Bain buoyant with hat-trick as Scotland secure a semi-final spot

 

It was over 40 degrees celsius at pitchside in Prague, but it was the Scots who turned up the heat with a 6-3 thumping of Ukraine in the final pool match at the European Nations Championships 11.
Promotion to Europe`s top flight is still on Derek Forsyth`s agenda, the Scots finished second in their pool and now qualify for tomorrow`s semi-final, probably against Austria.
“We were perhaps rather nervous and a little tentative in the first half but put in a really professional performance after the interval and scored four goals in the process,” said a delighted Forsyth.   “I would like to pay tribute to the squad who played really simple hockey in the second half in very testing conditions.”
Amsterdam`s Kenny Bain showed why he plays in the top Dutch league, he was a constant thorn in the flesh of the Ukrainian defence and finished with a well take hat-trick.
It was Bain who led the way in only six minutes, he advanced along the bye-line and his resulting cross was turned into his own net by a defender.   Ukraine retaliated with a series of penalty corners and finally Viacheslav Paziuk found the net to level at 1-1.    The same player repeated the dose at another set piece, this time his shot went in off the stick of Alan Forsyth on the line to give Ukraine an undeserved 2-1 lead.
The Scots were back on level terms three minutes later, a cross from the left by Bain eluded the goalkeeper and his defence, leaving  Ross Stott to poke the ball home from less than a yard out.   There was now pressure to take the lead before the interval, the best chance fell to Wei Adams, the Canterbury player fired over the bar when a cross to waiting colleagues might have been the better option.
Good play by Russell Anderson set up a Forsyth deflection but his effort was blocked by the goalkeeper, the Scots finished level but clearly the stronger side.
Forsyth`s charges then embarked on the most effective brand of attacking hockey seen for many a year which blew away the shell shocked Ukrainians.   The half started with immense frustration, several chances fell to Forsyth, Bain and Adams with no success, almost inevitably it was Ukraine who stole a goal with their only real attack of the half.   It was a nightmare concession, a speculative lob floated into the Scottish circle missed by a defender and not dealt with by goalkeeper Jamie Cachia, Artur Mazurkevych took full advantage and struck the ball into the empty net.
The two goals in as many minutes settled the issue, a calculated pass by Bain found the unmarked Forsyth and he calmly slid the ball past the goalkeeper.   Bain then advanced into the circle and his low shot found the net at the near post to put the Scots into a 4-3 lead.
Thereafter there was only one winner, chances fell to Byers and Stott but both were blocked by the goalkeeper while Alan Forsyth found himself in a good shooting position but uncharacteristically miss-hit his effort and the opportunity vanished.
The pressure was off when Bain scored the fifth with a brilliant solo run, he waltzed into the circle, craftily he dummied the goalkeeper was forced to dive and calmly fired the ball into the net.
With two minutes left the Scots made is six, Gordon McIntyre went on his own solo run and finished with a low reverse stick shot.

It was over 40 degrees celsius at pitchside in Prague, but it was the Scots who turned up the heat with a 6-3 thumping of Ukraine in the final pool match at the European Nations Championships II.

Promotion to Europe`s top flight is still on Derek Forsyth`s agenda, the Scots finished second in their pool and now qualify for Friday’s semi-final.

“We were perhaps rather nervous and a little tentative in the first half but put in a really professional performance after the interval and scored four goals in the process,” said a delighted Forsyth.   “I would like to pay tribute to the squad who played really simple hockey in the second half in very testing conditions.”

Amsterdam`s Kenny Bain showed why he plays in the top Dutch league, he was a constant thorn in the flesh of the Ukrainian defence and finished with a well take hat-trick.

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(Kenny Bain celebrates his hat-trick goal against Ukraine)

It was Bain who led the way in only six minutes, he advanced along the bye-line and his resulting cross was turned into his own net by a defender.

Ukraine retaliated with a series of penalty corners and finally Viacheslav Paziuk found the net to level at 1-1.  The same player repeated the dose at another set piece, this time his shot went in off the stick of Alan Forsyth on the line to give Ukraine an undeserved 2-1 lead.

The Scots were back on level terms three minutes later, a cross from the left by Bain eluded the goalkeeper and his defence, leaving Ross Stott to poke the ball home from less than a yard out.

There was now pressure to take the lead before the interval, the best chance fell to Wei Adams, the Canterbury player fired over the bar when a cross to waiting colleagues might have been the better option.

Good play by Russell Anderson set up a Forsyth deflection but his effort was blocked by the goalkeeper, the Scots finished the half level but clearly the stronger side.

Forsyth`s charges then embarked on the most effective brand of attacking hockey seen for many a year which blew away the shell shocked Ukrainians.

The half started with immense frustration, several chances fell to Forsyth, Bain and Adams with no success, almost inevitably it was Ukraine who stole a goal with their only real attack of the half.

It was a nightmare concession, a speculative lob floated into the Scottish circle missed by a defender and not dealt with by goalkeeper Jamie Cachia, Artur Mazurkevych took full advantage and struck the ball into the empty net.

Two goals in as many minutes settled the issue though, a calculated pass by Bain found the unmarked Forsyth and he calmly slid the ball past the goalkeeper.

EuroHockey-Sco-Ukr-1164 (1280x853)

(Alan Forsyth levels up for Scotland with their third goal)

Bain then advanced into the circle and his low shot found the net at the near post to put the Scots into a 4-3 lead.

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(Kenny Bain reels away after scoring Scotland’s fourth goal)

Thereafter there was only one winner, chances fell to Byers and Stott but both were blocked by the goalkeeper while Alan Forsyth found himself in a good shooting position but uncharacteristically miss-hit his effort and the opportunity vanished.

The pressure was off when Bain scored the fifth with a brilliant solo run, he waltzed into the circle, craftily he dummied the goalkeeper was forced to dive and calmly fired the ball into the net.

With two minutes left the Scots made is six, Gordon McIntyre went on his own solo run and finished with a low reverse stick shot.

EuroHockey-Sco-Ukr-1318

(Gordon McIntyre rounded off the scoring with Scotland’s sixth goal)

Please visit the EuroHockey Nations Championship II website for fixtures, results and pool standings.

(Words Craig Madden, Photo Credits Petr Toman)

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