Scotland finish sixth after India loss

 

Scotland Senior Women finished sixth in the Women’s Hockey competition following a 2-1 defeat to India at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
Nikki Kidd had equalised for the Scots midway through the second-half after Anupa Barla had given India the lead shortly beforehand, but a well taken strike by Poonam Rani sealed the win, leaving the Scots in sixth position.
A dejected Scotland Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “Totally gutted. Sad for the players, we prepared well this summer for the target of the top four, which we believe was a realistic target we thought we could achieve. We know playing at this high international level that it’s small margins that make the difference, but sadly they went against us.
“The last two games were hard to take, the players against England were amazing and today they ran their hearts out, to just be on the wrong side of the one goal in the last two games was pretty tough.
“The players ran, they created plenty of opportunities but at this level the half chances are the ones that win your games and we didn’t take them even though we had plenty of them.”
Scotland captain Linda Clement, who announced her international retirement after the match, summarised, “I feel quite flat after that, we were disappointed with our result against England the other day and after that game we needed to bounce back and finish on a high but we didn’t take our chances so it is a disappointing to end like this.”
The first half contained few chances for either side; Nicki Skrastin’s deflected shot sailed over the bar in the sixth minute, before Ali Bell was given a half-chance midway through the half, but the ball ran away from the attacker after she has rounded India goalkeeper Savita Punia.
In the 23rd minute, Sarah Robertson won a penalty corner off an Indian foot but Kidd’s subsequent attempt came off a defender’s foot. Cat Ralph struck the next penalty corner but the shot was penalised by the umpire for being dangerously high.
Vikki Bunce’s reverse stick effort was saved by Punia shortly before the interval before Anuradha Thokchom wasted a golden opportunity to steal a half-time lead, shooting wide of the left hand post.
The second half was a far livelier affair, with Scotland starting with attacking intent when Linda Clement’s cross to Skrastin ended in the Clydesdale Western midfielder’s shot being blocked by Punia.
In the 38th minute, Scotland failed to take advantage of two penalty corner chances. The first attempt was too intricate to trouble their opponents’ goal, Ralph’s attempt at the second corner being blocked by a defender’s stick.
India then dominated the next ten minutes, fashioning a number of chances. Poonam Rani shot wide when the goal was at her mercy, Scotland goalkeeper Amy Gibson was alert to divert Deepika Thakur’s dangerous cross to safety, before Gibson pulled off marvellous saves to deny two successive Jaspreet Kaur penalty corner drag-flicks. Barla shot wide of the target with a reverse stick effort in the 46th minute.
Further penalty corner chances fell for the Scots, Aileen Davis having her shot saved before Kidd’s drag-flick was well stopped by Punia.
It was therefore to the home side’s frustration that India took the lead in the 53rd minute; Barla collected the ball inside the scoring circle, dispatching the ball past Gibson low to her right.
Scotland were back on level terms two minutes later, Clement and Bell creating a penalty corner opportunity that Kidd rattled low into the right corner.
However, good play from Barla to find Poonam Rani in space on the left of the circle resulted in the midfielder’s shot giving Gibson no chance as it flew into the top right hand corner of the net to give India a 2-1 lead.
Chances fell to Nikki Lloyd and Robertson to register a second Scottish equaliser before full-time but it wasn’t to be.
For the Scots, playing in front of a home crowd in a Commonwealth Games has been a fantastic experience, as Clement concluded, “It is very special to play at a home games, when I reflect on it will be a very special experience playing in front of a home crowd, Glasgow have done a fantastic job but right now I feel disappointed but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”
Coach Shepherd had the final word, stating, “We have all loved Glasgow 2014, the village has been tremendous and Scottish hockey home ground filled to capacity with screaming fans has been unbelievable. Better than what we expected. Only disappointment is to finish in 6th but everything else has been fantastic.”

Scotland Senior Women finished sixth in the Women’s Hockey competition following a 2-1 defeat to India at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.

Nikki Kidd had equalised for the Scots midway through the second-half after Anupa Barla had given India the lead shortly beforehand, but a well taken strike by Poonam Rani sealed the win, leaving the Scots in sixth position.

Nikki Kidd v India

(Nikki Kidd had given Scotland hope with an equalising goal against India. Photo Credit: Ian Steele)

A dejected Scotland Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “Totally gutted. Sad for the players, we prepared well this summer for the target of the top four, which we believe was a realistic target we thought we could achieve. We know playing at this high international level that it’s small margins that make the difference, but sadly they went against us.

