Scotland and Ireland draw first November Test
Scotland’s women are a third of the way through a three match Test series against Ireland’s women at the National Hockey Centre in Glasgow, coming from behind to draw level just before the break.
Right from the off, Ireland were all over the Scots and a goal after two minutes from Deirdre Duke put the visitors ahead. The ball was cleared from the outstretched Nicola Cochrane in Scotland’s goal out to Cliodhna Sargent who fired the ball back into the ‘D’ to Duke who slammed her shot across the goal and into the net past Cochrane to open the scoring. 1-0 Ireland.
Less than a minute later, Ireland were back, but this time Cochrane pulled off a save with her left glove and the defence could breathe again.
Scotland then won their first penalty corner of the match, but it wasn’t to be a day for corners and Ireland easily mopped up and battled clear, exerting pressure on the Scots’ defence right away.
Ireland won the first of their six penalty corners in the 16th minute, but, once again, Cochrane saved – this time with her right foot – from a well executed play.
The home side were now beginning to get into the game and sending a lot of ball down the right, but neither side could make much of their possession until the 28th minute when the visitors won another penalty corner. This time the strike on goal went in a waist level, but again, Cochrane was up to the task and a well positioned glove prevented a goal.
With three minutes left on the clock, Scotland found themselves in a good position down the left and a ball across the face of the goal was deflected past the ball-watching Stella Davis in the Irish goal by Rebecca Merchant to draw the sides level at 1-1 and take the match into the break.
The second half was a much more even affair with Ireland winning their other four penalty corners, but none were converted – Cochrane playing her part again for a couple. They were left to rue the missed chances as they didn’t look likely to score from open play, Scotland’s defence keeping the Irish outside the goal area most of the time.
Scotland, on the other hand looked far more dangerous in front of goal and Merchant was unlucky on a couple of occasions not to add to her tally. Like Cochrane, Davis was called upon to perform a couple of tremendous saves, the pick being a diving save to her left to prevent Merchant netting a second.
With two more matches to play in the series – Tuesday (12:00) and Wednesday (11:00) – it looks like a fine mini-series off matches and, with both sides fielding new caps, a good opportunity to blood new talent.
Images from the match will appear here sometime later this week.
