Two wins in two for Great Britain against Japan

 

Great Britain triumphed on home turf in front of a noisy crowd of around 3,000  young people, part of a special schools event at The Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. After a quiet first quarter the game sprung into life in the second with goals from Alex Danson and Laura Unsworth. Akiko Kato hit back in the 49th minute but Danson’s second as well as further strikes from Helen Richardson-Walsh and Sophie Bray ensured the hosts came away with a big win.
Danny Kerry’s side dominated the opening exchanges but were unable to find a breakthrough in the first quarter. Great Britain delighted the crowd in the second quarter as Danson was brought down by the goalkeeper winning a penalty stroke. The No15 dusted herself off and found the net to make it 1-0. Laura Unsworth added a penalty corner strike in the 20th minute – her fifth international goal to double the lead. Japan hit back in the third quarter with a nicely taken deflection from Akiko Kato. However, their joy was short lived as Great Britain scored three times in four minutes to blow their opponents away. In the 52nd minute Helen Richardson-Walsh rounded off a lovely move involving Kate Richardson-Walsh and Danson to make it 3-1. Danson notched her 80th international goal with her second of the match, also from the spot and then Sophie Bray carved open the defence and fired a lovely backhand strike into the bottom corner to make it 5-1.

Great Britain ran out 5-1 winners against Japan in the second international match at the Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre yesterday.

Scots Emily Maguire and Sarah Robertson both featured in a convincing win.

After a quiet first quarter the game sprung into life in the second with goals from Alex Danson and Laura Unsworth.

Akiko Kato hit back in the 49th minute but Danson’s second as well as further strikes from Helen Richardson-Walsh and Sophie Bray ensured the hosts came away with a big win.

The Great Britain team pose

(The Great Britain team pose with the Investec Private Banking Trophy – Credit Simon Parker)

Danny Kerry’s side dominated the opening exchanges but were unable to find a breakthrough in the first quarter.

Great Britain delighted the crowd in the second quarter as Danson was brought down by the goalkeeper winning a penalty stroke. The No15 dusted herself off and found the net to make it 1-0.

Alex Danson celebrates scoring from the spot Credit Simon Parker

(Alex Danson celebrates scoring from the spot. Credit Simon Parker)

Laura Unsworth added a penalty corner strike in the 20th minute – her fifth international goal to double the lead.

Japan hit back in the third quarter with a nicely taken deflection from Akiko Kato. However, their joy was short lived as Great Britain scored three times in four minutes to blow their opponents away.

In the 52nd minute Helen Richardson-Walsh rounded off a lovely move involving Kate Richardson-Walsh and Danson to make it 3-1.

Danson notched her 80th international goal with her second of the match, also from the spot and then Sophie Bray carved open the defence and fired a lovely backhand strike into the bottom corner to make it 5-1.

Speaking after the game Head Coach Danny Kerry had mixed feelings: “I’m very happy with the first half, it’s probably the best we’ve played since September 2014. We were dominant and in control and deservedly 2-0 up. The 2nd half was sloppy and could easily have let Japan back in. The good news is they came out to chase the game and that allowed us to cut them open a bit more but we were very sloppy and could easily have thrown that away. It wasn’t a complete performance.”

“We executed our corners well. We scored some good goals, Sophie Bray, Helen Richardson-Walsh and of course Alex took hers well. We created and took our chances, which was good. Sabbie Heesh who played the second half played well and saved some good corners a couple of players who didn’t play yesterday got a run out after injury and illness which was good for them.”

 

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