Scotland run Belgium close in opening 4 Nations match

 

MEN’S 4 NATIONS RESULTS: GLASGOW NATIONAL HOCKEY CENTRE, SCOTLAND
FT Scotland (Kenny Bain 7’, Chris Grassick 65’, Gary Cameron 68’) 3-4 Belgium (Tanguy Cosyns 20’, Boon 22’, 51’, Loick Luypert 41’)
FT England (Alastair Brogdon, Martin Gleghorne) 2-2 Argentina (Manuel Brunet, Agustin Mazzilli)
Scotland Senior Men narrowly lost their opening game of the Men’s 4 Nations against World Number 5 Belgium at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre this evening, going down 4-3.
Two goals from Tom Boon, together with a Tanguy Cosyns field goal and Loick Luypert penalty corner gave the Belgians a slender victory. Kenny Bain, Chris Grassick and Gary Cameron were on the scoresheet for the Scots.
After the match, Scotland Senior Men Head Coach Derek Forsyth said, “It’s a great experience for the boys, it’s another step forward against the world number five in the world and there were a lot of positives. We played them a year ago and lost 7-1, they’re five weeks away from a World Cup and on a full-time programme so we’re happy with the performance.
“If we can keep improving in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games then it’s good for us and we have a chance. It’s a big plus being able to play international matches at the Glasgow Hockey Centre.
“Tomorrow will be a big game against England, it will be tough after a quick turnaround tonight. There will be a big crowd here and we’re looking forward to it.”
Scotland went ahead early in the match, striker Kenny Bain finding space outside the circle and driving his way past the dive of Vincent Vanash to round the Belgian goalkeeper and slot the ball home in the seventh minute.
However, the visitors started to control the majority of possession, pressurising the Scottish defence deep in the home side’s half. Belgium’s reward came in the 20th minute, Tanguy Cosyns levelling the score at 1-1 with a reverse stick deflection past Scotland goalkeeper Gavin Sommerville.
Two minutes later, Scottish midfielder Iain Scholefield was penalised for an illegal foot block on the goal-line and Belgian striker Tom Boon, winning his 150th international cap this evening, stepped up to rattle the ball into the roof of the net to provide his side with a 2-1 lead.
With the away side retaining a slender one goal advantage at the interval, Sommerville was soon called back into action after re-start, making a fine block from an Amaury Keusters low drive in the 37th minute and a wonderful reflex save high to his right hand side to prevent Boon’s penalty corner drag-flick finding the top corner.
Yet, Scotland’s number one couldn’t stop Belgium extending their lead to 3-1 in the 41st minute, Loick Luypert drilling a penalty corner hit low into the left hand corner of the goal.
Shortly after, patient Belgian build-up play presented Emmanuel Stockbroek with space on the right flank and the midfielder’s precision cross was met my Boon at the back post to make it 4-1.
Sommerville was on hand once again to deny Stockbroek from point-blank range two minutes later, preventing a fifth goal.
The Scots reduced the deficit five minutes from full-time after Chris Grassick won a penalty corner and the former Inverleith midfielder was on hand to expertly deflect Bain’s strike high into the back of the net.
Gary Cameron then ensured a nervy conclusion to the match, finding space near the far post to turn home Alan Forsyth’s cross in the 68th minute, but the comeback came a little too late, Belgium holding on for a 4-3 win.
Earlier in the evening, England and Argentina finished all square with a 2-2 draw.
England opened the scoring in the 11th minute, courtesy of a carefully guided Alastair Brogdon flick into the bottom corner after the Wimbledon forward had latched onto a fine through pass from captain Barry Middleton.
Argentina were back on level terms in the 23rd minute though, Manuel Brunet taking advantage of indecision in the English defensive ranks to fire the ball past England goalkeeper George Pinner from close range.
With the sides level at half-time it was England who started the second half the stronger side and they were awarded a penalty corner in the 48th minute. Juan Vivaldi was alert to parry Ashley Jackson’s drag-flick, but Mark Cleghorne was quick to react and dispatch the ball past the Argentinian ‘keeper.
Nevertheless, Argentina were soon back on parity with a wonderful solo effort, Agustin Mazzilli dancing through the attentions of four English defenders to slip the ball past Pinner in the 56th minute.
Scotland Senior Men: Jamie Cachia (Sheffield), Gareth Hall (Beeston), Michael Bremner (Kelburne), Dan Coultas (Holcombe), Alan Forsyth (Surbiton), Chris Grassick (Surbiton), Ian Moodie (Edinburgh University), Ross Stott (East Grinstead), Chris Nelson (Kelburne), Kenny Bain (Hurley), William Marshall (Sheffield), Iain Scholefield (Qui Vive), Niall Stott (East Grinstead),David Forsyth (Qui Vive), Nick Parkes (Surbiton), Gavin Byers (Sheffield), Gary Cameron (Grange), Gavin Sommerville (Western Wildcats)MEN’S 4 NATIONS RESULTS: GLASGOW NATIONAL HOCKEY CENTRE, SCOTLAND

FT Scotland (Kenny Bain 7’, Chris Grassick 65’, Gary Cameron 68’) 3-4 Belgium (Tanguy Cosyns 20’, Boon 22’, 51’, Loick Luypert 41’)

FT England (Alastair Brogdon 3′, Martin Gleghorne 54′) 2-2 Argentina (Manuel Brunet 23′, Agustin Mazzilli 48′)

Scotland Senior Men narrowly lost their opening game of the Men’s 4 Nations against World Number 5 Belgium at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre this evening, going down 4-3.

