U21 Women show promise at Lillieshall

Scotland U21 Women went down 2-0 in a three game series
of games played at Lillieshall against a strong powerful England
team. Coach Dave Stott’s preparations  for the EuroHockey
Junior Nations Championship which take place in Anapa, Russia next
summer began with this trip.

Goals from Milne Craig Western pair of Ali Howie and Fiona Bruce
were not enough to stop Scotland losing  4-2 in the first game
and a strike from Kike Lawal (Surbiton) was to prove to be no more
than a consolation in a 5-1 defeat in the second.

Injuries to Heather Elder (Dundee Wanderers) and Robyn Collins
(Loughborough) had somewhat disrupted plans as Stott seeks to try
out different formations and tactics at this early stage of
European preparations.

Encouragingly for the coaching staff  the young Scots
managed to create chances throughout the series without being able
to find the necessary end product on a consistent basis. 
Stott commented “England’s speed of play troubled us at times but
we will learn from this experience. Also English penalty corner
efficiency is something  we need to look to match.”

The final game proved  that some of the lessons being
learned were beginning to show with a hard fought scoreless draw.
The Scots continued to try different formations and rotate players
and Stott was pleased with the solid defensive showing of his young
team.

Stott overall expressed satisfaction with the squad performance
levels over the piece despite the early results. There were, in
particular, promising displays from Howie, Bruce and Lawal along
with Western defender Nicola Lowery,  Kerry Hall  and
keeper Nicki Cochrane both from Grove.

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