Narrow defeat for Scotland in Euro opener against Germany

EuroHockey Nations Championship: Scotland 0-1 Germany (OG 20′)

Scotland Senior Women were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Germany in the opening game of the EuroHockey Nations Championship in Boom today.

A first half own goal credited to Scotland goalkeeper Amy Gibson gave the Germans the win, but there were positives for Head Coach Gordon Shepherd and his side to take into the second pool match against Spain tomorrow following a good second half display.

Gibson, in particular, was fantastic in the Scottish goal and made a number of brilliant saves in a player of the match performance.

Amy Gibson Germany

(Scotland goalkeeper Amy Gibson was in inspired form against Germany. Credit: Frank M.L Uijlenbroek)

Highlights from today’s Scotland v Germany match in EuroHockey2013? are now available online on the BBC Sport website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/hockey/23738713#asse

Scotland team line-up GER

(Scotland Senior Women line-up before their encounter with Germany. Credit: Frank M.L. Uijlenbroek)

The Scots were put under early pressure with Germany winning a number of penalty corners in the opening stages of the contest. Scotland defender Kareena Marshall made a vital goal-line block from Tina Bachmann, while goalkeeper Amy Gibson produced a couple of important saves from Eileen Hoffmann and Hannah Gablac.

Susan McGilveray vs GER

(Germany’s Hannah Gablac diverts the ball on target. Credit: Frank M.L. Uijlenbroek)

However, the national side found themselves behind in the 20th minute when Bachmann drilled a speculative pass into the Scottish circle where ball took a wicked deflection off Susan McGilveray, catching Gibson off guard, and the Clydesdale Western shot-stopper could only parry the ball in to the net to give Germany a 1-0 lead.

Nevertheless, Gibson responded two minutes later to make an impressive double block from German youngster Lea Stockel to prevent the 2011 European runners-up from increasing their advantage.

Scotland’s number one was in inspired form and in the 28th minute she again denied the Germans with two excellent stops from Hoffman.

Hoffman was frustrated again in the 30th minute when she just failed to get on the end of Bachmann’s drag flick pass following a penalty corner set-play.

Chances also fell to Gablac and Lydia Hasse with half-time approaching, and Scotland midfielder Vikki Bunce almost snatched an equaliser right on the half-time hooter but her outstretched stick narrowly deflected the ball jsut past the post.

Nikki Kidd GERm

(Scotland’s Nikki Kidd on the attack today against Germany. Credit: Frank M.L. Uijlenbroek)

Two minutes into the second half, Gibson again was up to the challenge as she diverted Bachmann’s penalty corner drag flick past her left hand post.

Scotland had an excellent opportunity to get back on level terms in the 39th minute when Bunce led a counter-attack from deep inside her own half to play in Ali Bell one-on-one with German goalkeeper Kim Platten. Unfortunately, Bell elected to shoot straight at Germany’s number one instead of rounding the shot-stopper and the ball was cleared.

In the 51st minute, Bachmann played an equisite pass through the Scotland defence to find Stockel but once again Gibson was off her line early to prevent the striker from getting a shot on target.

Gordon Shepherd’s sides had their opportunities as the match entered the latter stages, with both Sam Judge, Linda Clement and Nikki Kidd coming close. Indeed, in the 63rd minute, Kidd thought she had grabbed a leveller at a penalty corner, but Platten brilliantly diverted her goalbound drag-flick with a save low to her right.

There was just time for Gibson to make another great save from Gablac in the 68th minute before the match ended with Germany taking the three points with a slender 1-0 win.

In the early game in Pool B, England recorded a 3-0 win over Spain. Scotland win now play Spain tomorrow at 11.00 BST. The match will be live on the BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website.

For fixtures, results and pool standings, please visit the EuroHockey Nations Championship website.

Scotland Senior Women: Amy Gibson (Clydesdale Western), Nicola Cochrane (Edinburgh University), Vikki Bunce (Dundee Wanderers), Morag McLellan (Clydesdale Western), Alison Bell (Grove Menzieshill), Catriona Ralph (Clydesdale Western), Samantha Judge (Edinburgh University), Holly Cram (Clydesdale Western), Linda Clement (Captain, Grove Menzieshill), Kareena Marshall (Western Wildcats), Leigh Fawcett (Grove Menzieshill), Rebecca Merchant (Edinburgh University), Nikki Kidd (Edinburgh University), Susan McGilveray (Clydesdale Western), Nicola Lloyd (Sevenoaks), Alison Howie (Clydesdale Western), Nicola Skrastin (Clydesdale Western), Emily Maguire (Reading).

 

 

 

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