Two second half goals from Reading midfielder Helen Richardson helped England's women to a fourth consecutive European bronze medal as patience paid off against Spain at the EuroHockey Nations Championships in Monchengladbach.
Having gone behind against the run of play to a scrambled goal from Spanish captain Silvia Munoz, England responded superbly with Reading's Alex Danson setting up Richardson for the equaliser with just under 20 minutes remaining. Danson herself had further efforts cleared, including one off the goal line, as England piled on the pressure.
If Richardson's first had been relatively straightforward, a back post diversion, her second three minutes from time was spectacular. Again set up by Danson, the 29 year old World All Star entered the Spanish circle before unleashing a rising reverse stick shot that the Spanish goalkeeper could only help into the top corner.
Speaking afterwards, Head Coach Danny Kerry was pleased with how his side had played the waiting game. "It's very difficult to break down a team that is not interested in playing hockey," he said. "We were patient though, we stuck to our game plan and we came through it. In the grand scheme of things we might be disappointed with bronze because we came here looking to win gold but we should remember that in competitive tournaments we have only lost twice so far this year."
Captain Kate Walsh, who picks up her fifth European bronze medal, said: "We're happy to be on the podium again and win a medal. We came here to push our momentum push to get into the final. It didn't happen but now we go forward as Great Britain, getting stronger."
Meeting Spain in the bronze medal playoff for the fourth consecutive tournament, Kerry reshuffled his squad with Leicester's Kerry Williams coming back into the starting XI having sat out the semi final defeat to the Netherlands. Her clubmate Rebecca Herbert sat out. Going into the match, England's record against Spain read well; 19 wins and just four defeats in the 35 previous meetings between the two sides.
It was a quiet first half in which England controlled possession but failed to create as many opportunities as their superiority merited. But for one well placed penalty corner, England failed to really test Maria Lopez de Eguilaz in the Spanish goal. After excellent work by Reading's Helen Richardson along the left baseline England won their first penalty corner; but Kate Walsh's flick low to the left was well saved by the goalkeeper diving low to her right.
Spain won two penalty corners of their own but Reading goalkeeper Beth Storry was equal to the third minute strike and Leicester's Crista Cullen confidently cut out the second in the 21st minute.
As half time approached the skies darkened and the rain began to fall, ominously threatening a deluge like that which had delayed the England men's semi final against Germany the night before. However, when the teams returned for the second half they did so to blue skies and sunshine.
England came out looking intent on making an impact and they came close to leading when Alex Danson's bobbling sweep shot eluded the diving Lopez de Eguilaz only to come back off the post before Spain cleared to safety. Slough's Ashleigh Ball looked lively inside the Spanish circle, forcing several long corners as Spain were forced to defend their lines. And in the 43rd minute Danson came close again as she cut inside from the right before unleashing a reverse stick effort that the goalkeeper kicked to safety.
Against the run of play England fell behind in the 46th minute. Kate Walsh's heavy challenge inside the 23 metre area resulted in a penalty corner and from it Silvia Munoz, Spain's captain, scrambled home the opening goal as she pounced quickest on Beth Storry's initial save.
England's reaction was almost instantaneous. Just five minutes after going behind they were level. Reading forward Danson, one of the liveliest players on the pitch, did the hard work as she cut into the circle and shot low on her reverse across goal. The cross-come-shot was narrowly missed by Ball in the middle of the goal but Richardson met it perfectly at the back post, diving, to make it 1-1.
And Danson almost created a second soon after as England piled on the pressure. Again shooting on her reverse, Danson's effort was deflected towards goal by a Spanish defender only to be cleared off the line with Leicester's Chloe Rogers and Kerry Williams in close attendance.
With the clock ticking down it looked as if added time and penalties may be called for. But with just three minutes remaining Richardson intervened to put England onto the third step of the podium with a superb strike. Again it was Danson who created it as she bravely blocked a Spanish sideline ball high upfield. Having received the subsequent pass from Danson, Richardson twisted and turned into the circle where she shot a powerful rising reverse stick shot that Maria Lopez de Eguilaz could only help on its way as it nestled in the top corner. Spain appealed to the video umpire for an infringement in the build up but the goal stood. It was Richardson's 25th at international level, her 22nd for England adding to three she has for Great Britain.
Knowing exactly what needed done, England held onto the ball following the restart until they were awarded a penalty corner in the final seconds of the match, which Crista Cullen saw saved.
In the post match press conference Danny Kerry spoke about the bigger picture; the London 2012 Olympic Games. He said, "We are disappointed now about the Netherlands loss [England lost 2-0 to the Dutch in the semi final] but in the bigger picture we are really looking forward to London. We have athletes to come in and improve our squad [from Scotland and Wales]."
Following the morning's matches, Ireland secured their place among European hockey's elite for 2013 with a 4-1 win over Italy, who were relegated to the second tier. Belgium too will play in the 2013 Championship after their 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan, who are also relegated.
England's men will hope to win their bronze medal contest against Belgium on Saturday following semi final defeat to Germany on Friday night. The match gets underway at 12:00 BST and is live on the BBC Sport website and BBC red button (excluding Freeview).
Women's EuroHockey Nations Championships Standings Final standings Gold: Netherlands or Germany (match to be played Saturday afternoon) Silver: Netherlands or Germany (match to be played Saturday afternoon) Bronze: England Fourth: Spain Fifth: Belgium Sixth: Ireland Seventh: Azerbaijan (relegated) Eighth: Italy (relegated)
Pool C - Relegation Pool Belgium (9 pts, 3 games) Ireland (6 pts, 3 games) Azerbaijan (3 pts, 3 games) - relegated to Championship II for 2013 Italy (0 pts, 3 games) - relegated to Championship II for 2013
Pool B England (9 pts, 3 games) Germany (6 pts, 3 games) Belgium (3 pts, 3 game) Ireland (0 pts, 3 game)
England Squad v Spain* *caps & goals stats updated on the attached sheet Name (Club) [Position] Started Beth Storry (Reading) [Goalkeeper] Crista Cullen (Leicester) [Defender] Laura Unsworth (Leicester) [Defender] Kate Walsh (c) (Reading) [Defender] Sally Walton (Bowdon Hightown) [Defender/Forward] Helen Richardson (Reading) [Midfielder] Anne Panter (Leicester) [Midfielder] Alex Danson (Reading) [Forward] Hannah Macleod (Leicester) [Forward] Nicola White (Slough) [Forward] Kerry Williams (Leicester) [Forward]
