Scotland Women strike first blow in England series

 

Scotland (Robertson 25′, 25′, Elder 27′, Bunce 39′) 4-2 England (Watton 19′, Owsley 29′)

Scotland Senior Women got off to an excellent start in their four match indoor international series against England with a 4-2 win at Bell’s Sport Centre, Perth this evening.

The Scots found themselves 1-0 down at half-time after an Ellie Watton strike just before the interval (19′), before two quick-fire strikes from Sarah Robertson (25′, 25′) put the home side in front.

Heather Elder (27′) extended the lead at 3-1 before Lily Owsley (29′) pulled one back for the visitors shortly after to make it 3-2. However, Scotland captain Vikki Bunce (39′) ensured a win for her side with the fourth goal right on the full-time hooter.

Following the match, Scotland Women Head Coach Gordon Shepherd said, “A good start to the weekend, delighted to get a win in the first match. It gives us a good platform to build for the rest of the weekend. It was good to see a number of the new caps doing well too.”

Scotland started brightly in the opening exchanges, with Bunce forcing England goalkeeper Sarah Ellis into a double save in the third minute, before firing a penalty corner narrowly over the bar in the seventh minute.

England came close to an opening goal after chances fell to both Georgie Twigg and Suzy Petty, but Scotland goalkeeper Nicki Cochrane was on hand to deny the England internationals.

Susan McGilveray and new cap Jennifer Eadie both had penalty corner attempts thwarted before Bunce’s second drag-flick attempt cannoned back off the upright in the 17th minute.

Despite the majority of the chances falling to the home side, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Ellie Watton beat Cochrane to give them a 1-0 lead at the interval.

However, the Scots hit back shortly after the break when Sarah Robertson netted two goals inside a minute, both from close range, to give her team a 2-1 lead in the 25th minute.

Two minutes later, fellow debutant Heather Elder struck a low drive into the left hand corner to make it 3-1.

Nevertheless, England pulled one back in the 29th minute when Lily Owsley was left with the easy task of tapping into an open net after Scotland had reverted to a kicking back.

With a narrow margin seperating the two sides as full-time approached, it was left to captain Bunce to seal the win after her shot from the edge of the circle found the back of the net.

The two sides meet tomorrow at Bell’s Sports Centre, Perth at 11am and 3.30pm.

Scotland Senior Women: Jennifer Eadie, Nicki Cochrane, Vikki Bunce (c), Morag McLellan, Becky Ward, Amy Brodie, Sarah Robertson, Susan McGilveray, Heather Elder, Louise Campbell, Mairi Drummond, Siobhan Cowie.

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