Last-gasp Bain goal gives Scotland win against Wales

A last minute winning goal from Kenny Bain and an Alan Forsyth first half hat-trick sealed an enthralling 4-3 win for Scotland Senior Men in their second international match against Wales at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre today.
But the Scots were made to sweat on their success, surviving a dramatic second half Welsh comeback that included two goals from Gareth Furlong and one from Rupert Shipperley, as the visitors bounced back from being 3-0 down at half-time to level the score at 3-3 late in the second period.
However, Bain’s vital intervention two minutes before full-time ensured Scottish success, the national side going 1-0 up in the three match series after this afternoon’s victory.
Scotland were afforded two penalty corner chances as early as the second minute as they opened the match with attacking intent clearly in mind; Wei Adams’ first attempt was illegally blocked and William Marshall’s shot was mopped up by the visitors’ defence and cleared to safety.
The home side’s early pressure paid off in the sixth minute though as Kenny Bain surged into the scoring circle with a penetrating run and his cross was coolly finished off by Alan Forsyth at the back post to break the deadlock.
With Wales under the cosh from Scottish advances in the opening stages, their goalkeeper David Kettle was called into action in the 13th minute to repel a ferocious drag-flick from Adams, but he could do nothing about an excellent penalty corner set-play four minutes later, which resulted in Alan Forsyth blazing an unstoppable shot into the net to put the Scots 2-0 up.
Indeed, it looked all over for the visiting side after the Surbiton striker sealed a first half hat-trick in the 19th minute, netting from close range to put Scotland firmly in control of the contest and Wales desperately needing to re-group and gain composure.
It was left to Gareth Furlong to grasp the mantle for his side, his rasping 23rd minute drag-flick dragging the Welsh back into the encounter at 3-1 as the ball nestled in the back of the net.
Excellent play from Scotland captain Chris Grassick almost led to a fourth goal for Alan Forsyth shortly before the half-time interval but the shot was blocked by Kettle and removed from the danger-zone.
With the last action of the first half, Rupert Shipperley’s deflection on Furlong’s penalty corner drag-flick was directed agonisingly wide of the target.
Wales provided the first goal-mouth action of the second half, but Huw Jones’ final shot was dreadfully lacking in power, giving Scotland goalkeeper Gavin Sommerville the easiest of saves.
In the 43rd minute, good play from Grassick and Alan Forsyth set up Bain but alas for the Amsterdam striker, his control let him down on this occasion, the ball running over the far touchline.
The Scots were afforded three penalty corner opportunities within a minute midway through the second half, but neither Adams or the Forsyth brothers could find a successful route past Kettle in the away goal.
Missed chances were to hurt Scotland, and in the 55th minute Furlong registered his second goal of the game, dispatching another penalty corner past Sommerville to put Wales firmly back in the match at 3-2.
The left hand post was to prove Alan Forsyth’s nemesis in the 59th minute, his shot cannoning off the upright to safety, before Robert Mugridge was left looking on despair at the other end of the pitch, his connection with a cross narrowly missing the target as his side pressed for the equalising goal.
With seven minutes left on the clock, the visitors left the home side stunned when Shipperley coasted in unmarked in amongst the Scottish defence to rifle the equalising goal past Sommerville to the delight of his team-mates and the Welsh bench.
Having surrendered a three goal advantage, it was to Scotland’s credit that they responded strongly and a penalty corner was awarded to the Scots shortly before full-time. A crafted set-play saw David Forsyth fire a shot on target that Kettle could only divert into the path of Bain and the former Kelburne man made no mistake, lashing the ball into the net to send the home support into raptures.
Yet, the natives were made to suffer three nail-biting moments as Wales were awarded three penalty corners right on the full-time hooter. Fortunately, Furlong’s trio of attempts were unsuccessful, leaving Scotland Head Coach Derek Forsyth and his charges relieved to come away with a win.

A last minute winning goal from Kenny Bain and an Alan Forsyth first half hat-trick sealed an enthralling 4-3 win for Scotland Senior Men in their second international match against Wales at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre today.

