Rabo FIH Women's Champions Trophy England v Germany
ENGLAND 1 (0) Alex Danson 50 (F)
GERMANY 0 (0) -
A solitary second half strike from Alex Danson was enough to seal all three points for England in a 1-0 win over Germany at the Rabo FIH Champions Trophy on Thursday. The 26 year old from Hampshire showed good composure to slide the ball under the advancing goalkeeper Yvonne Franks 20 minutes from time having picked up Hannah Macleod's threaded pass through the German defence.
Despite walking away with all three points, Head Coach Danny Kerry admitted afterwards, "We weren't great. We didn't play that well, particularly in the first half, although we were better in the second half."
After a poor first by half both teams' standards, England enjoyed the better of the second period with Danson finding the back of the goal after a spell of English possession. Following the goal, Franks kept out three penalty corners as England looked to extend the lead before Beth Storry thwarted late German efforts at the other end.
The result keeps alive England's hopes of a fifth place finish and sets up an important 'Ashes' clash with Australia on Friday lunchtime.
The two sides had plenty of recent history going into the match. England twice beat Germany in last year's Champions Trophy in Nottingham, winning 2-1 on each occasion, including the bronze medal encounter. And England again came out on top in the 2010 World Cup bronze medal match, winning 2-0 courtesy of goals from Alex Danson and Helen Richardson.
After China's fight back from two down resulted in a 2-2 draw with Australia earlier in the day, both England and Germany knew that a win for either side would keep alive hopes of competing in the 2012 Champions Trophy.
But it was the Germans who enjoyed the best of the opening spell. Janine Beermann struck the base of the post in the opening five minutes when she shot across Beth Storry's goal and the Reading goalkeeper made a couple of early saves to keep the score sheet blank.
Goal scoring opportunities were in short supply in an evenly contested first half and it was of little surprise when the match reached half time goalless.
As in the first half, Germany began the second half by winning a penalty corner but the deflection flew wide and England regrouped. As the half progressed, England began to take control of the match, winning the bulk of midfield possession. In the 48th minute Alex Danson gave England a glimpse of what was to come when she created the space to shoot on her reverse, hitting the chest of Germany goalkeeper Yvonne Frank. And no sooner had Danson had her attempt than Beth Storry had to kick clear Natascha Keller's effort at the other end.
Moments later, Hannah Macleod set up Danson to give England the lead. The Leicester forward slipped the ball through to the Reading star inside the circle and the 26 year old's perfect control allowed her to turn and slot the ball under the advancing goalkeeper under pressure from three defenders.
The goal sparked England into life as they won three penalty corners in quick succession, forcing Frank to make several good saves as Germany repeatedly failed to clear their lines. Despite causing problems inside the circle, England could not find the second goal.
As the match entered its final ten minutes Germany won a series of penalty corners of their own. The first, after the ball hit Macleod's foot, was deflected wide by the foot of Crista Cullen and a combination of Storry and her defence cleared the resulting second corner. Storry was called into action again in the 65th minute as she dived right to clear Keller's shot but that was the closest Germany came to equalizing and England held on for victory.
The result puts England level with Australia at the top of Pool D and still in contention for the fifth/sixth place playoff on Sunday. Germany will certainly be in the seventh/eighth place playoff after the defeat to England.
England's final Pool D fixture is against Australia at 13:30 BST on Friday. The winner of that match will compete in the fifth/sixth place playoff while a draw would favour Australia if China beat Germany.
Squad v Germany England Squad for Rabo Champions Trophy, 25 June - 3 July *caps and goals statistics 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 Anne Panter (Leicester) Midfield Helen Richardson (Reading) Midfield Chloe Rogers (Leicester) Midfield Ashleigh Ball (Slough) Midfield Alex Danson (Reading) Forward Nicola White (Slough) Forward Kerry Williams (Leicester) Forward
Substitutes Used Sally Walton (Bowdon Hightown) Defender Georgie Twigg (Clifton) Midfield Anna Bennett (Reading) Forward Rebecca Herbert (Leicester) Forward Hannah Macleod (Leicester) Forward
Did Not Play Madeleine Hinch (Leicester) Goalkeeper Sam Quek (Reading) Defender
