Wanderers Ladies round off Euro trophy weekend in disappointment
Posted by on 23 February 2015
22 February 2015
Wanderers’ EuroHockey Indoor Club Trophy campaign ended in disappointment after losses to both SV Arminen and Royal Antwerp in Vienna.
With a few decisions not going Wanderers way in the last few games, it was always going to be a struggle to push for that promtion that all the hard work put in by all Wanderers Ladies deserved.
Finishing fourth overall behind Rotweiss Wettigen in third place and tournament winners SV Arminen and runners-up HC Ritm Azot Grodno, who are both promoted to the Club Champions Cup next year.
However, there was still positives to be taken from the experience, with international defender Becky Ward being named Player of the Tournament.
(Wanderers' Becky Ward with her Player of the Tournament award)
It was pretty much win or bust for Wanderers against their Austrian hosts in their fifth tournament match this morning.
Sadly, the Dundonians were soon on the back foot, falling 2-0 behind inside five minutes after goals from Kristine Vukovich and Katarzuna Kraskinska.
Captain Rachel Osborne got her side back into the match at 1-2 in the 18th minute, slipping the ball past Marlies Gaider from a narrow angle after good build-up from Becky Ward and Vikki Bunce.
Yet Wanderers found themselves two goals behind again when Lucia Schmidt scored SV Arminen’s third right on the stroke of half-time.
In the 30th minute, Heather Elder reduced the deficit to a single goal, touching home Bunce’s cross at the back post, and giving her side a chance of getting back on level terms.
Indeed, Bunce had penalty corner attempts late in the second half, her first attempt well saved and the second hurtling narrowly wide of the upright.
Joanna Wieloch’s goal right on the full-time hooter decided the outcome in SV Arminen’s favour, running out 4-2 winners.
With their chances of promotion all but gone, Wanderers final match against Royal Antwerp would determine their final finishing position.
Michelle Struijk’s close range goal was all that separated the two sides at half-time, before Ward’s brilliant strike from the left of the court put Wanderers back on level terms at 1-1 in the 23rd minute.
Sofie Gierts put the Belgians back in front two minutes later, rounding Carmin Dow to finish low into the corner, before Charlotte Watson equalised again for Wanderers sixty seconds later, finish high into the right corner.
Sadly for Scotland’s indoor champions, the tournament would end in defeat; Lauranne Struijk taken advantage of a lapse in concentration to beat Dow and leave the final score 3-2 to Royal Antwerp.
Game Hightlights:
