Scotland match Austrians all the way but stutter from the spot

SCOTLAND were dealt a very harsh lesson in the fine margins between success and failure in international hockey as they lost out on promotion in the semi-finals of the European Nations Championships 11 – going down 3-1 to Austria in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

The teams finished 1-1 in normal time, and in the shoot-out Scotland had put themselves under enormous pressure as both Gordon McIntyre and Kenny Bain put initial efforts wide of the target. Added hope emerged when captain Chris Grassick scored, then goalkeeper Jamie Cachia made a great block to deny the Austrians. But it was not to be Scotland’s day when teenager Hamish Imrie also missed the target.

Scotland had been the brighter of the two sides but luck never shone on them in the first half. Defender Dan Coultas had to leave the field following an ankle injury after only two minutes then the Scots had the ball in the net. Imrie’s lifted cross eluded the entire Austrian defence and Wei Adams batted the ball into the unguarded net, only for the umpire to mysteriously disallow the strike after consultation with his assistant.

Derek Forsyth’s charges were the more adventurous side in the opening exchanges and could easily have taken the lead. In a succession of chances, Grassick fired straight at the goalkeeper, Adams’ penalty-corner effort was blocked by a defender, Imrie had a couple of half-chances and a solo run by Alan Forsyth ended with a snap-shot that sailed over the bar.

The Austrians then came more into the contest, with Cachia making a couple of crucial saves while Scotland conceded two penalty corners which fortunately came to nothing, but the first half finished goalless. Within two minutes of the restart Austria took the lead at a penalty corner – the initial shot was blocked but Alexander Bele forced the ball home.

The Austrians seemed content to sit back on their slender lead allowing the Scots to take control of proceedings. But Forsyth’s men did not help their cause by wasting a couple of penalty corner opportunities.

But midway through the half Scotland deservedly levelled the game at another penalty corner, this time Bain sent in a fierce drag flick which left the Austrian goalkeeper rooted to the spot. The Scots pressed for the winner and were awarded two late set-pieces, but this time the goalkeeper blocked Bain’s goalbound efforts.

“I’m very proud of the boys, they put in a great effort over the whole, but we didn’t get the rub of the green and our promotion dream vanished,” said head coach Forsyth.