Double wins for GB in London

Great Britain recovered from back-to-back FIH Pro League defeats to beat India 3-2 at Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre. 

Charlotte Watson got the hosts off to a dream start when she scored past Savita inside the opening two-and-a-half minutes but Lalremsiami equalised at the end of the first quarter before Harendra Singh’s side hit the front midway through the second 15, Navneet Kaur scoring from close range.

David Ralph’s side equalised with less than five minutes remaining, a low Grace Balsdon drag-flick finding the corner - the late show continuing soon after when Balsdon netted from another set piece via a deflection from a defender’s stick in front of the goalkeeper. 

Watson’s goal, a calm finish across the goalkeeper, came after great work from Tess Howard, teeing up Watson at the top of the circle - she recovered from a slight mis-trap to then turn and put the ball into the bottom-right corner.

GB came close to doubling their lead from back-to-back penalty corners with Amy Costello’s flick being cleared off the line at the second but the rest of the quarter was largely dominated by the visitors.

Jess Buchanan - making just her second Great Britain appearance - saved well from a tight angle before Lalremsiami deflected Khan Mumtaz’s strike across goal in to level the scores 14 minutes in. 

India could have gone in front from a penalty corner before the quarter was out, too, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke turning to volley just wide after the ball deflected up from a block on the initial shot. 

More Indian penalty corners followed early on in the second quarter, with Izzy Petter brilliantly blocking one drag-flick before Buchanan made another save to keep the scores level soon after. 

Singh’s side were not to be denied for too long - Kaur then deflected a reverse-stick shot past Buchanan from close range, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. 

Great Britain looked to push before half-time but were met with strong Indian resistance and struggled to create any clear-cut chances, their sole penalty corner being deflected wide after some good first phase defending. 

A low-key third quarter followed with just one real chance at either end, Buchanan saving well again to keep the deficit to just one before Howard could only deflect wide from a superb Sophie Hamilton pass across goal.

India did give Great Britain occasional chances to launch fast attacks in the final period, giving the ball away deep inside their own territory but Ralph’s side were unable to capitalise, pass execution or decision-making costing the hosts more chances at scoring an equaliser.

Great individual work from Lily Owsley, though, opened up some space for a reverse shot which was dangerously lifted from a defender’s stick for a penalty corner, but Costello’s flick was charged down well by the first runner. 

Buchanan was withdrawn with just over four-and-a-half minutes remaining on the clock as GB looked to make use of having an extra outfield player, winning a penalty corner immediately after following good work from Sarah Jones.

Balsdon drag-flicked into the bottom corner to equalise for Great Britain, with Buchanan brought back on having spent just 10 seconds of game-time off the pitch.

With three minutes remaining, GB won another corner which was deflected in by a defender from Balsdon’s long drag, completing a late turnaround to earn Ralph’s side their first win since last Sunday, also against India by the same scoreline.

India soon withdrew their goalkeeper to press forward but to no avail as Great Britain held on for a first win in four. 

The victory makes it three wins and a draw in six matches of the London leg for the hosts, taking them to 12 points in seventh, seven behind Belgium with two games-in-hand.

Great Britain bounced back from their first FIH Pro League London defeat yesterday to beat India 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre for their fifth Pro League win in six matches. 

Phil Roper gave Paul Revington’s team the lead after just 47 seconds but India levelled through Sukhjeet Singh before half-time. 

Early on in the third quarter, India took the lead from the penalty spot through captain Harmanpreet Singh butt Jack Waller responded almost immediately with a superb hit into the roof of the net.

The winner came in the final quarter, Alan Forsyth netting his first Great Britain goal since May 2021 as his fellow Scot Lee Morton provided the assist. 

Roper, who will join Old Georgians for the 2024/25 season, was unleashed by a brilliant cross-field pass from Morton, the former then driving from just inside the India half into the circle to fire a powerful reverse-stick strike into the far corner. 

Sreejesh then saved twice at a penalty corner to deny a Sam Ward drag-flick and then a Zach Wallace rebound, with Ollie Payne also forced into action at the other end from an India corner. 

Nick Bandurak was denied from close range with a touch just in front of the goalkeeper as GB looked to add to their advantage, though the game continued to flow with chances at both ends. 

Payne saved again, this time from Harmanpreet, after an mis-trap at the top of the circle from another penalty corner before Wallace’s lofted pass narrowly evaded Bandurak on the far post. 

Gurjant Singh came close to levelling the scores with a bouncing hit that went just wide in the final real chance of the first 15.

Water earned GB a penalty corner early on in the second with Bandurak’s drag-flick then turned away via a defender’s glove before India levelled through Sukhjeet as he deflected Gurjant’s ball across goal into the net. 

The hosts were given the chance to go back in front from the penalty spot as a deliberate aerial interference in the circle with Bandurak the set receiver saw a penalty stroke awarded, but Sreejesh saved brilliantly from Wallace to keep the scores level.

When India were awarded a stroke of their own for a push in the circle the other side of half-time, though, there was no such reprieve for Great Britain as Harmanpreet sent Holcombe’s Payne the wrong way to put Craig Fulton’s men into the lead. 

Revington’s men levelled almost immediately, however, as Waller was found by Tim Nurse in the circle after a pinpoint aerial out to the Surbiton captain, with Waller then hitting an incredible shot into the roof of the net.

Suhkjeet came close to restoring India’s advantage when he brought down an aerial on the left side of the circle before cutting inside and unleashing a shot that ended up just wide, with the two sides then going into the final 15 level at 2-2. 

The winner came with around 10 minutes to play as GB’s high press paid dividends. James Gall superbly stole the ball high upfield before finding Ward who in turn found Wallace, the ball then falling to Morton who earned his second assist of the match by finding Forsyth on the back post to deflect in from close range. 

Payne made an excellent stop to keep the home side in front minutes later before Ward came close to extending the advantage, diving to deflect Bandurak’s pass just wide after good work down the right from Wallace. 

Despite late India pressure with 11 outfielders following Sreejesh’s withdrawal, Great Britain held on for a fifth three points in six outings in London with two more matches to follow on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Victory lifts Great Britain to fifth in the Pro League table, above both Belgium and Germany, though Germany are set to play later this afternoon against Australia at Lee Valley.