Scotland Women’s team continued their preparation for the up and coming UEFA Qualifiers against Denmark, Portugal and Ukraine with a 1-0 victory over Belgium in the Bergestadion in Tienen tonight.

The Scots started well with several goal threatening opportunities being created in the first five minutes of play. Coach Anna Signeul was delighted at the way her team started the game, and commented ‘We created many chances in the opening minutes of the game, which we really need to capitalise on.’

Signeul thought her team coped well with the problems Belgium created in the first half, and a combination of good team work and defending saw the teams level at half time.

With good work from Scotland in all areas of the pitch, the team kept a really compact shape, not allowing the Belgians any room to operate in during the second half.

After creating so many chances, and with continued pressure on the Belgian goal, a cross from Jennifer Beattie was deflected into her own net by Belgian Captain Annelies Timmermans in the 84th minute, which proved to be the definitive strike for the Scots.

With thoughts now turning to the next Qualification match, the hope of all in the Scotland camp is that Captain Julie Fleeting, who was left at home in Scotland with a foot injury, will be fit to travel to Denmark with the squad in just under three weeks time.

Reflecting on the game Anna Signeul said ‘I am really happy to have won this game, any victory at this level is a good one, and I feel we deserved to win the game as we created the better chances. We will now look to the game against Denmark on the 27th April, we have another away game against Portugal on the 3rd May before playing Ukraine at McDiarmid Park in Perth, that match will be a critical one in our campaign and it would be great to get a good crowd to support the team.’

Scotland: Gemma Fay, Rhonda Jones (Ferguson 70), Stacey Cook (Grant 70), Ifeoma Dieke, Shelley Kerr (Capt), Jo Love, Mandy Burns (Ross 65), Kim Little (Cunningham90), Megan Sneddon, Pauline Hamill (McDonald 87), Leanne Ross (Beattie 74)
Substitutes: Joanna Hutchison, Suzanne Grant, Hayley Cunningham, Julie Ferguson, Amy McDonald, Jennifer Beattie, Natalie Ross

ANNA SIGNEUL NAMES SQUAD TO FACE BELGIUM

Scotland Women’s coach, Anna Signeul, has named her squad who will travel to Belgium for their last preparation match on Wednesday 9 April 2008, before her squad reconvenes their gruelling UEFA Qualification Campaign with matches away to both Denmark and Portugal, prior to their crucial home match against Ukraine in May at McDiarmid Park, Perth.

Signeul faces the daunting task of having to travel without her influential Captain Julie Fleeting who is currently struggling with a foot injury sustained at the Cyprus Cup last month.

Goalkeepers
Gemma Fay (Hibernian LFC)
Joanna Hutcheson (Edinburgh LFC)

Defenders
Julie Ferguson (Hibernian LFC)
Ifeoma Dieke (QBIK Sweden)
Rhonda Jones (Florida Atlantic University)
Michelle Kerr (Hibernian LFC)
Amy McDonald (Queens Park LFC)
Leanne Ross (Glasgow City LFC)

Midfield
Jennifer Beattie (Celtic LFC)
Amanda Burns (Hibernian LFC)
Stacey Cook (Hibernian LFC)
Joanne Love (Celtic FC)
Megan Sneddon (Glasgow City LFC)
Natalie Ross (Hibernian LFC)
Hollie Thomson (Hamilton Academicals)

Forwards
Julie Fleeting (Arsenal LFC)
Suzanne Grant (Hibernian LFC)
Pauline Hamill Blackburn LFC)
Kim Little (Arsenal LFC)

Scotland’s forthcoming fixtures are:
Belgium v Scotland International Challenge match 9 April 2008, Bergestadion, Tienen.
Denmark v Scotland UEFA Qualifier 27 April 2008, Viborg Stadion, Viborg.
Portugal v Scotland UEFA Qualifier 3 May 2008, Municipal Stadium of Povoa do Varzim
Scotland v Ukraine UEFA Qualifier 28 May 2008, McDiarmid Park, Perth