And service resumed once again early in the second quarter, Sarah Evans tucking home from close range at another corner. Set pieces were proving positive for the home side, and another Ansley strike almost produced a goal but Laura Unsworth’s rebound hit the post. With 20 shots on goal in the first half it was a dominant display on a blustery afternoon in east London.

Izzy Petter was disappointed to drag wide of the near post a few minutes into the second half, then towards the tail end of the period Sarah Jones flung herself at an Ansley pass inside the D but to no avail. Britain were enjoying the vast majority of possession but to their credit USA were putting bodies in the way.

Britain looked to add to the scoreline early in the fourth quarter but Jo Hunter was unable to get a touch on Ansley’s well-struck pass. Then a stoic USA side enjoyed a rare foray forward as Maddie Hinch saved from Danielle Grega. Soon Britain did have a fourth, Sarah Robertson producing a smart finish on the reverse from Anna Toman’s pass.

When the fifth goal came in the 52nd minute it was a real beauty from Jones; superbly guiding the deftest of touches past the USA keeper from a ranging pass by Hollie Pearne-Webb.

Player of the match Sarah Jones commented, “Over the two games we’ve shown consistency and that’s a real positive. It’s also nice to get a few goals from corners as we had a few of them!

“For myself, I just try to be energetic, give defenders hell and be as busy as possible. As a team we’re really positive, the mood is good, we’re learning a lot and looking forward to what’s ahead.”

Head coach Mark Hager said, “I thought we could have created a little more in and around the D but the girls worked hard out there. We’re progressing well, of course there’s a long way to go and we’ve got areas to be better in. This has been a good learning period, facing different opposition and coaches. We’ve got a good group, playing well and putting pressure on each other which is fantastic.

Great Britain 5 (3)

Grace Balsdon (2′ PC); Giselle Ansley (14′ PC); Sarah Evans (16′ PC); Sarah Robertson (48′ FG); Sarah Jones (52′ FG)

USA 0 (0)

Starting XI: Hinch (GK), Unsworth, Toman, Pearne-Webb (c), Balsdon, Jones, McCallin, Townsend, Owsley, Rayer, Petter
Subs (Used): Robertson, Evans, Wilkinson, Ansley, Crackles, Hunter
Subs (Unused): Heesh (GK)

Courtesy of GB Hockey 

• Both teams back in FIH Hockey Pro League action on Sunday; men face Spain at 12:00, women repeat against USA at 14:30

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.”

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)

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

Courtesy of GB Hockey

Sarah Robertson had opened the scoring on her 150th international appearance, whilst Susannah Townsend also got on the score board for GB.

However, two unanswered goals from Germany ensured they would take the spoils in GB’s first match on home soil since the 2019 FIH Olympic Qualifiers.

Report:

GB got off to a fantastic start, Shona McCallin’s searing run into the circle enabled Ellie Rayer to deliver the ball to the perfectly positioned Robertson to prod home from close range to open the scoring.

The lead wouldn’t last long though as Germany responded less than five minutes later courtesy of a penalty corner. With the initial slap well saved by Maddie Hinch in the GB goal, Jette Fleschutz was lurking and latched onto the rebound to put Germany on the score board.

Both sides were looking very evenly matched as the half wore on with neither allowing the other many clear-cut chances.

When the visitors did gain their second penalty corner of the match, Lily Owsley bravely charged it down before the ball could reach its target.

Neither side was giving the other an inch as the scores remained level heading into the half-time break.

Much like the first-half, GB flew out of the blocks after the restart with another early goal. This time Susannah Townsend found herself with time and space inside the circle to shoot on goal and give GB the upper hand.

It wasn’t to last as Lena Micheel produced a moment of magic. With excellent close control, Micheel fired from the edge of the circle, her shot rocketing into the far corner of the goal to level the scores.

Both sides were working hard to take the lead and conjured several meaningful chances. The first fell to Robertson who couldn’t quite control a challenging aerial into the circle.

Izzy Petter come agonisingly close as her deflection from a penalty corner went just over the crossbar.
Germany had their chances too, Maddie Hinch being called into action several times as the visitors ramped up the pressure.

Their efforts paid dividends as Germany found the all-important break-through just three minutes from time as Stapenhorst’s late drive secured the three points.

After the match, Sarah Robertson commented: “Despite the result, it feels amazing to be back out here. I think it was around 18 months ago we were last here for the Olympic Qualifiers against Chile, so it felt amazing to be back, although we’re disappointed with the result.

“They had a lot of ball, we need to go away and have a look at how we can get a bit more pressure on them. They’re obviously renown for keeping the ball for long periods of time, I think it was a competitive, physical game. We just need to be better, we’ve got another match tomorrow night so we’ll go away and look to come back better then.

