LONDON - Unibet EuroHockey Championships women
10 SCO v ITA (Pool B)
Foto: Martina  Chirico (Gk) stops and shot from Kareena Marshall 
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Scotland find next level to record first win

Scotland vs Italy (0-0) (3-1)

Scotland secured third place in pool B at the Unibet EuroHockey Championships with a 3-1 victory over Italy. The game was played in torrential rain at the Lee Valley Hockey centre, the play predictably scrappy. Both teams were searching for their first points of the tournament, and Italy for their first goal.
The first half saw both teams trade blows although in truth both sides’ attacks were ineffectual. After the break, Scotland took a firmer hold on the game, with three goals from penalty corners.

Italy controlled early possession, Giuliani Ruggieri forcing her way into the circle and forcing a save from Scottish ‘keeper Amy Gibson.
Scotland’s best chance of the quarter came as Alison Howie and Nicola Skrastin combined in a Scottish counter attack, but Skrastin was unable to make her advanced position count.
With two minutes to play in the quarter, Italy were awarded a succession of penalty corners, but drag flicks from Maria Socino and Chiara Tiddi were unsuccessful.
Scotland had an opportunity to put pressure on the Italian defence at the start of the second quarter, as Stefano Pagliara’s team were reduced to 10 players following a yellow card for Maria Garraffo.
The advantage of an extra player showed, as Scotland were able to win a penalty corner. Emily Maguire’s reverse stick shot was scrambled off the line by Tiddi, however.
The Tartan Hearts enjoyed far more time in the Italian half than they had in the first quarter, but were unable to carve out any meaningful chances, the half finishing goalless.
Within a minute of the restart Scotland took the lead, skipper Leigh Fawcett (31’) poking home after a penalty corner routine.
Scotland looked a team transformed in the second half, playing with significantly higher intensity. The pressure paid off, Rebecca Merchant stabbing home after Scotland’s sixth short corner in five minutes to double the Scottish lead (36’).
Italy responded rapidly, Tiddi (’37) scoring their first goal of the tournament with a low strike that crept below the Scottish blockers at a penalty corner.
Scotland restored their two goal advantage through a Marshall (’39) deflection after Aileen Davis rifled in a low drag flick.
Scotland retained their attacking threat in the fourth quarter, a clever run down the left from Merchant, on her 100th cap, causing problems in the Italian circle.
Italy’s chances of getting back into the match in the fourth quarter were aided by Skrastin’s yellow card for a stick tackle with seven minutes left to play but, despite being a player down  Scotland still held onto possession comfortably.
With three minutes to play, Sarah Robertson should have added a fourth Scottish goal when she was found in space in the circle. Her reverse stick flick was skewed wide.
Italy brought on a kicking back with a minute to play but the attempt came to no avail, the Tartan Hearts seeing the match out with no additional goals scored in the fourth quarter.