Hat-trick of wins for Scotland’s Euro clubs and medal opportunities

GRANGE  1    OKS-SHVSM VINNITSA (UKRAINE)   0

 

It was hardly a goals-galore affair but Jamie Green`s single strike gave Grange an important 1-0 win over Ukrainian champions Vinnitsa.    The result leaves the Scots in second spot in their pool and tomorrow they will play off for third place and bronze.   

The first half was goalless although Grange did have a couple of penalty corners, but no goals.  The winner came five minutes into the second half with an open play strike from Jamie Green.   Grange pressed the Ukrainian defence and forced a turnover, the ball was moved quickly to Jamie Green who finished with a reverse stick shot from just inside the circle.

The final quarter played out with Vinnitsa having their only penalty corner of the contest but also having a couple of players visiting the sin bin.

Grange manager Martin Shepherdson evaluated:  “A tight game with Grange edging the play and excellent defence by the Ukrainians and a great display by their keeper.   The final quarter was tense but Grange held on for a well deserved win and will now play in the bronze medal match.”

 

WATSONIANS    3  CAMBRAI (FRANCE) 1

The Watsonians success story in Czechia continues unabated…they finished top of their pool after a 3-1 win over French side Cambrai.   Three wins in a row shows good form.   Now Keith Smith`s charges will gear up to take on English side Hampstead & Westminster in tomorrow`s final…with the gold medal at stake.

Keith Smith, Watsonians` coach, observed: “One of the girls` goals ahead of the tournament was to win our pool, so it`s great that we have been able to achieve that.  Cambrai were a tricky opponent, with some pacy, skilful players – we knew they were a real threat on the counter, and we did a pretty good job of managing those individuals.  We could have done a bit more to prevent some of these opportunities by being a bit more patient with the ball, but to come from a goal down demonstrated the team`s resilience, and showed yet again that we can win in different ways under pressure.”

Not the best of starts…Watsonians lost their first goal of the tournament just at the end of the first quarter with a penalty corner conversion by Pauline Bracq.    

However, Cambrai`s lead did not survive the next quarter, the equaliser came from a set piece strike by Emily Dark.   Six minutes later the Scottish champions were awarded a penalty stroke and the ever-reliable Katherine Holdgate duly scored from the spot for 2-1…and that was how it stood at half-time.

The third quarter seemed to get a little fractious with Cambrai having three sin bin visits to Watsonians one, and both sides had penalty corner opportunities to add to their goal tally, but none succeeded.

Watsonians held on to their lead throughout the final quarter, although they did have to survive a Cambrai penalty corner, but the pressure was somewhat relieved when they were awarded their second penalty stroke of the contest and Katherine Holdgate again obliged.

 

CLYDESDALE WESTERN  8  WAC (AUSTRIA)  1

That was Clydesdale Western`s second 8-1 win in as many days…this time Austrian side WAC were on the wrong end, but the Scots will still have to settle for tomorrow`s bronze medal game against Swiss side Olten.   Saint Germain secured their final spot with a comfortable 7-1 win over Swansea.

Frustratingly it was goalless at the interval despite Clydesdale having five penalty corner opportunities to grasp the lead.

But the second half was different, two goals inside a minute from Rhiannon Carr and Heather Howie settled the frustration.  Then just before the end of the third quarter three further goals came along, Jen Eadie and another couple from Heather Howie for her hat-trick.  

At the start of the final quarter Johanna Buchleitner scored for WAC but Clydesdale`s goal spree continued through Anna Winter and another couple from Jen Eadie for her hat-trick.

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