“We’ll be using the ice baths, recovering, and looking over some video footage before going again tomorrow night.

“Germany are a team we should be beating, they’ve obviously got some world class forwards and that showed tonight, but I think we can definitely up our game.

“It’s awesome to pick up my 150th international appearance, it seems that only recently I got my 50th for GB and soon the 100th will come for Scotland so it all seems to be happening at once! It’s nice to have scored on both of them too, keep the milestones coming and the goals might keep coming too! It’s a special occasion, it means a lot to me to play for Scotland and GB so it’s a memorable might even if we didn’t get the result.”

Great Britain 2 (1)
Robertson (10’ FG); Townsend (32’ FG)

Germany 3 (1)
Fleschutz (14’ PC); Micheel (41’ FG); Stapenhorst (57’ FG)

Starting XI: Hinch (GK), Unsworth, Toman, Jones, Robertson, Rayer, Ansley, Pearne-Webb (C), McCallin, Owsley, Crackles
Subs (Used): Evans, Townsend, Wilkinson, Hunter, Balsdon, Petter
Subs (Unused): Heesh (GK)

Courtesy of GB Hockey

Both teams will be in FIH Hockey Pro League action on 12-13 May, with the men due to play at 17:30 each day before the women face Die Danas at 20:00. All the games are behind closed doors but will be shown live on BT Sport.

Olympic gold medallist Giselle Ansley is set to play her first international game since the last time the teams stepped out onto the pitch at Lee Valley Hockey And Tennis Centre, having overcome an Achilles injury. Henry Weir could also play his first matches since then too after an ankle injury sidelined him throughout 2020.

There are several changes to the squads that last played in the FIH Hockey Pro League against The Netherlands and Belgium in October and November 2020. Captain Hollie Pearne-Webb returns for the women alongside Ansley, Maddie Hinch, Shona McCallin, Charlotte Watson and Leah Wilkinson. However Emily Defroand, Tess Howard and Hannah Martin are unavailable due to injury.

David Ames is back for the men’s team and could win his 50th GB cap if he plays in both fixtures. Harry Gibson, Liam Sanford, Ian Sloan and Sam Ward are also included, as are Chris Griffiths and Harry Martin who missed the recent tour of Malaysia due to injury. Rhys Smith hasn’t recovered from his injury in time to be considered for this double-header.

As well as the fact that international hockey is finally returning to Great Britain, there could also be a number of individual milestones to celebrate across the two evenings. Hinch, Sarah Robertson and Phil Roper could all play their 150th international matches and Ellie Rayer is in line to make her 50th appearance for England and Great Britain combined.

In addition, Ollie Payne, Fiona Crackles and Rupert Shipperley could all make their first international appearances for Great Britain on home soil.

Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented times we still find ourselves in, there will be no access for external media.

GB fixtures v Germany

Wednesday 12 May: GB v Germany (M) – 17:30 (BT Sport 2)
Wednesday 12 May: GB v Germany (W) – 20:00 (BT Sport 2)
Thursday 13 May: GB v Germany (M) – 17:30 (BT Sport 1)
Thursday 13 May: GB v Germany (W) – 20:00 (BT Sport 1)

Women’s squad

1) Maddie Hinch (GK) – England
4) Laura Unsworth – England
5) Sarah Evans – England
6) Anna Toman – England
8) Sarah Jones – Wales
9) Susannah Townsend – England
10) Sarah Robertson – Scotland
12) Charlotte Watson – Scotland
13) Ellie Rayer – England
17) Leah Wilkinson – Wales
18) Giselle Ansley – England
20) Hollie Pearne-Webb (C) – England
24) Shona McCallin – England
25) Sabbie Heesh – England
26) Lily Owsley – England
27) Jo Hunter – England
31) Grace Balsdon – England
32) Amy Costello – Scotland
33) Izzy Petter – England
38) Fiona Crackles – England

Men’s squad

1) George Pinner (GK) – England
5) David Ames – England
6) Henry Weir – England
7) Alan Forsyth – Scotland
8) Rupert Shipperley – Wales
9) Harry Martin – England
10) Chris Griffiths – England
11) Ian Sloan – England
13) Sam Ward – England
15) Phil Roper – England
16) Adam Dixon (C) – England
18) Brendan Creed – England
19) David Goodfield – England
20) Ollie Payne (GK) – England
21) Liam Ansell – England
23) Harry Gibson (GK) – England
25) Jack Waller – England
26) James Gall – England
27) Liam Sanford – England
29) Tom Sorsby – England
32) Zach Wallace – England
33) Jacob Draper – Wales

Courtesy of England Hockey