Cruel last gasp goal

EUROPEAN INDOOR NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIPS (WOMEN) – SLAGELSE
(DENMARK) – 20 -22 JANUARY 2012

SCOTLAND  3  FRANCE  4

No luck for the Scots in the women`s European Indoor Nations
Championships, needing only a draw to qualify for the promotion
pool and drawing 3-3 with France with only 10 seconds to go, Gordon
Shepherd`s charges conceded a controversial penalty corner and lost
4-3, and are now consigned to the relegation group.  
Pressure was put on the Scots when Switzerland trounced hosts
Denmark 6-1 in an earlier game, requiring the Scots to get at least
a point from the French game or lose second spot to the Swiss on
goal difference.

Scotland`s cause was made more difficult when the French went
into an early two goal lead.  The Scots retaliated, Amy Brodie
won a penalty corner and the same player scored with a low
shot.  Brodie was also involved in the equaliser, at another
set piece she slipped the ball left for Nikki Kidd to score with a
powerful flick.    But just on the interval the
French made it 3-2 after their play was left unmarked in the
circle.

Although the game descended into a midfield stalemate, there
were isolated chances, Amy Gibson made a brilliant diving save to
frustrate the French while at the other end Kareena Marshall`s snap
shot went wide of the target.   The equaliser came in 32
minutes, Nicky Lloyd and Kareena Marshall combined to open up the
French defence and the former found the net with a low shot at the
far post.  

In the final seconds the Scots seemed to be dealing with the
ball in their circle, but then conceded the fatal penalty corner
for a cruel defeat.

The Scots are now up against Slovakia, Russia and Denmark in the
relegation pool, but with the advantage of the three points gained
in Friday`s 5-4 victory over the Danes.

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