Scots lose out narrowly to England at Bell’s

Scotland Senior Women succumbed to two narrow defeats at the hands of England today, going down 6-4 and 4-3 at Bell’s Sports Centre. It means the visitors edge ahead 2-1 in the four match series, the final game to be played at the same venue tomorrow at 12.30pm.

Game 1: Scotland (Bunce 13′, 20′, Robertson 16′, Ward 25′) 4-6 England (Watton 1′, 21′, White 2′, Owsley 9′, Ansley 30′, Unsworth 38′)

In the first match of the day, the Scots found themselves trailing by three goals inside only ten minutes after England’s Ellie Watton (1′), Nicola White (2′) and Lily Owsley (9′) all scored from open play.

Scotland Women v England Indoor

(Scotland Women defend an England penalty corner. Credit: Duncay Gray)

However, the home side composed themselves and were back in the match in the 13th minute when Vikki Bunce finished off a reverse pass from Heather Elder under pressure from England goalkeeper Kirsty MacKay.

The English shot-stopper denied both Bunce and Becky Ward shortly after, but was powerless to stop Sarah Robertson’s fierce drive finding the left hand corner of the net in the 16th minute to leave the national side behind by one at 2-3.

Bunce then levelled the scores at 3-3 on the stroke of half-time to complete a resurgent comeback.

Nevertheless, England were out of the traps quicker again following the start of the second half with Watton doubling her personal tally to make it 4-3 to the away team in the 21st minute.

Scotland mustered yet another equaliser four minutes later, however, with Ward accepting a return pass from Bunce at the penalty corner to sweep the ball past MacKay for a 4-4 scoreline.

With the next goal crucial, England were awarded a penalty corner, which debutant Siobhan Cowie did well to block but Giselle Ansley was on hand to drill the rebound past the young ‘keeper to put her side back in the lead in the 30th minute.

With two minutes remaining, Laura Unsworth put the game out of sight and level the series at 1-1 with a 6-4 win.

Game 2: Scotland (Brodie 14′, Eadie 27′, Bunce 35′) 3-4 England (Ansley 18′, Twigg 23′, Watton 28′, Bray 30′)

In the second encounter, defences were on top for much of the first half and a tactical battle played out as both sides sat deep and invited their opponents to attack.

Jen Eadie v England

(Scotland’s Jennifer Eadie claimed her first senior international goal against England. Credit: Duncan Gray)

The result was a drought of goalmouth action until the 16th minute, when Amy Brodie fired the Scots in front from a well worked penalty corner involving Ward and Morag McLellan.

However, England responded almost immediately when Ansley took advantage of a melee inside the circle to slot the ball home and level the contest at 1-1 in the 18th minute.

With the teams level at half-time, Georgie Twigg put England ahead at 2-1 in the 23rd minute following a break from inside the Scottish half.

Scotland hit back to make it 2-2 four minutes later with new cap Jennifer Eadie notching her first senior international goal from a penalty corner to give her side a well deserved equaliser.

Within thirty seconds of the re-start, Watton had put England into a 3-2 lead with a neat finish past Nicki Cochrane.

In the 30th minute, Sophie Bray provided her side with a level of comfort, scoring with an easy flick from the left hand side of the circle to make it 4-2 to England.

Bunce then came agonisingly close with two penalty corner set-pieces being cleared off the line in quick succession. Not to be outdone, the Dundee Wanderers’ star was third time lucky, finishing low and hard into the left hand corner of the goal to make it 3-4 in the 35th minute.

Indeed, the Scots had the chance to claim at draw right at the death, only for Sarah Ellis to make a fine save high to her left to deny Bunce from a penalty stroke.

The two sides meet in the final match tomorrow at Bell’s Sports Centre, with Gordon Shepherd’s side keen to hit back and level the series.

 

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