Superb victory keeps slim Scots hopes alive

SCOTLA ND’S Under-18 team pulled off a dramatic and valuable victory over France in the EuroHockey Championships in Vienna to give themselves an outside chance of claiming a place in the semi-finals.

When France took the lead in the fourth minute there might have been some negative thoughts but the team responded immediately to equalise.

Ed Greaves and A edan McCrossan combined to set up the first goal for William McKenzie.

Grant Scott showed his worth in goal with a penalty corner save before Lee Morton combined with McCrossan who fired Scotland into the lead.

Both teams had a couple of penalty corners with no addition to the score before France equalised in the 24th minute, and that remained the score at half time.

Four minutes after the restart Fergus Sandison of Glenalmond and Dundee Wanderers gave the Scots the lead but again France equalised with nine minutes remaining on the clock.

Prior to the match Scotland might have been reasonably content with a draw after their 9-0 drubbing by Germany but they stuck to the task and, with two minutes remaining, A ngus Robb and Fergus Sandison combined to set Sandison clear to round the goalkeeper for what proved to be the winner.

Scotland now have the chance to claim a place in the semi-finals in their last Pool B match against Spain on Thursday but, if not, they will enter the relegation pool taking forward that victory over France.

Scotland and Spain both have three points but the Spaniards have a superior goal difference, by six. Results: Pool B — France 3 Scotland 4, Germany 5 Spain 1. Fixtures: Tomorrow: Pool A — Netherlands v Belgium, England v Austria. Thursday: Pool B — Spain v Scotland, Fr a n ce v Germany. Pool A — England v Netherlands, Belgium v Austria.