World League 2: Pool B: Scotland 2, Poland 1 (in Belfast)
Alan Forsyth claimed a glory double as Scotland edged Poland 2-1 in their final pool match of men’s World League 2 in Belfast.
They now wait to see who will be their quarter-final opponents on Thursday but coach Derek Forsyth, Alan’s father, said they will have to improve.
Scotland lost 3-1 to France and 3-2 to Wales after a shootout earlier in the tournament and coach Forsyth added: “We’ll need to raise our standards to where they were in our previous games if we want to progress in the tournament.
“In the end, we won the match without playing as well as we know we can but we’ll look to improve on this performance.”
Forsyth’s first came after two minutes. The ball was won on the left, switched to the right and played into the circle by Grange star Duncan Riddell who found Surbiton player Forsyth who beat the goalkeeper.
A good save by goalkeeper David Forrester kept the Poles at bay and the Edinburgh University stopper was called into action early in the second quarter when he made a good save for from a close range reverse strike by Patryk Bulka.
It was early in the second-half when Poland levelled after a mix-up in Scottish defence. Dominic Kotulski made the final touch.
The Poles then took control but failed to capitalise and Forsyth, a former Scotland Player of the Year and the top marksman in English hockey last season, made them pay.
He took the ball from the half way line, beat a succession of Polish defenders and sunk his shot in the back of the net.
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