Hockey: Scotland sign off with win but it's too late to beat drop

Scotland'S Under-21 women signed off from the Euro Hockey Junior Nations Championship with a superb 3-0 win over France in Lille yesterday. Whilst this result could not save the Scots from relegation to the Euro Trophy, France did have it all to play for, with this defeat leaving them nervously awaiting the outcome of the Belarus v Lithuania game.

The Scots, missing the injured Amy Brodie, started in a positive manner forcing an early save from the French keeper. Then coach Rhona Simpson's team took a deserved lead from a corner when Louise Fleming's straight strike went in off the first runner.

As expected, the French came out strongly in the second half but did not trouble Amy Gibson who had taken over the goalkeeping duties from Isobel Rosie after the interval. Sophie McIntyre doubled Scotland's advantage with a straight strike from another short corner to leave the French even more desperate going into the final 30 minutes.

However, it was Scotland who continued to control play and Fiona Bruce fired in a shot which led to the award of a further short corner following the resultant stramash. Fleming's initial strike was saved but the second phase enabled Johnston to neatly deflect home the reverse pass.

Scotland manager Sheila Gray said: "We are proud of the effort and determination of the girls. It is so frustrating that we could not achieve the level of today's performance earlier in the week."

France subsequently survived relegation thanks to Belarus narrowly defeating Lithuania 1-0, leaving Scotland and Lithuania to make the step down to the Trophy.