Five Star GB Blitz USA

Great Britain 5 (3)

Balsdon (2’, PC); Ansley (15’, PC); Evans (16’, PC); Robertson (48’, FG); Jones (52’, FG)

USA 0 (0)

Great Britain’s women produced a dominant performance to seal their third consecutive victory in their final game before the Tokyo Olympics.

From the very first moment they took the game to an inexperienced American side and put their goal under constant siege, with Grace Balsdon producing a sublime finish in just the second minute.

Giselle Ansley and Sarah Evans struck to give GB a 3-0 lead before Sarah Robertson and Sarah Jones got their names on the scoresheet in the second half to cap a stunning day for the side.

Great Britain started as they meant to go on, winning two corners in the opening minute before Balsdon fired the third into the top corner after 90 seconds.

Fiona Crackles forced Kelsey Bing into her first impressive save of the day in the fourth minute before Shona McCallin’s diving effort was blocked just before the end of the first quarter.

There was still time for Ansley to score her first goal in this year’s FIH Hockey Pro League as her flick squeezed into the corner, while Evans then struck her maiden goal in the league just 30 seconds into the second quarter as another Ansley corner bounced kindly for the Surbiton captain.

Bing then produced several more saves to deny Ansley, Robertson and Balsdon while Laura Unsworth hit the post.

The onslaught continued in the second half with Bing’s replacement Kealsie Robles called into action to deny Ellie Rayer, Sarah Jones and Balsdon, while Rayer and Petter also saw efforts just go the wrong side of the post in the third quarter and a diving Jones couldn’t quite deflect home Ansley’s wicked cross.

There was nothing the goalkeeper could do though to stop Robertson’s effort in the 48^th minute as the Scottish midfielder rifled home a shot on the reverse from the top of the circle for her fourth goal in five matches.

Jones then converted a beautiful move just four minutes later, deftly touching the ball into the corner after Unsworth had turned Hollie Pearne-Webb’s delightful pass into the path of the Welsh woman.

Speaking after the game, Ansley said: “Really pleased. To back up yesterday’s performance with another 5-0 win was something we put a lot of focus on. We’re greedy, we wanted to score more but to put five in the back of the net is pleasing.

“To have so many goalscorers is testament to the work we’re putting in at Bisham and to the girls for putting themselves in the right positions to score and create the chances that we do.

“It’s absolutely amazing to be back. I hadn’t played a capped match since 2019 so I’m chuffed to be back here and do it at Lee Valley. It’s our last home game before the cycle so it’s special to play in front of our friends and family.

“I’m super excited for the next few months. It’s what you train for. If we keep track, I cannot wait for this summer.”

GB's women will next be in action when they open their Olympic campaign against Germany at 01:00 on Saturday 24 July.

Starting XI: Hinch (GK), Unsworth, Toman, Jones, Townsend, Rayer, Pearne-Webb (C), McCallin, Owsley, Balsdon, Petter

Subs (Used): Evans, Robertson, Wilkinson, Ansley, Hunter, Crackles

Subs (Unused): Heesh (GK)