Two goals from Tom Boon, together with a Tanguy Cosyns field goal and Loick Luypert penalty corner gave the Belgians a slender victory. Kenny Bain, Chris Grassick and Gary Cameron were on the scoresheet for the Scots.

BSC_7976

(Scotland team line-up before tonight’s match against Belgium. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

After the match, Scotland Senior Men Head Coach Derek Forsyth said, “It’s a great experience for the boys, it’s another step forward against the world number five in the world and there were a lot of positives. We played them a year ago and lost 7-1, they’re five weeks away from a World Cup and on a full-time programme so we’re happy with the performance.

“If we can keep improving in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games then it’s good for us and we have a chance. It’s a big plus being able to play international matches at the Glasgow Hockey Centre.

“Tomorrow will be a big game against England, it will be tough after a quick turnaround tonight. There will be a big crowd here and we’re looking forward to it.”

Scotland went ahead early in the match, striker Kenny Bain finding space outside the circle and driving his way past the dive of Vincent Vanash to round the Belgian goalkeeper and slot the ball home in the seventh minute.

Kenny Bain celebrates the opening goal for Scotland against Belgium Photo Credit Duncan Gray

(Scotland striker Kenny Bain rolls away in delight after scoring the opening goal. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

However, the visitors started to control the majority of possession, pressurising the Scottish defence deep in the home side’s half. Belgium’s reward came in the 20th minute, Tanguy Cosyns levelling the score at 1-1 with a reverse stick deflection past Scotland goalkeeper Gavin Sommerville.

Two minutes later, Scottish midfielder Iain Scholefield was penalised for an illegal foot block on the goal-line and Belgian striker Tom Boon, winning his 150th international cap this evening, stepped up to rattle the ball into the roof of the net to provide his side with a 2-1 lead.

Boon

(Belgium striker Tom Boon notched two goals on his 150th international appearance. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

With the away side retaining a slender one goal advantage at the interval, Sommerville was soon called back into action after re-start, making a fine block from an Amaury Keusters low drive in the 37th minute and a wonderful reflex save high to his right hand side to prevent Boon’s penalty corner drag-flick finding the top corner.

Yet, Scotland’s number one couldn’t stop Belgium extending their lead to 3-1 in the 41st minute, Loick Luypert drilling a penalty corner hit low into the left hand corner of the goal.

Shortly after, patient Belgian build-up play presented Emmanuel Stockbroek with space on the right flank and the midfielder’s precision cross was met my Boon at the back post to make it 4-1.

Sommerville was on hand once again to deny Stockbroek from point-blank range two minutes later, preventing a fifth goal.

The Scots reduced the deficit five minutes from full-time after Chris Grassick won a penalty corner and the former Inverleith midfielder was on hand to expertly deflect Bain’s strike high into the back of the net.

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(Scotland’s Chris Grassick was on the scoresheet against Belgium. Photo Credit: Chris Grassick).

Gary Cameron then ensured a nervy conclusion to the match, finding space near the far post to turn home Alan Forsyth’s cross in the 68th minute, but the comeback came a little too late, Belgium holding on for a 4-3 win.

Captain Chris Grassick said, “It was a great comeback, we really believed in ourselves a bit more and we were really delighted to have got back in to the game. We let them move the ball really well but we have to learn to tackle that

“The pitch was nice and it was great to have a good home crowd and to have so many people along. Hopefully there will be plenty more down tomorrow as it really does make a massive difference with us.

“Just like any other game, just need to go out there and enjoy it, hopefully we will get a good crowd again which will help us.”

Earlier in the evening, England and Argentina finished all square with a 2-2 draw.

England opened the scoring in the 11th minute, courtesy of a carefully guided Alastair Brogdon flick into the bottom corner after the Wimbledon forward had latched onto a fine through pass from captain Barry Middleton.

BSC_7949

(Argentina and England played out a 2-2 draw in Glasgow. Photo Credit: Duncan Gray)

Argentina were back on level terms in the 23rd minute though, Manuel Brunet taking advantage of indecision in the English defensive ranks to fire the ball past England goalkeeper George Pinner from close range.

With the sides level at half-time it was England who started the second half the stronger side and they were awarded a penalty corner in the 48th minute. Juan Vivaldi was alert to parry Ashley Jackson’s drag-flick, but Mark Cleghorne was quick to react and dispatch the ball past the Argentinian ‘keeper.

DSC_8539

(England striker Ashley Jackson in action against Argentina. Photo Credit Duncan Gray)

Nevertheless, Argentina were soon back on parity with a wonderful solo effort, Agustin Mazzilli dancing through the attentions of four English defenders to slip the ball past Pinner in the 56th minute.

Scotland Senior Men: Jamie Cachia (Sheffield), Gareth Hall (Beeston), Michael Bremner (Kelburne), Dan Coultas (Holcombe), Alan Forsyth (Surbiton), Chris Grassick (Surbiton), Ian Moodie (Edinburgh University), Ross Stott (East Grinstead), Chris Nelson (Kelburne), Kenny Bain (Hurley), William Marshall (Sheffield), Iain Scholefield (Qui Vive), Niall Stott (East Grinstead),David Forsyth (Qui Vive), Nick Parkes (Surbiton), Gavin Byers (Sheffield), Gary Cameron (Grange), Gavin Sommerville (Western Wildcats)

 

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