“The last two games were hard to take, the players against England were amazing and today they ran their hearts out, to just be on the wrong side of the one goal in the last two games was pretty tough.

“The players ran, they created plenty of opportunities but at this level the half chances are the ones that win your games and we didn’t take them even though we had plenty of them.”

Linda Clement v India

(Scotland captain Linda Clement battles for possession. Photo Credit: Ian Steele)

Scotland captain Linda Clement, who announced her international retirement after the match, summarised, “I feel quite flat after that, we were disappointed with our result against England the other day and after that game we needed to bounce back and finish on a high but we didn’t take our chances so it is a disappointing to end like this.”

The first half contained few chances for either side; Nicki Skrastin’s deflected shot sailed over the bar in the sixth minute, before Ali Bell was given a half-chance midway through the half, but the ball ran away from the attacker after she has rounded India goalkeeper Savita Punia.

In the 23rd minute, Sarah Robertson won a penalty corner off an Indian foot but Kidd’s subsequent attempt came off a defender’s foot. Cat Ralph struck the next penalty corner but the shot was penalised by the umpire for being dangerously high.

Vikki Bunce’s reverse stick effort was saved by Punia shortly before the interval before Anuradha Thokchom wasted a golden opportunity to steal a half-time lead, shooting wide of the left hand post.

The second half was a far livelier affair, with Scotland starting with attacking intent when Linda Clement’s cross to Skrastin ended in the Clydesdale Western midfielder’s shot being blocked by Punia.

In the 38th minute, Scotland failed to take advantage of two penalty corner chances. The first attempt was too intricate to trouble their opponents’ goal, Ralph’s attempt at the second corner being blocked by a defender’s stick.

India then dominated the next ten minutes, fashioning a number of chances. Poonam Rani shot wide when the goal was at her mercy, Scotland goalkeeper Amy Gibson was alert to divert Deepika Thakur’s dangerous cross to safety, before Gibson pulled off marvellous saves to deny two successive Jaspreet Kaur penalty corner drag-flicks. Barla shot wide of the target with a reverse stick effort in the 46th minute.

Amy Gibson v India

(Scotland goalkeeper Amy Gibson shows her class with a tremedous save. Photo Credit: Ian Steele)

Further penalty corner chances fell for the Scots, Aileen Davis having her shot saved before Kidd’s drag-flick was well stopped by Punia.

It was therefore to the home side’s frustration that India took the lead in the 53rd minute; Barla collected the ball inside the scoring circle, dispatching the ball past Gibson low to her right.

Scotland were back on level terms two minutes later, Clement and Bell creating a penalty corner opportunity that Kidd rattled low into the right corner.

Nikki Kidd Celebrates v India

(Nikki Kidd celebrates her goal against India. Photo Credit: Ian Steele)

However, good play from Barla to find Poonam Rani in space on the left of the circle resulted in the midfielder’s shot giving Gibson no chance as it flew into the top right hand corner of the net to give India a 2-1 lead.

Chances fell to Nikki Lloyd and Robertson to register a second Scottish equaliser before full-time but it wasn’t to be.

For the Scots, playing in front of a home crowd in a Commonwealth Games has been a fantastic experience, as Clement concluded, “It is very special to play at a home games, when I reflect on it will be a very special experience playing in front of a home crowd, Glasgow have done a fantastic job but right now I feel disappointed but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

Coach Shepherd had the final word, stating, “We have all loved Glasgow 2014, the village has been tremendous and Scottish hockey home ground filled to capacity with screaming fans has been unbelievable. Better than what we expected. Only disappointment is to finish in 6th but everything else has been fantastic.”

Team Scotland: Amy Gibson, Vikki Bunce, Morag McLellan, Ali Bell, Becky Ward, Cat Ralph, Sarah Robertson, Linda Clement (c), Ailsa Wyllie, Leigh Fawcett, Nikki Kidd, Susan McGilveray, Nikki Llloyd, Nicki Skrastin, Emily Maguire, Aileen Davis.

Please visit Glasgow 2014 Hockey Competition for all fixtures, results and pool standings.

Scotland v India team

(Photo Credit: Ian Steele)

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