The Ulster U18 Girls suffered a narrow 2-0 loss to Scotland in their second of three matches at UUJ this weekend.
Having held the Scots for much of the game two goals from penalty corners saw the visitors run out winners.
In the early stages of the tie, both sides proved to be an even match but it was Scotland who had the first chance of the game when they won the first penalty corner with 13 minutes on the clock.
From the set-play, it was the Ulster defence who held firm, with a Scottish drag flick being blocked by the first runner before the danger was cleared.
A couple of minutes later the visitors won another corner, but again they couldn’t find the target with a straight strike being deflected wide by an Ulster defender as the sides went into the first break goalless.
Midway through the second period it was Scotland who should have been in front.
Having won yet another corner, the ball was worked to the back post where a deflected effort somehow stayed out before goalkeeper Makyla Stevenson made a brilliant save to clear the danger.
With three minutes remaining in the period, penalty corners continued to provide the only scoring chances as Ulster own their first of the tie.
After a scramble in the penalty area, the ball fell for Camryn Wilson at the penalty spot with the Ulster defender forcing the Scottish goalkeeper into a close range save as the sides remained level at half-time.
As the third period got underway, the deadlock was finally broken.
Eight minutes in the quarter, the Scots were awarded yet another corner with an initial strike being saved by Stevenson in goal before a Scotland forward converted the rebound from close range to open the scoring.
In the fourth quarter, the visitors doubled their lead immediately after the restart, scoring a second corner via a deflection at the back post.
Just a minute later, they could have been 3-0 ahead when a Scotland forward found herself 1v1 with Lily Alderdice before the goalkeeper made a great save to prevent a third goal.
With Scotland finishing the game with 10 due to a yellow card, Ulster went withdrew goalkeeper Makyla Stevenson and went close to grabbing a late goal.
Zara Hopkins received the ball unmarked at the penalty spot before seeing her strike saved at point blank range.
The effort proved to be the final chance of the game as the visitors ran out narrow 2-0 winners.