Scotland still fighting after win over Belarus

EuroHockey Nations Championship: Scotland (Cram 22′, Lloyd 26′, Bunce 34′) 3-2 Belarus (Kibkova 43′, Kulinkovich 55′)

Scotland Senior Women recorded a vital victory in their fight to retain their place in the EuroHockey Nations Championship following a 3-2 success over Belarus in Belgium this afternoon.

First half goals from Holly Cram, Nikki Lloyd and Vikki Bunce gave the Scots a commanding 3-0 lead at the interval, although a penalty corner strike from Belarus captain Khrystsina Kibkova and a Krestina Kulinkovich penalty stroke resulted in a nervy and tense second period for the national side.

Nevertheless, Scotland Senior Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd and his players have put three crucial points on the board in the relegation pool and Saturday morning’s match against Ireland will now be a real one off decider to determine European survival.

It’s simple – a win or draw for Scotland against Ireland will result in them keeping their place in the Championship for 2015.

(Scotland’s Susan McGilveray in action against Belarus. Credit: Frank Uijlenbroek)

Scotland started off on the front foot with two penalty corners in succession inside the first two minutes. Holly Cram almost opened the scoring when she got on the end of a rebound from Nikki Kidd’s drag-flick, but the striker couldn’t quite finish off the opportunity.

Kidd herself had a chance in the sixth minute but her reverse stick shot was saved comfortably by Belarussian goalkeeper Veranika Mikanovich.

Four minutes later, Scotland number one Amy Gibson was called into action to make an magnificent world-class double save from two snap-shot attempts on goal to deny Belarus the lead.

(Scotland goalkeeper Amy Gibson produces another world class stop: Credit: Frank Uijlenbroek)

The Scots were dominant throughout the first half and their persistence finally paid off in the 22nd minute when they broke the deadlock from a penalty corner. The ball was injected back for Kidd to fire in a drag-flick pass that was deflected high into the net by Cram at the back post to give Scotland a 1-0 advantage.

There was no let-up in pressure following the opening goal, leading to a second Scottish goal in the 26th minute. Good work from Nikki Lloyd on the right of the circle allowed the striker to fire the ball across the face of goal, resulting in a Belarus defender turning the ball into the net under pressure from Ali Howie to make it 2-0.

A minute before half-time, Vikki Bunce was on hand to give her side a 3-0 lead when she slammed home a low drive past Mikanovich after the ‘keeper had been left high and dry by her defence to deal with four attempts on goal.

With Scotland well in the ascendency at the break, Belarus got back into the match in the early stages of the second half when Khrystsina Kibkova fired home a penalty corner to make it 3-1 in the 43rd minute.

Chances then fell for Bunce and Kidd before Belarus hit back from the penalty spot to make it 3-2 in the 55th minute. Scotland had been penalised for preventing a goal with an illegal block and Krestina Kulinkovich stepped up to beat Gibson and reduce the deficit to one goal.

With nine minutes remaining, Bunce won a penalty corner that resulted in Howie, Kidd and Linda Clement all having attempts on goal, only for the Belarus defence to somehow keep the ball out of the net and leave Scotland agonisingly short of a fourth goal.

(Holly Cram and Linda Clement look on as Nikki Kidd fires an attempt on goal. Credit: Frank Uijlenbroek)

Catriona Ralph just failed to make contact with Kidd’s penalty corner set-piece in the 64th minute, before some herioc defending denied Belarus an equalising goal that would have put a dent in Scotland’s survival hopes.

Nonetheless, a nervy second half drew to a close with Scotland recording their first win of the tournament, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Ireland.

(Scotland players reflect on their win over Belarus. Credit: Frank Uijlenbroek)

For all Scotland’s fixtures, results and pool position, please visit the EuroHockey 2013 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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