Draw not enough as tough Canadian defence denies Scots last-eight spot
● Forsyth’s side miss World Cup chance ● Women start bid against No 1 Holland
In any other circumstances Scotland’s courageous 1-1 draw with Canada, a side 12 places above them in the world rankings, would have been seen as a good result
Unfortunately, the Scots needed a win in London yesterday to progress to the last eight of the World League sime-finals.
The result meant that Derek Forsyth’s men finished bottom of their pool, two points behind Pakistan, and will have to be content with the 9th/10th play-off tomorrow, probably against Korea. Any hope of qualifying for the World Cup finals has gone.
The Canadians controlled the opening quarter and perhaps should have gone ahead.
Alan Forsyth was forced to clear off the line from a penalty corner before Canada’s Richard Hildreth missed a giltedged chance.
The Scots began to creep into the game in the second quarter but Kenny Bain was unable to convert a David Forsyth shot across goal before Gordon Mcintyre sent an effort wide of the target.
Just before the interval, Canada opened the scoring with a penalty conversion by Gordon Johnston.
In the second half, the Canadians seemed content to sit back on their slender lead, but were put under pressure with the Scots posing a twin threat through Bain and Forsyth.
Just before the end of the third quarter, the Scots got back on level terms at a penalty corner. The ball fell to Willie Marshall and the Surbiton player drilled it through the Canadian goalkeeper. The Scots pushed for a winner in the final quarter but were frustrated by the resolute and wellorganised Canadian defence.
Scotland’s women face a tough start to their World League semi-finals campaign in Brussels today when they take on the world No 1 side Netherlands in their opening pool match.at the today.
Coach Gordon Shepherd, whose side have an average age of only 24, said: “The game against Holland will be a great experience for the players. They are the best team in the world.
“Although we are clearly not targeting this game to achieve our tournament goals, we will still enjoy the experience.”
It won’t get any easier for the Scots as their second game is against China, ranked eighth in the world, and their third is against ninth-ranked Korea.
Shepherd will be targeting his side’s final game against Italy for a win, with the world No 16 Italians only one place ahead of the Scots in the rankings. His side only need to finish fourth in the pool to qualify for the quarter-finals, with the further carrot of a place in the World Cup finals for the first time since 2002.
Shepherd said: “The mood in the squad is very positive.
“They are very focussed on what we need to do in the tournament to qualify for the World Cup.”