England win in a cliffhanger

21st August, GANT EHC in Mönchengladbach: England– Ireland 4:2 (1:1)

20.08.2011 - The Olympic hosts England defeated Ireland after a hard fought prestige duel 4:2 (1:1). The two teams have more in common than just the usual rivalry between neighbours.

The green-clad underdogs threatened throughout to upset the favoured English team. It wasn’t until two minutes before the end that England’s captain Barry Middleton ensured his team’s three points. After thirteen minutes there were enthusiastic attacks from the men in green. Christopher Cargo entered the English circle with the ball and put Ireland into the lead, to the delight of the Irish fans (13). Conor Harte almost increased the lead to 2:0 just six minutes later, but his stroke skimmed over the English bar.

However, in the twentieth minute the selfless efforts of the shamrocks came to naught when England’s Matt Daly found himself with the ball and with his back to the goal (20). A quick turn and the ball wobbled into the net 1:1. Ireland seemed shocked and England was back in the game. Shortly after the change of ends came the next setback for the outsiders. After a mistake in the circle, the England captain intercepted the ball and hammered it into the goal for a 2:1 lead (39).

For the Irish team, Gormley tried to tidy up his team in midfield but their play became ever more hectic. David Harte in the Irish goal kept his team in the game by saving seven corners. But in the 55th minute Ashley Jackson converted the eighth attempt 3:1 and thus ensured a more comfortable lead. This didn’t last long because only six minutes later it was the turn of England’s goalkeeper Nick Brothers to dig the ball out of the net (61), after John Jermyn converted a corner with an unstoppable shot narrowing the score to 3:2.

This woke up the fans in green who cheered their team forward. Shortly before the end Ireland were awarded a penalty corner – a great chance to tie the score. Nick Brothers for England saved the day with a spectacular effort. England’s captain Barry Middleton put the game beyond Ireland’s reach two minutes before the end, when after a skillful attack down the right side he coolly rounded off the game 4:2 (68).

The England trainer Jason Lee said later “Ireland played well and made life difficult for us for a long time, but we worked hard enough to win in the end.” The Ireland coach Revington was also basically satisfied with his team, especially as they had saved so many corners. He added to this “We must do something about conceding some many corners. This is something we must still work on”.

Goals:

0:1 Christopher Cargo (13.)

1:1 Matt Daly (20.)

2:1 Barry Middleton (39.)

3:1 Ashley Jackson (PC, 55.)

3:2 John Jermyn (PC, 61.)

4:2 Barry Middleton (68.)

Penalty corners:

ENG 8 (1 goal) / IRE 2 (1 goal)

Yellow card:

- / IRE Paul Gleghorne (foul, 19.)

Umpires:

Metchette/ Heinz

Original Article: http://www.hockey.de/VVI-web/default.asp?lokal=DHB&innen=/VVI-web/EM/2011/Ergebnisdienst.asp&auswahl=1&spiel=3&version=EN