Scotland women in driving seal in Lisburn

SCOTLAND  2    IRELAND  
1  (WOMEN)

Scotland`s women under coach Gordon Shepherd continues
to defy the world rankings, Ireland are four places above the
Scots, but it was Shepherd`s charges who emerged with a 2-1 win
over Ireland in the opening game of the Celtic Cup in
Lisburn.   The result means that the Scots only need to
draw with Wales to retain the trophy for another year.

Scotland dominated the early proceedings, a Nikki Kidd drive
went just over the crossbar while minutes later Holly Cram
intercepted a pass in the Irish circle, her initial shot was saved
by the Irish goalkeeper, Catriona Ralph followed up with a shot
from the top of the circle but this time the keeper saved on the
line.   Nicola Skrastin created the next opening, she
passed the ball on to Sam Judge but her fierce drive was saved by
the keeper diving to her right. 

However, the Irish started to come back into the game, Aileen
Davis cleared off the line by scooping the ball over the bar and
then Amy Gibson in the Scotland goal saved a high drag flick from
an Irish penalty corner.   Gibson was again called into
action to clear the ball after another Irish attack ended in a
goalmouth scramble.

The Irish came out for the second half fired up and Gibson in
the Scotland goal had to look lively on a couple of
occasions.  The opener for the Scots came from a solo run by
Ali Bell, she drove up the right into the circle and fired the ball
past an unsighted Irish goalkeeper.  Minutes later the Scots
went two up at their first and only penalty corner of the contest,
the ball was switched left to Becky Merchant who passed it back to
Ailsa Wyllie and the Grove Menzieshill player swept the ball into
the net.

The Irish pulled one back through Chloe Watkins, but it was the
Scots who pressed near the end and further chances fell to Cram,
Judge and Nicki Lloyd.

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