Ireland 2 Scotland 3
Emily Dark’s double saw Ireland succumb to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Scotland at the Antrim Forum in the first of their three game international indoor series.
Ireland were in control at half-time, leading 2-0 after Sarah Patton and Mikayla Power goals but Dark’s pair either side of a Margery Justice finish saw the Scots win out.
Patton got the hosts off to a dream start when she burst down the right wing and flicked in by Carmin Dow. From there, Scotland enjoyed more of the ball as Ireland played in a low dice and were reliant on some excellent goalkeeping from Emma Buckley, racing off her line well to shut down chances.
The one time she was beaten, Chloe Brown was wheeling across the goal line to clean up the pieces.
On the ball, Lily Lloyd was a key figure with her dancing skills and Ireland went 2-0 up when the 16-year-old Power reacted fastest to a loose ball and flicked in from mid-circle.
Patton seemed destined to make it 3-0 only for Scotland’s substitute goalkeeper Jessica Buchanan producing a remarkable diving save early in the third quarter. Dark’s pin-point penalty corner, though, cut the gap in the 27th minute to put the contest back in the mix.
Both sides hit the post soon after before Justice levelled the contest in the 36th minute and Dark popped up with the winner in the closing seconds with an emphatic corner flick into the roof of the net.
Captain Orla Fox reflected on the tie, saying: “We have a lot of new caps today which has shown the growth of the game and it is so nice to play a home game but it is disappointing, losing it in the last quarter. These games are so useful for us ahead of the Europeans in January and we have a good chance to suss out what our opposition will be like.”
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.
