EuroHockey Indoor Championship, Division Three: men: Scotland 4, Slovakia 5; Scotland 1, Belarus 3 (in Nicosia).
Scotland’s promotion hopes in the EuroHockey Indooor Championship, Division Three, nosedived after back-to-back defeats from Slovakia and Belarus.
Coach Stuart Neave and the squad are in third place four points behind Slovakia and six points adrift of Belarus despite hammering hosts Cyprus 13-1 and Greece 14-0 on the opening day of the event in Nicosia.
Scotland now face Slovenia and Wales on Sunday and must win both to have any chance of reaching their target.
Scotland lost 5-4 to Slovakia despite doubles from Josh Cairns (Kelburne) and Patrick Christie (Inverleith).
Zdenko Kovacevic netted the game-winner in the dying minutes and Scotland’s second game of the day was a tough game against Belarus.
Gordon Amour levelled near half-time at 1-1 but Ivan Lutsevich netted from a penalty corner with three minutes remaining Uladzislau Belavusau (cor) struck late-on to secure the points.,
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