Scotland win against Ireland in seven goal thriller

 

Scotland (Kidd 20′, Clement 27′, Bell 50′, Cram 54′) 4-3 Ireland (O’Flynn 15′, Jacob 43′, Atcheler 56′)
Scotland Women recorded an excellent 4-3 win over Ireland at Peffermill today after goals from Nikki Kidd, Linda Clement, Ali Bell and Holly Cram gave Scotland Head Coach Gordon Shepherd’s side a morale-boosting victory ahead of four matches against South Africa. Ireland’s goals came from a Niamh Atcheler double and Lisa Jacob.
The Scots were made to work hard for their win in the end by a determined Irish outfit and Shepherd was keen to emphasise his satisfaction with his team’s performance after full-time:
“I’m delighted with the result and the performance.  We asked for an improvement on yesterday’s performance and we certainly got that. It’s not often we have a game against Ireland with seven goals in it and from our point of view, three open play goals too, in fact two absolutely fantastic goals in the second half”, said Shepherd.
“We went from a being on a high after we scored our fourth goal, going 4-2 up, and then the pressure built on us and we didn’t deal with that as well as we know we can, so that will be an area that we’ll look at, especially before Friday because South Africa will be a harder test for us. It’s something we have to deal with and we need to see games out. I prefer to see us in the attacking end of the pitch rather than our own circle as we look to close games out.”
“However, I’m happy we could make eight changes to the team from yesterday and yet still lift the performance level that was required. So overall, I’m very pleased.”
Scotland got off to a promising start and captain Linda Clement was fouled inside the Ireland circle in the ninth minute to give the home side an early opportunity. The subsequent penalty corner set-play was well worked as Catriona Ralph found Holly Cram at the back post, but the Milne Craig Clydesdale Western striker’s attempt on goal was cleared by the Irish defence.
Shortly afterwards, Ireland fashioned their first attempt on target when Gillian Pinder found herself bearing down on Amy Gibson’s goal but the Scotland goalkeeper was alert to the forward’s strike, making a fine save to keep the scores level at 0-0.
However, the away side didn’t have to wait too long to find the opening goal when they were awarded a penalty corner in the 13th minute. Audrey O’Flynn’s drag-flick was well saved by Gibson but the ball fell to Niamh Atcheler, who had the simple task of tapping home from close range to give her side a 1-0 lead.
Ireland nearly doubled their advantage two minutes later when Gibson again made a good block from Anna O’Flanagan’s shot.
Nikki Kidd came within a fraction of giving Scotland an equaliser in the 19h minute when her penalty corner attempt struck the left hand post, only for the umpire to award a penalty stroke for an illegal clearance by Ireland goalkeeper Pamela Smithwick. The Edinburgh University midfielder subsequently stepped up to slam home the penalty stroke to level the scores at 1-1.
The Scots took control of proceedings and in the 27th minute they went ahead for the first time in the game when Ali Bell seized upon a poor Irish defensive clearance and raced away down the touchline. The Grove Menzieshill striker picked out Clement in the centre of the circle, who took two touches to calmly slot a low drive past Smithwick for a 2-1 lead.
Ireland had a chance to equalise in the 33rd minute but Leigh Fawcett was on hand to clear the drag-flick attempt by O’Flynn off the line and ensure the national side went into the half-time interval 2-1 up.
Shepherd’s side almost extended their advantage shortly after the break when great inter-play between Cram and Vikki Bunce forced Smithwick into a good save in the 37th minute.
With Scotland in the ascendency, Ireland grabbed an equalising goal against the run of play in the 43rd minute when Lisa Jacob’s mazy run through the Scottish rear-guard led to the striker finishing past Gibson to make it 2-2.
Nonetheless, the Scots responded in style seven minutes later when Bell picked up another loose Ireland clearance on the right hand touchline. Her surging run and sumptuous cut inside two defenders led to an unstoppable reverse stick shot into the top corner of the net, leaving Smithwick with no chance and giving the home side a 3-2 lead.
The fourth Scottish goal was just as attractive as Sarah Robertson broke through the centre of midfield to play in Cram on the left hand side of the circle and her reverse stick drive found the right hand corner of the net to make it 4-2 in the 54th minute.
With the hard work seemingly done, Ireland got themselves back into the contest in the 56th minute when Nicola Gray’s penalty corner shot was saved by Gibson, but for the second time in the match, Atcheler found herself able to clip the re-bound into the net to make it 4-3.
Ireland piled on the pressure in the last ten minutes, but Scotland were able to hold out for a 4-3 win at full-time and an injection of confidence going into four internationals against South Africa.

