Scotland Ladies 3-1 Canada Ladies
An outstanding 3-1 victory for Scotland Ladies over Canada noticed the Scots leapfrog their opponents to go 16th on this planet rankings. It follows yesterday’s 1-1 draw on the Glasgow Nationwide Hockey Centre with the perimeters because of meet once more on Tuesday, and Wednesday, evenings in uncapped matches.
The sport started at a frantic tempo with Scotland edging the play. The primary probability got here when Emily Darkish examined the Canadian keeper, Marcia LaPlante, with an early drag flick in the direction of the highest left nook, however it was a take a look at nicely handed because the ball was padded excessive over the bar.
Katie Birch was subsequent to strike at aim after she did nicely to trend some area below heavy stress on the proper of the circle, however her effort looped over the bar.
Early within the second quarter Jenny Eadie got here agonisingly near breaking the impasse. Scotland received a penalty nook, and Eadie blasted an effort that seemed certain for the underside proper nook, however the participant on the put up did an excellent job of glancing the ball large of the put up.
Scotland stored coming. Ruth Blaikie received the ball deep in midfield and feed Eadie who slid a good looking move behind the Canada defence for Zara Kennedy to run by means of on aim, however Kennedy’s end slipped large of the proper put up.
As half time beckoned Scotland opened the scoring, and the aim was a factor of magnificence. Darkish fizzed an inch excellent 40 yard move down the left for Ellie MacKenzie, who beat the total again and located Sarah Jamieson within the circle, for Jamieson to ping the ball to the far put up onto the stick of Heather McEwan, and a 1-0 lead.
Scotland’s tempo continued into the second half and so they virtually went 2-0 forward when Fran Lonergan glanced a tough move in the direction of the underside proper nook, however LaPlante was a match to it.
The second aim got here quickly sufficient and MacKenzie pounced on the ball within the centre of the circle to stroke it house, into the center of the aim, after the Scots battled in from the proper. 2-0.
Canada pulled one again originally of the ultimate quarter, and it was a well-worked three-pass transfer that was completed with the ball being thundered low towards the backboard by Mikayla Stelling. 2-1.
Bronwyn Shields confirmed mesmeric stick expertise to weave out and in the Canadian defence to trend a gap for a shot, however it was booted clear by Rowan Harris in aim for Canada.
The victory was sealed with two and a half minutes left to play when Scotland was awarded a penalty nook. Katherine Holdgate stepped as much as the spot and dispatched the ball into the highest left nook for 3-1.
There was virtually a fourth moments later when Jamieson tore ahead and despatched a move into the left of the circle for MacKenzie to slip, and strike, however the ball skidded simply large of the far put up.
There could be no additional objectives and Scotland took the deserved victory and the rating factors to match.
Head Coach Chris Duncan mentioned, “Immediately was a unique sport from yesterday. We have been cagier within the first half however I used to be happy by our intent to stay to the plan we had for the sport. We bossed the midfield within the second half and scored two good objectives. We had a lot of the ball and created extra possibilities than yesterday, and will have taken extra.
“The sport exhibits the risks of taking part in at this degree – you possibly can’t swap off for a second. We have been comfy at 2-0, then it went to 2-1 and issues grew to become slightly extra edgy for some time.
“All-in-all it’s a extremely good win. It’s notably pleasing to beat the next ranked aspect, which you don’t get to do fairly often, and we’ll stay up for the following two video games and provides some alternatives for gamers to point out what they’ll do within the subsequent video games.”
Scotland U21 Ladies 2-0 Eire U21 Ladies
Scotland U21 Ladies received their three-match sequence towards Eire with a deserved 2-0 win within the closing match of the sequence. The earlier video games led to 1-1 and 2-2 attracts on the Glasgow Nationwide Hockey Centre.
The Scots seemed sharp from the primary whistle and got here out quick. Two minutes into the sport, Ava Smith had the primary probability of the competition after a weaving run by Cat Nelli noticed the ball fed to Smith to strike from a good angle, however it was saved on the close to put up. The possibility wasn’t useless but, and a fast trade in entrance of aim allowed Smith to ping the ball into the far nook of the online to make it 1-0.
A swift counter assault by Eire carved open the Scotland defence however a sensational save by Molly Brown, in a one-v-one on the proper of the aim, put an finish to Eire’s efforts.
Within the second quarter Ava Findlay’s operating energy was inflicting Eire all kinds of issues. A run down the left received a penalty nook for Scotland and on the second section of the ensuing nook, Amy Grassom beautifully picked her spot within the roof of the online to double Scotland’s benefit. 2-0.
Eire almost pulled one again halfway by means of the quarter when a strong effort thundered towards the proper put up and fired throughout the face of the Scotland aim.
The Irish had one other improbable probability to drag one again after they have been awarded a penalty stroke. A penalty nook struck a Scottish foot on the road, ensuing within the umpire’s level to the spot. Jess Mitchell wasn’t up for transport any objectives nevertheless and produced an impressive diving save low to her proper to bat the ball clear.
The Nelli-Smith mixture long-established one other probability for Scotland halfway within the third quarter when Nelli surged previous two gamers to present Smith the prospect to shoot from the left contained in the circle, however the goalkeeper was equal to it and padded the ball clear.
Scotland’s power ranges remained excessive for the ultimate quarter and the blue shirts have been first to each ball. Smith virtually struck once more with a flip and shot from the highest of the circle, bit her effort was saved low on the proper put up.
Within the closing minute Nelli received the ball within the half means line and left the Eire defenders in her wake, however the goalkeeper was out fast to slim the angle and block Nelli’s shot, earlier than producing a second cease from Lexie McMillan on the observe up.
It completed 2-0 and noticed the profitable sequence finish with a win for Scotland.
Tickets can be found right here: https://scottishhockey.seetickets.com/occasion/scotland-v-canada-women-/glasgow-national-hockey-centre/3016859
