Golden and MacKenzie on form for GB U21

Scotland’s Cameron Golden and Callum MacKenzie have both featured heavily in Great Britain U21 men’s opening matches of the U21 2017 Sultan of Johor Cup.

Both Golden and MacKenzie were on the scoresheet in GB’s 11-0 victory over USA in their second match of the tournament.

Golden scored the opener against USA, the strike came in the first quarter, before adding to his tally when he scored GB’s fifth goal of the match.

MacKenzie also scored with a strike from close range to make it 8-0 in the victory.

Duncan Scott bagged a hat-trick in the impressive victory over the Americans. Wales’ Ben Francis also helped himself to two while Tom Sorsby, James Sutcliffe, Nick Park and Alex Blumfield also put themselves on the scoresheet.

It was the first time a British side had reached double figures in a Sultan of Johor Cup match and only the second time it had ever been done after the USA also lost heavily to Australia the day before, succumbing 19-0.

Great Britain came flying out of the traps early on and found themselves two goals ahead at the end of the first quarter thanks to Golden and Scott after good work from Francis and Zach Wallace respectively.

But the Americans dug in well in the next quarter, their goalkeeper pulling off a number of superb saves as GB failed to make a further breakthrough before half-time.

The floodgates opened in the third quarter however as Scott found himself in the right place at the right time twice in the space of two minutes to wrap up his hat-trick.

Sorsby and Francis then both produced fantastically swept finishes into the top corner to extend their side’s advantage to six by the end of the third quarter.

Francis scored a superb solo goal, reversing the ball into the net after a mazy run in which he beat several defenders, to make it seven.

Mackenzie and Sutcliffe then both scored with clever deflections but there was nothing subtle about Park’s goal as he drilled in a penalty corner while on the pitch as a kicking back.

Head Coach Jon Bleby believes there is still room for improvement before their next game on Wednesday.

“Having two wins from two games is really positive and this new group is learning a lot already,” he said.

“But we do need to be much more clinical in attack and from our penalty corners.

“I’m really looking forward to our game against Australia now.”

Both Golden and MacKenzie featured in the opening match of the tournament against Malaysia where GB won 1-0 through a Duncan Scott goal.

In warm-up games ahead of the tournament MacKenzie scored a double against India with the goals with a ‘made in Scotland’ label, as Golden created both chances for close range Mackenzie tap-ins.

Golden got his name on the score sheet in a warm-up match against Australia.

GB take on the Australians at 09:05 BST on Wednesday, a game which can be watched here.

 

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