Scotland U21 Women in narrow defeat to Ulster U23 Women

Scotland U21 women v Ulster 3Scotland’s U21 Women were narrowly defeated by Ulster U23 Women in an exciting encounter at the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow.

It was a close and competitive game, the first of three between the pair, and gave a first outing to a number of young Scottish players at U21 level.

The game started at a rapid pace and it was not long before Kerry-Anne Hastings struck Scotland’s first attempt at goal. A fleeting transition came to a close when Hastings shot just past the post at speed.

Ulster then settled into the game and enjoyed lots of the ball, but found Scotland defending well. Ulster’s Zoe Brown had the visitors’ first attempt for a goal but her hard strike from a penalty corner was blocked by a Scottish stick.

It was from penalty corners where Ulster looked their most dangerous. Brown again came close prompting a great save by Susan Al Haddad from an Ulster drag flick. It was superb goalkeeping by the Scottish keeper.

Then Scotland opened the scoring when Chloe Hardie smashed home for the hosts after a good run by McKenzie Bell. 1-0. Almost immediately Ulster struck back through Chloe Brown, scoring a drag flick from another penalty corner. 1-1.

The second quarter found Scotland pressing well. The pressure was soon rewarded when Drew Berry finished after Ellie Hutcheson progressed well down the right. 2-1. Scotland went on the hunt for more goals and were nearly rewarded when Frances Lonergan, attacking down the right, fired a ball into the shooting circle but couldn’t find a Scottish stick.

Ulster’s Taite Doherty had a great chance to score but Scottish jerseys managed to get back and snuff out the danger in the shooting circle. Then came a couple of quick goals for Ulster. A great exchange between Ulster’s Zoe Wilson and Brown, saw the latter finish well despite a valiant dive from Al Haddad. 2-2. Then the visitors took the lead through a thunderous goal by Wilson to make it 3-2.

Scotland U21 women v Ulster Hutch

HT Scotland 2 Ulster 3

 

Scotland started the second half positively. Some great trickery by Alison Eadie opened up an opportunity for a shot on goal, but she couldn’t find the final pass under pressure.

Then a great interception and solo run by Lorna Cruickshank led to a penalty corner for the Scots. It gave Berry an opportunity to strike back but her shot smashed just wide of the target. Scotland were looking good.

Ulster then broke forward and Brown set up Taite Doherty whose shot prompted another fantastic save by Al Haddad. It was close range effort well blocked by the impressive keeper.

Emily Cross was having a good game for Scotland and influenced well in the middle of the field as Scotland took the game to Ulster. Towards the end of the third quarter the Scots had two penalty corner opportunities well saved by Ashley McIlroy for Ulster. Scotland’s Lonergan hitting fierce shots on both occasions but denied for the score to remain 3-2 to Ulster.

At the start of the fourth quarter Ulster’s Brown came close with a violent smash across the face of the goal. Then, up the other end of the pitch, Scotland’s Bell almost got onto the end of a pass into the shooting circle. Both sides were battling for the next goal.

With the clock ticking down, Ulster won a penalty corner and tried to finish the game off through an inventive routine. It prompted another great save by Al Haddad, deflecting the ball with her legs from a powerful Brown shot.

In Scotland’s eagerness to level the game a collision saw a green card given to Berry. It allowed Ulster to play out the final few minutes and record the win in what was an exciting and competitive encounter.

FT Scotland 2 Ulster 3

Scotland U21 women v Ulster

Scotland U21

The squad for the matches is:

Susan Al Haddad (Match 1 and 2)

Megan Inch

Erin Gilchrist

Alison Eadie

Iona Armour

Lorna Cruickshank

McKenzie Bell

Drew Berry

Emily Cross

Ellie Halliday

Ellie Hutcheson

Tess Hannah

Chloe Hardie

Kerry Anne Hastings

Katie Hibbert

Frances Lonergan

Emma McDairmid

Shona McNab

Makenzie Brown

 

 

 

Ulster U23

Ashley McIlroy

Hannah Gieve

Alex Ogilby

Pippa Best

Taite Doherty

Ruth Maguire

Zoe Wilson

Chloe Brown

Zara Malseed

Kerri McDonald

Naomi Harkness

Emma Kernohan

Faye Kidd

Jane Kilpatrick

Emma Quinn

Rebecca Mercer

 

 

 

 

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