ENGLAND | 2 | (0) | - | 1 | (0) | USA |
Cathy Gilliat-Smith 40 (F) |
|
|
|
|
| Dana Sensenig 38 (PC) |
Rachel Walker 43 (F) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
England finished the Ata Holdings Champions Challenge Tournament in Azerbaijan on a high with a 2-1 victory over USA which earned the side the bronze medal place in the final tournament standings.
England had drawn with the USA in the pool matches and knew that the rejuvenated US side would provide stern opposition in the battle for third place.
England took the game to the US and after dominating the first half should have gone into the break ahead. However they failed to convert any of the seven corners earned or the well created open play chances. They also found the US keeper Amy Tran, who has played for Canterbury in the Slazenger England Hockey League, in inspired form.
The US took the lead against the run of play in the third minute of the second half when Dana Sensenig was first to react after England keeper Katy Roberts had saved the initial shot. However England struck back almost immediately when a great Chloe Rogers’ cross from the right was converted by Cathy Gilliat-Smith’s diving reverse stick deflection. Within three minutes England were in front when Rachel Walker had the easiest of opportunities easing the ball over the line after another Gilliat-Smith effort had been half saved by Tran.
After this England had to play almost twenty minutes with a player down as first Walker in the 47th minute and then Scott in the 56th minute were yellow carded. However they did not allow the USA a chance on goal, closing them down more effectively than in their first meeting, to end up winners more comfortably than the final score line suggests.
Commenting on the match and the tournament as a whole Head Coach Danny Kerry said
“Our first half performance today was good however we lacked the detail in the circle and in our corner execution whish left the US sill in the game at half time.
We defended well during the spell of play when we were a player down and an additional bonus was that we coped better with the heat today.
This tournament has given a wide group a great deal of valuable experience which will stand us in good stead for the challenges ahead”
Final Table
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
China | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 4 | 13 | 12 |
Korea | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 12 |
USA | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 10 |
England | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 7 |
New Zealand | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 13 | -10 | 3 |
Azerbaijan | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 0 |
ATA HOLDING WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE
England Team Selection
Y = Player started match,
SUB = Player was involved in the match but did not start
DNP = Player Did Not Play
No | Name | Club | Age | vs New Zealand | vs Korea | vs USA | vs Azerbaijan | vs China | vs (USA) 3v4 |
1 | Katy Roberts (GK) | Chelmsford | 29 | DNP | Y | DNP | Y | DNP | Y |
3 | Lisa Wooding | Chelmsford | 27 | Y | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
5 | Crista Cullen | Leicester | 21 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
6 | Mel Clewlow | Canterbury | 31 | Y | SUB | Y | Y | SUB | Y |
8 | Helen Richardson | Leicester | 25 | SUB | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
9 | Jo Ellis | Ipswich | 25 | Y | Y | SUB | Y | Y | Y |
11 | Kate Walsh | Slough | 27 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
12 | Chloe Rogers | Chelmsford | 22 | Y | Y | Y | Y | SUB | SUB |
14 | Rachel Walker | Olton & WW | 28 | Y | SUB | Y | 2007-06-18
01. January
01. January
Ball sports's newsEngland Women squads named for white-ball tour to New ZealandHome Favourite Olivia Weaver Wins First Title Of Season With Dominant Victory Over Tinne GilisWorld No.1s El Sherbini Captures J.P. Morgan Tournament Of Champions TitleSTANLEY WOMEN SECURE CUP FINAL TREBLEQUALIFICATION FOR THE EUROPEAN TEAM GETS UNDERWAY IN PORTUGAL |