Scots edge home to secure step up

Hosts hold on to reach Glasgow final after leading Russians 4-0 late on

Scotland gained promotion from the EuroHockey Championship II in Glasgow with an ultimately narrow win over Russia in yesterday’s semi-final.

The first half looked like being goalless until the last minute when Kenny Bain fired the Scots into the lead with a high flick from a penalty corner.

That settled Scotland and they took the game to Russia from that point on.

Grove Menzieshill’s Ben Cosgrove made it 2-0 six minutes after the restart and Cammie Fraser made it 3-0 in the last minute of the third quarter.

Alan Forsyth took a penalty corner and unusually hit rather than flicked the ball. The shot rebounded high off the goalkeeper and Fraser was on hand to net from above head height but from close range.

When Scotland added a fourth 11 minutes from full time the match should effectively have been over. Great skill by Scotland captain Chris Grassick set up Forsyth who deftly netted from close range.

Russia struck back almost immediately and Scotland had a player suspended temporarily.

To further add weight to Russia’s dominance they withdrew their goalkeeper to play with 11 outfield players. That numerical dominance paid off as Russia scored two more against an extremely nervous Scotland team but the Scots held on to win 4-3 and secure a place in today’s final.

Wales also had a narrow 4-3 win, against France, the highest ranked team before this event, and will face Scotland at 4.30pm with both teams promoted to Championship I for 2019.

Portugal will be relegated along with one of Switzerland, Ukraine, who play each other today, or the Czech Republic.

Results: Relegation Pool C: Portugal 2 Switzerland 4, Ukraine 1 Czech Republic 1

Semi-finals: Wales 4 France 3, Scotland 4 Russia 3.

Picture: Getty Images. Alan Forsyth: set up Scotland’s third goal and scored the fourth.