England’s men remain on course for the semi-finals of the World Cup after a 2-0 win over Malaysia in Holland yesterday.

Despite dominating throughout, they had only Mark Gleghorne’s fourth-minute goal, scooping reverse-stick past goalkeeper Kumar Subramiam after Ashley Jackson and Barry Middleton combined. The closing stages became tense.

However, Jackson — nursing a shoulder injury which means he is only used on penalty corners in times of real need — converted a set-piece three minutes from time to ease the nerves.

It should not have been that close as Tom Carson was denied twice at close range by Subramiam in the first half and, after the break, Middleton guided Jackson’s pass through the goalkeeper’s legs but wide of the post and Alistair Brogdon fired a shot into the grill of Subramiam’s helmet.

England’s own goalkeeper George Pinner produced an important save from a Malaysian penalty corner late in the second half and his side went down the other end to win the set-piece and score the second.

“I thought we played reasonably well in large periods of the game and created a hell of a lot of chances and we could have killed off the game earlier,” said Gleghorne in his post-match interview.

“Defensively we are pretty sound and if we can continue that and take a few more chances we can hit our straps.”

England face Australia in their penultimate Group A match tomorrow.