Hockey: Young Scots settle after nervy start

The nerves were there as the Scots youngsters went a goal down in the opening ten minutes, but they dominated the remainder of the half with several chances created and missed Louise Campbell saw her low drive blocked by the goalkeeper, Ali Howie shot narrowly past the post and Fiona Bruce’s  reverse stick strike was saved. The equaliser finally came just five minutes from the interval when Nikki Mollison’s penalty corner shot cannoned off a post before falling kindly to Giffnock’s Alex Wilson who volleyed home.

The second half was almost all Scotland pressure and in 45 minutes Hazel Hall made an opening up the right and her cross came off the goalkeeper directly to Milne Craig Western striker Fiona Bruce who scored. The Scots continued to have most of the play and the third and decisive goal came when Kerry Hall calmly converted a penalty after Stephanie McInally had been upended by the Czech goalkeeper.

“It was a very positive start with good play for 90 per cent of the time, but it was nerve-wracking that we could only finish the game 3-1 ahead,” said Dave Stott, Scotland’s coach. Meanwhile, in Santander Great Britain’s men beat India 3-1 in a tri-nations tournament, the final warm-up before the London Games. India opened brightly and took the lead in three minutes before  GB recovered and equalised midway through the half.

Ten minutes into the second half, GB took the lead when Ashley Jackson scored from the spot and the result was secured with eight minutes remaining when Harry Martin tapped in to make it 3-1.

“After a stuttering start we found our rhythm and controlled the match for long periods,” said GB manager Andy Halliday on a day when Reading defender Richard Mantell recorded his 50th appearance for Great Britain.