Success gives Scottish teams a major cup boost  x2
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| Scotland |
September 4, 2003
The Herald
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MIKE STANGER
Scotland's teams won their second matches of the European Nations' Cup finals in Barcelona yesterday, restoring hopes of achieving their overall tournament ambitions.
David Ralph scored the only goal in the men's game against Italy and, earlier, Sue Gilmour and Rhona Simpson led the women's goal-feast as Scotland defeated Russia 6-2.
Gilmour hit the target twice and had two other good efforts saved, while Simpson cleaned up twice on the rebound at set-pieces.
The Scots netted after seven minutes, converted by Gilmour with a reverse stick. Four minutes later, Cheryl Valentine's strike was deflected in, before Gilmour put the Scots three up from a penalty corner.
Russia pulled one back before half-time, but Simpson's goals, bracketing a second Russian success, restored the three-goal cushion for Scotland by the middle of the second period. Then Julie Kilpatrick scored her first senior international goal three minutes from time.
It was important for Scotland's men to win, and it was Laurence Docherty's free hit in 40 minutes that produced the goal, with Ralph executing a perfect blind side run to meet the ball and deflect it in.
Today's women's match against Holland will be on a different level, Scotland seeking damage limitation after the Olympic bronze medallists defeated Azerbeijan 12-1.
Mike Leonard's men have to try to fathom the mood of the enigmatic English who, after a poor draw against Italy on Tuesday, yesterday opened up the pool by defeating Holland 3-0.
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