GB Women beat USA Women

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Men's Match Details:
Great Britain 2 (1)
Liam Ansell (24’ PC); Rupert Shipperley (59' FG)

Spain 2 (2)
Alvaro Iglesias (6’ FG); Jose Basterra (9' FG)

Spain win shootout 3-1 to earn extra point

Spain found their range in front of goal very early on, Alvaro Iglesias pouncing at the back post in the sixth minute after a quickly-taken free hit. And just three minutes later Jose Basterra scored with a superb backhand finish; getting in down the left-hand side, evading a challenge before scoring into the corner with aplomb.

The visitors certainly came to London on the front foot and with a passionate game plan, and Great Britain had to work hard to get back into the game; Liam Ansell slamming home expertly from a penalty corner with six minutes of the first half remaining. Sam Ward was then denied by a good save from Quico Cortes as he too tried his luck from a penalty corner before the interval.

After the break Chris Griffiths had a sight of goal from a loose pass by Josep Romeu, but he was unable to test Cortes in the Spanish goal. Britain were striving in front of a handful of invited friends and family in the stands, and a super run from Zach Wallace gave the hosts a chance inside the D but Cortes was on hand. Right before the end of the quarter Adam Dixon and Griffiths combined well to release Ansell, but he was off target with a tough backhand chance.

Into the final quarter and Spain continued to carry a threat, Liam Sanford having to defend brilliantly at a penalty corner to keep the visitors at bay. Spain were certainly not resting on their laurels and both sides were pressing for another goal.

Inside the final three minutes Rupert Shipperley just couldn't get to a low Henry Weir cross, but he was not to be denied in the last 30 seconds. Ames and Weir worked the ball nicely, and the latter's fired cross was brilliantly turned home by Welshman Shipperley from close range.

So it was a point apiece from the 60 minutes, but it was Spain who took the extra point from the resulting shootout. With honours even after the first two efforts, a super save from Cortes to deny Alan Forsyth's penalty stroke proved pivotal. With Forsyth and then Zach Wallace unable to convert their efforts, it was the Spaniards who took the bonus point 3-1.

Shipperley reaction:
Scorer of the late equaliser Rupert Shipperley commented, “It was a bit of a relief to get the draw in the end. I feel like we dominated, especially the first half, maybe we were a bit unlucky to go 2-0 down but we did well to get back into it and get the draw. It’s good that we didn’t hit any panic buttons, just stuck to the process and knew that the chances would come. Fortunately the last one went in. It’s an honour to walk out here and it’s amazing that we can have some family and friends here today too, it makes such a difference and personally it’s always nice to get a goal too."

Starting XI: Payne (GK), Dixon (C), Sanford, Weir, Ames, Draper, Shipperley, Gall, Wallace, Griffiths, Forsyth

Subs (Used): Waller, Sorsby, Ward, Creed, Goodfield, Ansell

Sub (Unused): Pinner

Shootout:
Ansell (GB) scored; 1-0
Miralles (ESP) scored; 1-1
Dixon (GB) fouled, Forsyth's penalty stroke saved; 1-1
Alegre (ESP) scored; 1-2
Forsyth (GB) attacking foul; 1-2
Lleonart (ESP) scored; 1-3
Wallace (GB) missed; 1-3

Women's Match Details:
Great Britain 5 (2)
Izzy Petter (14’ FG, 29' PC); Sarah Robertson (37' FG); Anna Toman (41' PC), Ellie Rayer (49' FG)

USA 1 (0)
Kelsey Briddell (57' PC)

Britain looked to make their mark early on in the game, winning a penalty corner inside the first few seconds. The home side continued to press but it took until the dying embers of the first corner for the deadlock to be broken as Lily Owsley pinched possession and supplied Izzy Petter for a very tidy finish.

Britain were on top against an inexperienced USA side, and a great run from Ellie Rayer on 25 minutes almost saw her double the advantage. USA forays into the D were rare, but Maddie Hinch had to stand firm to keep the American attack out in the 28th minute. And it proved to an important contribution as Britain then effectively put the game out of reach, Petter with a neat deflection from a well-worked routine; assisted by Grace Balsdon.

Early in the second half the confident Petter went close, firing just wide with a backhand effort after a mazy run inside the circle. And soon enough the third goal did arrive, Fiona Crackles doing very well to allow Sarah Robertson a clear sight of goal, the Scot converting from close range. Shona McCallin and Rayer were then denied by the busy Kelsey Bing in the USA goal. Mark Hager's side were enjoying a dominant period and soon enough it was 4-0 as Anna Toman drilled home from a penalty corner.

A few minutes into the final quarter and it was 5-0; Robertson and Crackles combining well to give Rayer a simple chance from close range. The pressure continued to be poured onto the USA goal and Robertson was incredibly close to deflecting home from a corner in search of a sixth.

To their credit, USA battled gamely and Hinch saved well from Miranda Rigg before Kelsey Briddell got a consolation goal from a corner, lifting home nicely. And so it finished 5-1, a good afternoon's work for Britain at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. The two sides will now face off once more on Sunday for Great Britain's final competitive match before Tokyo.

Izzy Petter reaction
20-year-old Petter of Surbiton Hockey Club was very pleased to contribute two goals in a team victory, saying, “I’m feeling great. It’s lovely to be back at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, especially with some of our family and friends here it’s a really special occasion and it’s good getting a few goals in the bag.

“I love scoring here, it’s literally the best feeling and to do it with this team is even better. The second one, I’ve been working on that massively so when it finally went in it was more relief than anything else, but every forward likes a good celebration! These games are so important, winning back to back games is something we’re really focussing on going into Sunday's match."

Starting XI: Hinch (GK), Unsworth, Toman, Ansley, Pearne-Webb (c), McCallin, Jones, Robertson, Owsley, Crackles, Rayer

Subs (Used): Evans, Petter, Wilkinson, Townsend, Balsdon

Subs (Unused): Heesh (GK), Costello