Hockey: Scots boost their world reputation with wins over USA

Scotland continued to make a mockery of the world rankings by defeating the USA 4-2 yesterday at Forthbank, their fourth victory in a row over a side three places above them on the international table.

The Scots had the best of starts when Gavin Byers won a penalty corner in only two minutes, at the fourth attempt at the set piece Mark Ralph's dummy push was deflected high past the American keeper by Byers for the opener. Scotland continued to press with the best chance falling to Niall Stott but this time the keeper was equal to the task. In 26 minutes a high ball from Ralph caused confusion in the American defence, Cammie Fraser nipped in to nudge the ball on to Kenny Bain to score with a low shot for the second.

The Scots appeared to have the game sewn up six minutes into the second half when a rocket drag flick from Ralph at a penalty corner flew into the roof of the net off the underside of the bar. Four minutes later a great move involving three players opened up the American defence but Stott's volley beat the keeper only to cannon off the bar to safety.

With Fraser and Stephen Dick off the pitch in the sin bin for a couple of minutes the Americans took full advantage and John Ginolfi beat Alistair McGregor with a low shot. The revival was short lived, however. A four-player switch at a set piece took out the entire USA defence leaving Gordon McIntyre to slip the ball into the empty net for Scotland's fourth.

Lack of concentration in the Scotland rearguard allowed the Americans to steal a consolation in the closing minutes through Will Holt. "While I'm happy to record another win against the Americans, I feel we could, and should, have scored more goals and won the game much more comfortably," said Eugene Connolly, Scotland's manager.

In the first encounter of the weekend on Saturday the Scots gave the Americans a real run-around with a 7-2 thrashing. Ross Stott opened in only five minutes when he slipped the ball past the keeper. The contest was effectively killed off just before the interval when Niall Stott, from a set piece, and Gordon McIntrye made it 3-0. Although the Americans pulled one back early in the second half, the slaughter continued with strikes from Alan Forsyth, set piece goals from Mark Ralph and Stephen Dick and a finale from Kenny Bain.

Two goals each from Grove's Linda Clement and Nikki Kidd was the foundation of Scotland's 5-1 thumping of Wales in the opening women's test match.

The Scots dominated from the start. After 25 minutes Kareena Marshall drove into the circle to score the first goal after some good build-up play with Kidd. Three minutes later the Scots were two up when Clement swept the ball home following a pass from Kidd, who scored the next to with Clement wrapping up the scoring.