Fine performances from both England and Scotland heralded contrasting results in the Hockey World League semi-finals today.
Hosts England thumped Malaysia 7-3 in Pool A to move a step closer to both December’s World League final and also qualification for the 2018 World Cup – both in India – while in Pool B, Scotland proved a tough nut to crack for the Netherlands but were ultimately defeated 3-0.
England captain Ian Sloan could pick few holes in his team’s dominant performance at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.
The 23-year-old said: “I really enjoyed the game.
“You could see our attacking flow was there today, which maybe wasn’t there the other day, so it was brilliant to see that.
“The forward guys [are] really making their mark in the tournament – it’s a real good sign for the rest of the week.
“I’m not surprised we scored seven. We probably could have got a few more today.
“I think we’re disappointed to concede three because we didn’t give them that many chances but I’m really happy with the performance.”
The prolific Barry Middleton got the hosts off to the perfect start as with five minutes on the clock as he reacted quickest to convert Harry Martin’s cross at the near post and just a few minutes later, Chris Griffiths and Sam Ward constructing a superb one-two and allowing the former to make it 2-0.
But, in the second quarter, Malaysia hit back by forcing a penalty stroke, from which Faizal Saari notching to make it 2-1.
Then, just before the break, another set-piece led to Malaysia’s second goal of the game, goalie George Pinner saving Saari’s initial strike from a penalty corner but proving powerless to prevent Tengku Tajuddin from gobbling up the rebound and eliminating England’s advantage.
The hosts roared back into the ascendency in the third quarter, however, Ward arrowing a shot low into the net from a penalty corner to restore England’s lead before a thunderous hit from Middleton proved too powerful for Malaysia keeper Kumar Subramaniam to keep out.
In the eight minute of the quarter, David Goodfield fed Mark Gleghorne, who finished with aplomb to make it 5-2 and, with just over nine minutes to go, Ward bagged his second of the match as he linked up beautifully with Goodfield to sweep home his team’s sixth goal of the afternoon.
England weren’t finished there however as Gleghorne fired high into the roof of the net from a penalty corner but a late penalty corner did provide a consolation effort for Malaysia, Saari converting well to round off the scoring.
Later in the day, Scotland produced a resilient display but couldn’t find enough to pull off an upset against the Netherlands.
The Scots bravely kept the Dutch at bay for almost all of the first quarter but their resistance was finally broken with 21 seconds to go when a deflected pass fell kindly for Robbert Kemperman, who wasted no time accepting the gift.
Scotland’s imperious defence continued and it took until midway through the third quarter for the Netherlands to make it 2-0, Mink van der Weerden firing into the net from a penalty corner.
With nine-and-a-half minutes to go, the Dutch grabbed their third through Valentin Verga’s close-range finish.
Scotland head coach Derek Forsyth said: “They’re a good team. It would be nice to have scored – we made one or two chances – but to be fair, they showed us how to play hockey today.”