Scotland battled to a 1-1 draw with Canada in their final
Pool B game of the Hero Hockey World League Semi-Final as they fell just short
of reaching the quarter-finals.
Willie Marshall equalised in the third quarter cancelling
out Gordon Johnston’s strike making for an entertaining finish as Scotland
pushed for a winner which would have sent them into the quarter-finals.
However they couldn’t edge ahead and will now contest in the
9th and 10th place play-off on Thursday.
Early proceedings were dominated by Canada who enjoyed more possession
that the Blue Sticks but despite this the Scottish defence held firm as the
first quarter ended goalless.
Scotland were inches from taking the lead soon after the
restart, David Forsyth found space down the left before firing across goal,
however Kenny Bain couldn’t make a connection at the back post.
Just a minute before the half-time break Scotland fell
behind after conceding a penalty corner. Gordon Johnston stepped up for Canada
and his drag flick flew high into the top left corner past Thomas Alexander in
the Scotland goal.
Five minutes into the third quarter Scotland were
unfortunate not to draw level but found David Carter in fine form, three saves
in quick succession keeping Canada in the lead. However they continued to
battle hard and were remain the 43rd minute when Willie Marshall
slammed home the rebound from a penalty corner.
Scotland were buoyed by this and pressed hard to grab a
winner in the final quarter but Canada’s defence held firm against the pressure
to keep Scotland at bay and prevent them reaching the quarter-finals.