The women’s indoor series boiled down to a shootout after both teams took wins in the opening 2 games and the final game finished in a draw this week. After recently being promoted into a higher tier for the Euro Championships coming up in late January, Ireland will be feeling optimistic about the chances, particularly when several last minute changes to the squad meant a number of players received their first caps for the Senior Indoor Squad.
On Wednesday’s opening game, Ireland’s substitute tactics seemed to give them the edge over Scotland as open play goals from Sarah Patton and 16 year old Mikayla Power had Ireland leading 2-0 at half time. Scotland managed to pull their way back into the game and narrowly take a 3-2 win after some unstoppable drag flicks from Emily Dark and an open play goal in the second half.
Match 1: Ireland 2 (S Patton, M Power) Scotland 3 (E Dark 2, M Justice)
Ireland: E Buckley, S Patton, L Lloyd, O Patton, M Power, L Graham. Subs: C Brown, O Fox, R McMullen, A Benson, K Kimber, B Maye
Scotland: C Dow, R Blaikie, E Wilson, F Semple, M Justice, E Dark. Subs: M Steiger, C Watson, C Hay, S Hinds, K Stott, J Buchanan
Match 1 Gallery
In the second fixture, Ireland slowly grew into the game and recovered from the last minute loss the night before. The game was fairly even during the first half, with both side’s penalty corner specialists doing what was needed to keep their team in contention. Ireland started to edge ahead with a 5-3 lead in the second half, with Irish player Chloe Brown looking like she couldn’t miss the target in set pieces or open play, however it was an incredible stroke save from the Irish keeper Emma Buckley that spurred Ireland on to a dominating 8-3 victory in the second match up.
Match 2: Ireland 8 (C Brown 5, L Lloyd 3) Scotland 3 (M Steiger, E Dark, M Justice)
Ireland: E Buckley, S Patton, S Barnwell, O Fox, O Patton, A Benson. Subs: K Kimber, C Brown, L Lloyd, M Power, L Graham, B Maye
Scotland: J Buchanan, M Steiger, C Watson, M Justice, K Stott, E Dark. Subs: R Blaikie, C Hay, E Wilson, S Hinds, F Semple, L Camlin
MATCH 2 Gallery
With both teams having a win under their belts, it all boiled down to the final game on Wednesday afternoon. Ards forward Amy Benson opened the scoring for Ireland when she calmly flicked the ball over the keeper from the bottom corner on her reverse, but Scotland equalised shorty after the centre pass from a goal mouth scramble. Chloe Brown gave Ireland the lead again as she continued her drag flicking form from the game earlier in the day. Amy Benson extended this lead to 3-1 in the second quarter, but Scotland managed to get a goal back with a quick counter attack. Thankfully for Ireland, Benson was on hand again to give Ireland a 4-2 lead in the third quarter.
Scotland then began to show some of the form they had from the opening game and Emily Dark levelled the game with 2 well executed penalty corners. Scotland and Great Britain International Charlotte Watson then gave her side the lead with an unexpected penalty corner routine and it was Irish captain Orla Fox‘s turn to equalise with a drag flick into the backboard. Both teams had chances to steal the win, but were denied by brave penalty corner defending and the game finished 5-5 and headed into a shootout.
After some confusion, Scotland’s Charlotte Watson and Ireland’s Chloe Brown both scored their first runs, but the Scottish goalkeeper and captain Carmin Dow pulled off some incredible saves, while her teammates all converted their own chances to give Scotland the win!
Match 3: Ireland 5 (A Benson 3, O Fox, C Brown) Scotland 5 (E Dark 2, S Hinds, C Watson, R Blaikie), Scotland win shoot-out 3-1
Ireland: E Buckley, S Patton, S Barnwell, C Brown, A Benson, L Graham. Subs: O Fox, O Patton, R McMullen L Lloyd, M Power, B Maye
Scotland: L Camlin, M Steiger, R Blaikie, M Justice, E Wilson, E Dark. Subs: C Watson, C Hay, S Hinds, F Semple, K Stott, C Dow
