Scotland women lost 4-3 to England in the second of two test matches at Bisham, following a 4-4 draw in the opening fixture. The matches are part of preparation for the EuroHockey Championships next month in Monchengladbach, Germany.
It was a slow start by Scotland and the home side capitalised by surging into a solid lead. At the end of the first quarter it was 2-0, before the English added a third to make it 3-0 at half time.
The Scots reset at half time and came out firing in the third quarter. Charlotte Watson pulled one back after good pressing on the left side saw Sarah Jamieson break into the circle, and pick out Watson at the far post to finish. 3-1.
A lapse in concentration allowed England to win a corner, which they converted to go 4-1 ahead.
Scotland kept coming, and Jika Nyirenda pulled it back to 4-2 when she scored after a lovely turn to strike at goal. Watson came close to finding the net for her second, after a pass from the right side found her arriving at the far post – no luck.
Amy Costello smashed home a penalty corner to make it 4-3, and the Scots finished the game on the front foot, but the equaliser remained elusive and England held on for the victory.
Head Coach Chris Duncan said, “It was a great show of resilience to come back, and win the second half, but our start gave ourselves a mountain to climb. There is a lesson for us to learn about preparing for top teams in a 24 hour window, but we still managed to score three goals away to a great side.
“We’ve scored seven goals in two games away to England, and this is a good statement about what we’re becoming. We’ll keep improving, and keep building towards the Euros – we’re a very promising work in progress.”
