Fourth place for Scotland in Champions Challenge

 

Scotland had to be satisfied with a very creditable
fourth place in the Champions Challenge in Lille when they went
down 3-1 to Russia in yesterday`s bronze medal play-off.  The
odds were stacked against the Scots even before the start of the
contest, they were reduced to a squad of only 14 players due to the
suspension of Gareth Hall and Kenny Bain.
Doubtless the Scots, seeded seventh in this eight
nations tournament, would have settled for fourth spot before the
start of the tournament, and this finish should improve Scotland`s
world rankings from its rather lowly 23rd at the moment.
The Scots started well with a good chance falling
to Alan Forsyth but his effort went tantalisingly wide of the
target.  Midway through the first period, Scotland opened the
scoring, Fergus Dunn`s effort was cleared off the line by a Russian
defender and Gavin Byers followed up to slam the ball into the net.
 The Russians came back with three penalty corners but Mark
Fulton and his defence stood firm.
Although Russia had most of the play after the
interval, the Scots were dangerous on the counter-attack, Dan
Coultas put his only penalty corner effort over the bar while John
Harris also had a good chance to increase the lead.  Almost
inevitably tiredness took over with Scotland`s limited numbers, not
helped by a leg injury to captain Graham Moodie, and the Russians
took full advantage in the final seven minutes with goals from
Alexey Mamoshkin, Pavel Golubev and Anton Kornilov for a flattering
3-1 victory.
“We ran out of legs and substitutes and paid the
price in the final seven minutes.  We played well against the
Russians, but once again we surrendered a winning position and let
the other side back into the game,” said Eugene Connolly,
Scotland`s manager.

Scotland had to be satisfied with a very creditable fourth place
in the Champions Challenge in Lille when they went down 3-1 to
Russia in the bronze medal play-off.

The odds were stacked against the Scots even before the start of
the contest, as they were reduced to a squad of only 14 players
with Gareth Hall and Kenny Bain missing out due to suspension for
cards picked up in previous matches.

Doubtless the Scots, seeded seventh in this eight nations
tournament, would have settled for fourth spot before the start of
the tournament, and this finish should improve Scotland`s world
rankings from 23rd at the moment.

The Scots started well with a good chance falling to Alan
Forsyth but his effort went tantalisingly wide of the target.
 Midway through the first period, Scotland opened the scoring,
Fergus Dunn`s effort was cleared off the line by a Russian defender
and Gavin Byers followed up to slam the ball into the net.
 The Russians came back with three penalty corners but Mark
Fulton and his defence stood firm.

Although Russia had most of the play after the interval, the
Scots were dangerous on the counter-attack, Dan Coultas put his
only penalty corner effort just over the bar while John Harris also
had a good chance to increase the lead.

Almost inevitably, tiredness took over with Scotland`s limited
numbers, not helped by a leg injury to captain Graham Moodie, and
the Russians took full advantage in the final seven minutes with
goals from Alexey Mamoshkin, Pavel Golubev and Anton Kornilov for a
flattering 3-1 victory.

“We ran out of legs and substitutes and paid the price in the
final seven minutes. We played well against the Russians, but once
again we surrendered a winning position and let the other side back
into the game,” said Eugene Connolly, Scotland`s manager.

 

 

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