Five down to world number five

SCOTLAND 0  CHINA 5  –  21 JULY 2012 AT
WAKEFIELD

China showed their world number five ranking with a
comfortable 5-0 victory over Scotland in the second match of a
friendly series before they embark on their Olympic campaign in a
week`s time.

The Scots cause was not helped by injury issues, Vikki Bunce did
not play at all with a hamstring problem, Ailsa Wyllie and Becky
Merchant were not 100%, while Catriona Ralph left the field
unwell.

The first half was a fairly even affair, a fierce reverse stick
shot flew past Amy Gibson for the opening goal in eight minutes,
but the Scots had their moments, Wyllie was crowded out trying to
let off a shot while a Holly Cram snap effort was saved by the
goalkeeper.

The Chinese turned the screw after the interval and moved
clinically into a 4-0 lead after 55 minutes.  The Scots then
had four penalty corners in a row, Nikki Kidd`s drag flicks at the
first three were blocked by the keeper, while nobody could latch on
to the rebound from Merchant`s shot at the last set
piece.   The ball finally entered the Chinese net with
five minutes left, but Kidd`s low shot was deemed outside the
circle by the umpire.   The final chance came in the
closing minutes, a Sam Judge cross was brilliantly deflected by
Wyllie but the Chinese keeper was up to the task.  The Chinese
finished off the contest with a fifth goal in the closing
seconds.

On Saturday, Scotland beat English side Wakefield 4-0 in a
friendly fixture, when there was two goals each for Nikki Kidd and
Holly Cram.

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