Skip to main content

Women's Hockey Luck not on Great Britain's side in defeat against Netherlands

Great Britain 0-1 Netherlands by Ben Saunders at Lee Valley

GREAT BRITAIN halfback Anna Toman encapsulated her frustration as her side went down to a last-gasp winner from world champions the Netherlands on Saturday in this FIH Pro League clash after having two goals disallowed themselves.

Toman herself was a key figure in Britain putting the ball in the net within the game’s first few minutes. 

Hannah Martin exploited hockey’s self-pass rule brilliantly, taking a free hit herself before the Dutch defence had a chance to regroup, passing wide to Laura Unsworth, who, in turn, found Toman. 

The 26-year-old Wimbledon player then attacked the baseline and sent a pass across goal for 18-year-old Izzy Petter to jab in on the back post. 

However, the video umpire disallowed the goal after the ball hit Lily Owsley’s foot on the way to Petter’s stick.

There was more bad news for GB when Giselle Ansley’s sumptuous penalty corner, high and handsome into the net, was ruled out with 10 minutes left, with the insertion pass not leaving the shooting circle.

Then, in a game that had a dead-rubber feel particularly in the first half with the Oranje already qualified and Britain already out of contention, came the Dutch touch of class when Kelly Jonker turned in a pass from 2015 World Player of the Year Lidewij Welten, with just 90 seconds left.

“Frustrated is an understatement,” Toman, who had an entertaining running battle with big-haired Dutch dynamo Maria Verschoor down the GB right for most of the game, said. “We put on an absolutely brilliant team performance.

“Something we've needed to work on is our team defence and our one-v-one defending, and obviously playing against the best in the world you have to do that.

“We did an absolutely brilliant job, but whatever happened at the end, whether we lacked concentration, they still scored a goal and we still lost the game, so it’s those little things we need to focus on for our next game.”

Toman, though, revelled in her role as a player integral to Mark Hager’s side at both ends of the pitch.

“It’s a position that really suits me,” she added. “I used to be a midfielder when I was younger, it’s quite an attacking half-back.

“I do see myself as someone who can get up and down the pitch, so playing with the likes of Lily Owsley in front of me, it’s perfect for my game.

“It was really unfortunate [the early goal was disallowed]. It was brilliant that we opened them up that quickly and the game could’ve been completely different, but unfortunately it hit Lil’s foot on the way in.”

Elsewhere, Britain’s men’s hopes of reaching the top four are still alive after Germany were eliminated from contention today, losing 2-1 at home to table-toppers Australia in Krefeld.

However, GB’s task was made harder after Argentina scored a last-minute winner from a penalty corner as they came back from 2-0 down to beat Spain 3-2 in Madrid earlier in the day. 

GB, who lost 4-3 to the Netherlands on Friday in a shootout after a 2-2 draw at Lee Valley, are fifth in the table, with the top four reaching the Grand Final in Amsterdam in a fortnight. 

The Dutch are third with 22 points and Argentina fourth on 20 points, with GB a further point behind having played a game more. Netherlands host Argentina in Utrecht on Wednesday and Australia in Amsterdam on Saturday. 

Argentina then take on world champions Belgium in Antwerp on Sunday lunchtime before Britain take on winless New Zealand at the Twickenham Stoop that afternoon.

Australia and Belgium have already secured their berths in the Grand Final.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today