Scotland (Kidd 20′, Clement 27′, Bell 50′, Cram 54′) 4-3 Ireland (Atcheler 15′, 56′, Jacob 43′)

Scotland Women recorded an excellent 4-3 win over Ireland at Peffermill today after goals from Nikki Kidd, Linda Clement, Ali Bell and Holly Cram gave Scotland Head Coach Gordon Shepherd’s side a morale-boosting victory ahead of four matches against South Africa. Ireland’s goals came from a Niamh Atcheler double and Lisa Jacob.

The Scots were made to work hard for their win in the end by a determined Irish outfit and Shepherd was keen to emphasise his satisfaction with his team’s performance after full-time:

“I’m delighted with the result and the performance.  We asked for an improvement on yesterday’s performance and we certainly got that. It’s not often we have a game against Ireland with seven goals in it and from our point of view, three open play goals too, in fact two absolutely fantastic goals in the second half”, said Shepherd.

“We went from a being on a high after we scored our fourth goal, going 4-2 up, and then the pressure built on us and we didn’t deal with that as well as we know we can, so that will be an area that we’ll look at, especially before Friday because South Africa will be a harder test for us. It’s something we have to deal with and we need to see games out. I prefer to see us in the attacking end of the pitch rather than our own circle as we look to close games out.”

“However, I’m happy we could make eight changes to the team from yesterday and yet still lift the performance level that was required. So overall, I’m very pleased.”

Scotland got off to a promising start and captain Linda Clement was fouled inside the Ireland circle in the ninth minute to give the home side an early opportunity. The subsequent penalty corner set-play was well worked as Catriona Ralph found Holly Cram at the back post, but the Milne Craig Clydesdale Western striker’s attempt on goal was cleared by the Irish defence.

Shortly afterwards, Ireland fashioned their first attempt on target when Gillian Pinder found herself bearing down on Amy Gibson’s goal but the Scotland goalkeeper was alert to the forward’s strike, making a fine save to keep the scores level at 0-0.

However, the away side didn’t have to wait too long to find the opening goal when they were awarded a penalty corner in the 13th minute. Audrey O’Flynn’s drag-flick was well saved by Gibson but the ball fell to Niamh Atcheler, who had the simple task of tapping home from close range to give her side a 1-0 lead.

Ireland nearly doubled their advantage two minutes later when Gibson again made a good block from Anna O’Flanagan’s shot.

Nikki Kidd came within a fraction of giving Scotland an equaliser in the 19h minute when her penalty corner attempt struck the left hand post, only for the umpire to award a penalty stroke for an illegal clearance by Ireland goalkeeper Pamela Smithwick. The Edinburgh University midfielder subsequently stepped up to slam home the penalty stroke to level the scores at 1-1.

 

The Scots took control of proceedings and in the 27th minute they went ahead for the first time in the game when Ali Bell seized upon a poor Irish defensive clearance and raced away down the touchline. The Grove Menzieshill striker picked out Clement in the centre of the circle, who took two touches to calmly slot a low drive past Smithwick for a 2-1 lead.

Ireland had a chance to equalise in the 33rd minute but Leigh Fawcett was on hand to clear the drag-flick attempt by O’Flynn off the line and ensure the national side went into the half-time interval 2-1 up.

Shepherd’s side almost extended their advantage shortly after the break when great inter-play between Cram and Vikki Bunce forced Smithwick into a good save in the 37th minute.

With Scotland in the ascendency, Ireland grabbed an equalising goal against the run of play in the 43rd minute when Lisa Jacob’s mazy run through the Scottish rear-guard led to the striker finishing past Gibson to make it 2-2.

Nonetheless, the Scots responded in style seven minutes later when Bell picked up another loose Ireland clearance on the right hand touchline. Her surging run and sumptuous cut inside two defenders led to an unstoppable reverse stick shot into the top corner of the net, leaving Smithwick with no chance and giving the home side a 3-2 lead.

The fourth Scottish goal was just as attractive as Sarah Robertson broke through the centre of midfield to play in Cram on the left hand side of the circle and her reverse stick drive found the right hand corner of the net to make it 4-2 in the 54th minute.

With the hard work seemingly done, Ireland got themselves back into the contest in the 56th minute when Nicola Gray’s penalty corner shot was saved by Gibson, but for the second time in the match, Atcheler found herself able to clip the re-bound into the net to make it 4-3.

Ireland piled on the pressure in the last ten minutes, but Scotland were able to hold out for a 4-3 win at full-time and an injection of confidence going into four internationals against South Africa.

Scotland Women: Amy Gibson, Catriona Ralph, Sam Judge, Ali Bell, Linda Clement, Louise Campbell, Sarah Robertson, Leigh Fawcett, Aileen Davis, Holly Cram, Ali Howie, Beccky Merchant, Nikki Kidd, Nicola Skrastin, Susan McGilveray, Vikki Bunce, Nicki Cochrane.

 

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