Mixed European fortunes for Scotland U21s

 

A mixed day of fortunes for both Scotland U21 Men and Women in their EuroHockey Nations Championship II campaigns.
Scotland U21M 2-2 Italy
Scotland U21 Men ensured they will be in contention for promotion to the Championship in two years’ time after a 2-2 draw with Italy resulted in Head Coach Graham Moodie see his side sitting top of Pool A and securing qualification for the promotion pool stage.
Jack McKenzie and Hamish Imrie registered on the scoresheet for the Scots.
Following the match, Scotland U21 Men Manager Fraser McCurdy said, “We’re happy with the level of performance but gutted with the result. We felt we deserved a win.
“Our build-up play was composed and we created a number of chances and opportunities in front of goal. Unfortunately, the Italian tactics were to sit deep and defend in numbers, meaning we just couldn’t get the breakthroughs our play deserved.
“The guys were also claiming for a penalty flick right at the death but unfortunately the umpire decided to award a free hit to Italy.
“It now comes down to the last two games to see if we can secure promotion, an outcome we’d already prepared to face. The players are confident and have showed a lot of fight. We’ll see what draw awaits us after tonight’s games.”
Thomas Keenan had given the Italians an 11th minute lead from a penalty corner, an advantage they retained at the half-time interval.
However, Kelburne’s Jack McKenzie equalised for the Scots early in the second half, scoring a field goal to square the scores in the 43rd minute.
A second Keenan penalty corner put Italy back in front in the 51st minute, but the lead was short-lived, Hamish Imrie restoring parity from open play two minutes later.
Scotland U21W 3-3 Ireland
Agony for Scotland U21 Women as a battling 3-3 draw with Ireland wasn’t enough to ensure progress to the promotion pool stage at the EuroHockey Junior Nations Championship II in Vienna.
Scotland’s goals came from Kerry-Anne Hastings, Mairi Drummond and Kirsty Hill.
By quirk of fate, both Scotland and Ireland, considered two of the strongest sides in the tournament had been drawn in the same pool. In the end, Ireland squeezed through on goal difference by virtue of scoring one more goal against Lithuania in their match yesterday.
It was Ireland who sparked the content into life as early as the fourth minute, Zoe Wilson opening the scoring from a penalty corner.
However, two field goals inside two minutes from Kerry-Anne Hastings (20’) and Mairi Drummond (22’) gave the Scots a 2-1 lead.
Ireland were back on level terms right on the half-time hooter, captain Roison Upton firing her side’s second goal before the teams entered the dressing rooms at the interval.
Scottish hopes of a win were raised in the 45th minute when skipper Kirsty Hill made it 3-2 from a penalty corner, only for Emily Beatty to frustrate the Scots with another equaliser four minute later.
A 3-3 draw means Scotland now progress to a fairly meaningless last two games against the runners-up of Pool A and B, with only final classification places to be determined.

A day of mixed fortunes for both Scotland U21 Men and Women in their EuroHockey Nations Championship II campaigns.

Scotland U21M 2-2 Italy

Scotland U21 Men ensured they will be in contention for promotion to the Championship in two years’ time after a 2-2 draw with Italy resulted in Head Coach Graham Moodie see his side sitting top of Pool A and securing qualification for the promotion pool stage.

Jack McKenzie and Hamish Imrie registered on the scoresheet for the Scots.

Scotland U21 v Italy

(Photo Credit: Douglas Rogerson)

Following the match, Scotland U21 Men Manager Fraser McCurdy said, “We’re happy with the level of performance but gutted with the result. We felt we deserved a win.

“Our build-up play was composed and we created a number of chances and opportunities in front of goal. Unfortunately, the Italian tactics were to sit deep and defend in numbers, meaning we just couldn’t get the breakthroughs our play deserved.

“The guys were also claiming for a penalty flick right at the death but unfortunately the umpire decided to award a free hit to Italy.

“It now comes down to the last two games to see if we can secure promotion, an outcome we’d already prepared to face. The players are confident and have showed a lot of fight. We’ll see what draw awaits us after tonight’s games.”

Thomas Keenan had given the Italians an 11th minute lead from a penalty corner, an advantage they retained at the half-time interval.

However, Kelburne’s Jack McKenzie equalised for the Scots early in the second half, scoring a field goal to square the scores in the 43rd minute.

A second Keenan penalty corner put Italy back in front in the 51st minute, but the lead was short-lived, Hamish Imrie restoring parity from open play two minutes later.

Scotland U21W 3-3 Ireland

Agony for Scotland U21 Women as a battling 3-3 draw with Ireland wasn’t enough to ensure progress to the promotion pool stage at the EuroHockey Junior Nations Championship II in Vienna.

Scotland’s goals came from Kerry-Anne Hastings, Mairi Drummond and Kirsty Hill.

By quirk of fate, both Scotland and Ireland, considered two of the strongest sides in the tournament had been drawn in the same pool. In the end, Ireland squeezed through on goal difference by virtue of scoring one more goal against Lithuania in their match yesterday.

“The players are very down after the result”, said Scotland U21W Head Coach Neil Menzies. “We thought the game was won but we had a disallowed goal for what the umpire saw as a use of the foot.

“It was a fair result in the end, a game played by two teams who should be in the promotion pool, but the format was always against both sides. The best we can do now is fourth.

“The team fought hard in conditions that were hot and not easy. We have a rest day now, with a chance to re-group and look forward to the weekend.”

It was Ireland who sparked the content into life as early as the fourth minute, Zoe Wilson opening the scoring from a penalty corner.

However, two field goals inside two minutes from Kerry-Anne Hastings (20’) and Mairi Drummond (22’) gave the Scots a 2-1 lead.

Ireland were back on level terms right on the half-time hooter, captain Roison Upton firing her side’s second goal before the teams entered the dressing rooms at the interval.

Scottish hopes of a win were raised in the 45th minute when skipper Kirsty Hill made it 3-2 from a penalty corner, only for Emily Beatty to frustrate the Scots with another equaliser four minute later.

A 3-3 draw means Scotland now progress to a fairly meaningless last two games against the runners-up of Pool A and B, with only final classification places to be determined.

 

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