Scots shocked by Lithuania

EUROPEAN JUNIOR NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIPS 11 – ALEKSIN
(RUSSIA)  –  15-21 JULY 2012

SCOTLAND  1  LITHUANIA 2

Scotland women`s under 21 side may have scuppered their
chances of promotion after losing 2-1 to Lithuania yesterday in the
penultimate pool match at the European Nations Championships 11 in
Aleksin, Russia. 

Now the scenario is simple for coach Dave Stott, the Scots
youngsters must go out and beat favourites Russia on their own
patch to secure promotion to Europe`s top eight in two years
time.

It all started very promising for the Scots, a move involving
Louise Campbell and Stephanie McInally set up Ali Howie but here
effort was cleared off the line by the Lithuanian goalkeeper, the
heroine of the contest.  But Stott`s charges did take the lead
in 14 minutes, a long ball from Bethan Mann found Nicola Skrastin,
she passed it on to Kerry Hall who drove into the circle and
returned the ball to Skrastin who promptly swept the ball under the
keeper.

However, poor defending and the inability to clear the danger
resulted in the loss of a penalty corner and the Lituanian striker
slotted the ball past Nicki Cochrane for the equaliser.

The second half opened brightly for the Scots, but the
Lithuanian goalkeeper was on hand to clear the danger from both
Campbell, a solo run and shot by Edinburgh University`s Sarah
Robertson, and two penalty corner strikes by Howie.   The
Scots youngsters then fell out of the contest, Cochrane in the
Scottish goal had to make two fine saves, but in 59 minutes the
Eastern Europeans took a 2-1 lead through another set piece.

The Scots then threw everything at the Lithuanians, Howie`s
penalty corner shot was deflected over the bar, a Robertson shot at
the post was saved on the line by a defender, and at a last-gasp
penalty corner a Kerry Hall strike was again crucially stopped by a
defender.

“We let ourselves down with some poor basics, perhaps the result
of tiredness in our fourth game, but there is no doubt that we were
unlucky that the Lithuanian goalkeeper and defenders were on such
good form on their own goal-line,” said Dave Stott, Scotland`s
coach.

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