Scotland’s U18s in Barcelona

Scotland’s U18 boys’ and girls’ teams were in Barcelona over the weekend for warm-up games against Spain ahead of EuroHockey Youth Championship II, held in Glasgow on 24-30 July. Both teams had to cope with searing temperatures against top-class opposition in Spain.

u18 girls barcelona teamScotland’s girls’ had a strong opening period in the first match against Spain. The team showed good patience in the press, which led to a Mairi Shaw interception and reverse stick shot from Ella Watt to score. The Scots were up against quality opposition however. Scotland competed well against a dynamic Spanish side who capitalised on some Scottish errors.  The hosts ended up 5-1 victors.

The blistering Barcelona heat made for a tough second meeting between the two. Scottish defensive errors caused some breakaway Spanish goals leaving the hosts 6-0 up at half time. The second half saw good periods of sustained pressure thanks to hard work from Scotland’s press. It was a more disciplined and organised second half by the visitors with strong performances by both Scotland goalkeepers. The word from the Scotland camp was there were lessons learned and many positives to take from this game. 7-0 full time.

The third game produced very tough conditions again with the match being played in 32 degrees heat despite a 10am start. The scots started well and applied pressure effectively. The hosts maintained their impressive close skills and took the lead against the run of play.

Scotland were unable to capitalise on a penalty corner scoring opportunity and two further breakaway plays resulted in clinical strikes from the Spanish forwards. It made a half time score of 3-0. Scotland’s unit play was more structured in the second half, holding the Spanish to only one further goal. The Scots were unable to convert 25 penetrations. The game ended 4-0 to Spain.

Overall the three matches were a tough test for Scotland’s U18s girls, which has provided invaluable experience for the team leading up to the Euros in Glasgow in two week time.

U18 boys lunch

Scotland U18 boys were also taking on Spain in Barcelona as they continued their preparations ahead of the Eurohockey Championships II, with three test games scheduled against their hosts.

The first game of the series, played at the home of Atlètic Terrassa, took place in extremely warm conditions which tested the young Scots from the start. A strong Spanish team took the game to the visitors, pressing hard and it was Spain who proceeded to dominate the first half, going into the break 4-0 up, with Scotland unable to pose much in the way of an attacking threat.

The second half was a different affair. Despite going a further goal behind early on, the Scots rallied, which resulted in a much more even affair. Goalkeeper Sean Mahoney made a good double save from a penalty corner, before Scotland began to create opportunities of their own, with Cameron Golden, Fraser Calder and Barry Platt each having chances to score. In the final few minutes Callum McKenzie earned the Scots a penalty corner and Aidan McQuade’s resulting drag flick was saved illegally on the line. McQuade himself dispatched the subsequent penalty flick to bring the Scots on level terms for the half, the game ending 5-1 in favour of Spain.

The improved second half performance should provide a useful platform for Scotland to build on for their remaining two games.

Scotland began the second game in a much more positive fashion, despite losing an early goal to a counter attack after having lost the ball in the opposition circle. The Scots raised their game in very trying temperatures, and enjoyed long passages of possession but failed to make any real inroads. Having soaked up the pressure, Spain again punished a Scottish error with a clinical finish. As the half ended, an outstanding save from Sean Mahoney was the catalyst for the Scots own counter attack which unfortunately they were unable to finish.

The second half began with both sides tiring from the exhausting conditions, but again it was Spain who capitalised on slack passing, with two goals in quick succession.

Scotland’s best chance came when Joe Waterston threaded a pass through, which was then fired into the circle only for Cameron Golden’s deflection to narrowly miss the goal. As the visitors faded in the heat, they conceded a series of penalty corners but defiant defence from the corner team repeatedly kept the Spanish at bay until finally the hosts broke through with a well-worked set piece routine, shortly followed by the final goal from a rebound. It was a tough day at the office for the young as its, but over the two games to date they have shown that they can compete for long periods with one of the top teams in Europe.

The final game against Spain saw the young Scots deliver their best performance of the series and the visitors were unfortunate not to come away with something from the game. As early as the first minute Alan Johnston won a penalty corner after robbing the Spanish defence, but the home side did well to keep it out of the goal.

Scotland had most of the possession in the first half, and were unlucky not to take the lead after 26 minutes, when the Spanish keeper made a great triple save, blocking Aiden McQuade’s drag flick in the first instance before denying both Callum MacKenzie and Dean Baber on the rebound.

Spain still looked dangerous on the counter, with goalkeeper Douglas Gourlay making a couple of smart saves to keep the score even at half time.

The second half began in a positive fashion for Scotland, and they soon won a penalty corner from a smartly worked move, with Aidan McQuade slotting home from the set piece, before the hosts’ keeper produced a flying save to prevent the Menzieshill player adding another soon after. A quick break by the Spanish saw them win a penalty flick and, having scored that, they took the lead five minutes later, scoring at the second attempt from a disputed penalty corner. As the Scots pushed for an equaliser, Spain once again hit them on the break. Despite Gourlay making the initial save, the forward’s mis-hit rebound squirmed over the line past the recovering defenders.

Scotland continued to push forward but Spain, who finished the game with nine men after two late yellow cards for breaking down play, just managed to hold out and keep them at bay. 3-1 the final score.

Scotland’s U18s will be competing at EuroHockey Youth Championship II at the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow on 24.30 July 2016. Advance tickets are available and can be purchased here: /international-events/buy-tickets.aspx

 

EuroHockey Glasgow

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