Africans’ were coming more and more into the game as they pressed
for an equaliser as Scotland battled to hold their lead.
With only minutes left South Africa managed to
block an initial Scottish set piece effort only for Linda Clement
to be on hand to dive in and net the rebound. South Africa refused
to give in and seconds before the end Mayne fired a rebound off a
defender’s foot past Gibson to finish this entertaining
encounter.
The two teams meet again on Saturday at the
University College Dublin’s ground.

Scotland Women began their three match Test series
against the touring South Africans with an entertaining 4-3 win on
neutral territory in Dublin.

South Africa were first to show in the first minute when
goalkeeper Amy Gibson was called on immediately but she comfortably
palmed away an effort from a ball driven hard into the circle.

Scotland responded by opening the scoring minutes later when
Laura Bartlett, celebrating her 50th cap, won a short corner from
which Nikki Kidd continued her fine recent scoring form from set
pieces by drag flicking the ball low into the keeper’s left hand
corner.

With Bartlett particularly prominent at this stage, the Scots
continued to create further goal scoring chances for Vikki Bunce,
Holly Cram, Sam Judge and Ailsa Wylie but alert goalkeeping kept
the South Africans in the game.

However when Scotland failed to clear their defensive lines,
from one of the few South African attacks, Jayde Mayne was on hand
to drive the ball low into Gibson’s right hand corner to level
matters with five minutes left on the clock until half time.
Scotland responded quickly to restore the lead before the break
when Sam Judge netted a set piece.

Gibson had to look lively on several occasions after the
interval, as South Africa opened brightly creating a little
sustained pressure for almost the first time in the match. However,
Shepherd’s team increased their advantage when a set piece was
bundled home by Ailsa Wylie following a goal mouth scramble shortly
afterwards.

Both teams had further chances before an apparent lapse in
concentration in the Scottish defence midway through the half
allowed the tourists to claim possession and Kathleen Taylor to
roll the ball home despite Gibson’s best efforts. The South
Africans’ were coming more and more into the game as they pressed
for an equaliser as Scotland battled to hold their lead.

With only minutes left South Africa managed to block an initial
Scottish set piece effort only for Linda Clement to be on hand to
dive in and net the rebound. South Africa refused to give in and
seconds before the end Mayne fired a rebound off a defender’s foot
past Gibson to finish this entertaining encounter.

The two teams meet again on Saturday at the University College
Dublin’s ground.

 

 

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