Great Britain’s women’s side put in a solid showing to defeat India 3-1 in the second of three Test matches as preparations for the Olympic Qualifier matches on 2 and 3 November continue.
Having battled to a scoreless draw in Tuesday’s opening match, Great Britain were ruthless in front of goal today with Charlotte Watson recording her first GB goal in between strikes from Hannah Martin and Giselle Ansley.
Taking place under sunny skies at Bisham Abbey, the hosts got off to the perfect start as Martin cleverly turned a cross past Rajani Etimarpu after just five minutes.
In response, India immediately went on the offensive and came close from a penalty corner as they looked to test the GB defence.
Mark Hager’s side had a corner of their own shortly after, but Hollie Pearne-Webb couldn’t quite find any of the onrushing attackers.
The visitors drew level mid-way through the second quarter as a good passage of play saw them move into the circle before Neha Goyal fired past Maddie Hinch.
Hinch was called into action again shortly after, showing great reflexes with a stunning double save from close range to deny India from getting another on the board before half-time.
The team then took the lead through 21-year-old Watson’s tidy finish as she found the net in just her second GB appearance, the Scottish international having made her debut away to Japan in July.
Both teams showed signs of promise in attack with chances presenting themselves at either end of the field as the game progressed in the third quarter; however more good work defensive work preserved GB’s lead.
They were able to put the game to bed in the final quarter as Ansley buried a penalty stroke into the bottom corner of the goal, well out of the reach of the goalkeeper’s right glove.
With GB now leading 1-0 in the series, the teams will contest the final Test match on Friday 4 October.
Starting XI: Hinch, Evans, Toman, Martin, Robertson, Ansley, Pearne-Webb, McCallin, Owsley, Petter, Wilkinson
Subs: Defroand, Neal, Hunter, Burge, Costello, Watson
Subs (unused): Tennant
Great Britain 3
Martin (5’, FG)
Watson (29’, FG)
Ansley (50’, PS)
India 1
Goyal (18’, FG)
Great Britain v India First Test
Great Britain’s women’s side played out a goalless draw against India in the first of three Test matches set to be played at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre this week.
Leah Wilkinson made her Great Britain debut whilst Maddie Hinch also earned her 50th GB cap in the hard-fought draw.
Both teams looked resilient in defence with clear cut chances coming at a premium.
Great Britain started off in the ascendancy, creating the first meaningful chance of the game as Lily Owsley unleashed a venomous reverse stick shot flew just wide of the post.
Shona McCallin followed this up shortly after as her fierce strike just cleared the crossbar from the edge of the circle.
India were well in contention though and forced Maddie Hinch into making a smart save from a penalty corner just before the end of the quarter.
The second-quarter was an evenly battled affair with neither side able to fashion a telling chance to test the opposition goalkeeper.
Hinch was called back into action early in the third quarter as she stuck out a right boot to divert the ball wide.
Immediately after, good work from Sarah Robertson earned a penalty corner where a well worked routine was deflected just wide of the onrushing attackers. The attacking impetuous continued as Izzy Petter’s attempt on goal was well stopped by the Indian ‘keeper to maintain parity.
Good work from McCallin in the box then saw her tee up Emily Defroand but Savita was on hand to deny the midfielder too.
Both sides threatened to snatch a late winner, with India winning a corner with just over two minutes remaining, but both clean sheets remained intact.
The fourth quarter saw limited opportunities for both sides as neither could work a way through a well organised defensive shape as the first match finished scoreless.
They meet again tomorrow before the series comes to a conclusion on Friday morning.
Starting XI: Hinch, Unsworth, Evans, Toman, Martin, Townsend, Robertson, Defroand, Ansley, Pearne-Webb, Neal, McCallin, Owsley, Hunter, Costello, Petter, Wilkinson
Unused: Heesh
Great Britain 0
India 0
Courtesy of GB Hockey