But the Scots were made to sweat on their success, surviving a dramatic second half Welsh comeback that included two goals from Gareth Furlong and one from Rupert Shipperley, as the visitors bounced back from being 3-0 down at half-time to level the score at 3-3 late in the second period.

However, Bain’s vital intervention two minutes before full-time ensured Scottish success, the national side going 1-0 up in the three match series after this afternoon’s victory.

Scot_Wal_ 18

(Scotland’s Kenny Bain fires the home side’s winning goal against Wales. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Scotland were afforded two penalty corner chances as early as the second minute as they opened the match with attacking intent clearly in mind; Wei Adams’ first attempt was illegally blocked and William Marshall’s shot was mopped up by the visitors’ defence and cleared to safety.

The home side’s early pressure paid off in the sixth minute though as Kenny Bain surged into the scoring circle with a penetrating run and his cross was coolly finished off by Alan Forsyth at the back post to break the deadlock.

With Wales under the cosh from Scottish advances in the opening stages, their goalkeeper David Kettle was called into action in the 13th minute to repel a ferocious drag-flick from Adams, but he could do nothing about an excellent penalty corner set-play four minutes later, which resulted in Alan Forsyth blazing an unstoppable shot into the net to put the Scots 2-0 up.

Indeed, it looked all over for the visiting side after the Surbiton striker sealed a first half hat-trick in the 19th minute, netting from close range to put Scotland firmly in control of the contest and Wales desperately needing to re-group and gain composure.

It was left to Gareth Furlong to grasp the mantle for his side, his rasping 23rd minute drag-flick dragging the Welsh back into the encounter at 3-1 as the ball nestled in the back of the net.

Excellent play from Scotland captain Chris Grassick almost led to a fourth goal for Alan Forsyth shortly before the half-time interval but the shot was blocked by Kettle and removed from the danger-zone.

Scot_Wal_ 15

(Scotland captain Chris Grassick takes the initiative against Wales. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

With the last action of the first half, Rupert Shipperley’s deflection on Furlong’s penalty corner drag-flick was directed agonisingly wide of the target.

Scot_Wal_ 04

(Scotland’s Alan Forsyth looks as his shot finds the back of the net. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Wales provided the first goal-mouth action of the second half, but Huw Jones’ final shot was dreadfully lacking in power, giving Scotland goalkeeper Gavin Sommerville the easiest of saves.

In the 43rd minute, good play from Grassick and Alan Forsyth set up Bain but alas for the Amsterdam striker, his control let him down on this occasion, the ball running over the far touchline.

The Scots were afforded three penalty corner opportunities within a minute midway through the second half, but neither Adams or the Forsyth brothers could find a successful route past Kettle in the away goal.

Missed chances were to hurt Scotland, and in the 55th minute Furlong registered his second goal of the game, dispatching another penalty corner past Sommerville to put Wales firmly back in the match at 3-2.

The left hand post was to prove Alan Forsyth’s nemesis in the 59th minute, his shot cannoning off the upright to safety, before Robert Mugridge was left looking on despair at the other end of the pitch, his connection with a cross narrowly missing the target as his side pressed for the equalising goal.

With seven minutes left on the clock, the visitors left the home side stunned when Shipperley coasted in unmarked in amongst the Scottish defence to rifle the equalising goal past Sommerville to the delight of his team-mates and the Welsh bench.

Scot_Wal_ 26

(Scotland’s Gavin Byers shields possession. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Having surrendered a three goal advantage, it was to Scotland’s credit that they responded strongly and a penalty corner was awarded to the Scots shortly before full-time. A crafted set-play saw David Forsyth fire a shot on target that Kettle could only divert into the path of Bain and the former Kelburne man made no mistake, lashing the ball into the net to send the home support into raptures.

Yet, the natives were made to suffer three nail-biting moments as Wales were awarded three penalty corners right on the full-time hooter. Fortunately, Furlong’s trio of attempts were unsuccessful, leaving Scotland Head Coach Derek Forsyth and his charges relieved to come away with a win.

The two sides meet in the third and final encounter tomorrow at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, with a 9am pushback.

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