The bubble finally burst for Bonagrass Grove in the final game of the European Club Trophy in Wettingen (Switzerland) on Sunday. Although they won the silver medal and had already achieved promotion, they went down 5-1 to the Vilnius from Lithuania and lost their 100% record.
In the first four matches, the Taysiders had recorded victories over Lorenzoni (Italy) by 5-3, Parc of Belgium (3-2), Slavia Prague (3-2) and Cambrai (France), also by 3-2. That was enough to book their passage to next year’s elite Championship competition.
So, despite the disappointment of the final result, it was very much mission accomplished for Tayside coach Audrey Sime after an unbeaten run of four matches earlier in the competition. But the consolation for Sime is that, as newly-crowned Scottish indoor champions, Grove will be competing in Europe`s top flight this time next year.
The Dundonians were blown away by a five-goal blitz from the Lithuanians in the first half, when the Scots were unable to cope with breakaways at pace by the Eastern Europeans.
Although shell-shocked, Grove came out for the second half with a positive approach and Linsey Glass finally provided a consolation for the Taysiders. Nicky Kidd, who had scored in every game so far, drove up the right, rounded the goalkeeper and her drop pass was slotted home by Glass. But there was consolation for the Grove midfielder as she was awarded the accolade of player of the tournament.
Sime said:"It was disappointing to lose the final game, but if you`d asked me before the tournament to settle for promotion and the silver medal, I would have accepted that willingly. Against the Lithuanians we played much better in the second half, but it was too little too late by then."
