Scots youngsters two minutes away from promotion

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

SCOTLAND  1  RUSSIA  1

A cruel equalising goal two minutes from the end by
Russia forced a 1-1 draw and finally scuppered Scotland under 21`s
chances of promotion in the last  match of the European
Nations Championships 11 in Aleksin.  

The pressure was on the Scots youngsters when the Czech Republic
moved two points ahead after defeating Austria 1-0 in an earlier
contest, the Scots now required to beat the host side to move into
that crucial second spot.   

In other circumstances the draw with the team that had won every
game, and to that point had not even conceded a goal, would have
been more than acceptable, but not enough after the Scots had
unexpectedly lost to Lithuania 2-1 the previous day.

The Scots dominated the first half against the Russians,
Stephanie McInally sent her shot just wide after good build-up work
from Ali Howie, a diving Sarah Robertson had her effort saved by
the keeper, then Lucy Lanigan`s reverse stick deflection from a
Nikki Mollison cross just missed the target, yet there were no
goals at the interval.

The Scots continued to press after the break, Hazel Hall missed
a cross just in front of the keeper, then a Fiona Bruce shot at a
penalty corner was blocked by the keeper.   At the other
end Nicki Cochrane had to look lively to block a penalty corner
shot in the Russian first serious effort at goal in the game. 
The Scots youngsters finally broke the deadlock in 57 minutes, a
long ball out of defence by Kerry Hall found Nicola Skrastin, she
rounded the keeper but her flick was illegally saved on the line by
the head of a defender.   Hall calmly came up and slotted
a low shot home from the spot for the opener. 

The Scots tried to retain possession and play out time, but were
caught out by a 75 yard pass to a lone Russian striker who fired a
venomous shot past Nicki Cochrane in the Scotland goal to stifle
any hopes of promotion.

“We dictated play from start to finish and had numerous chances
to score, including five penalty corners.   Player for
player we were much better and were very composed in defence until
the crucial last two minutes.   At the end of the day, it
was our draw with Ukraine and defeat by Lithuania that cost us the
promotion,” said Dave Stott, Scotland`s coach.

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