GB men confirm quarter final place with win over France

Great Britain 2 (0)

Wallace (41’, PS); Albery (54’, FG)

France 1 (1)

Clement (30’, FG)

Great Britain secured a quarter final place with a hard-fought win over the hosts France in Pool A.  With temperatures again in the high 30’s pitch side, and a noisy home crowd, GB came from a goal down to win 2-1.  In the final minute of the first half, Timothee Clement scored for France, only for GB to equalise through Zach Wallace in the 3rd quarter and James Albery got their second with six minutes left.

GB’s men started well and forced multiple circle entries in the first quarter.  This included penalty corner chances for both Gareth Furlong and Sam Ward, but the French goalkeeper Thieffry was resolute in goal, producing some fine saves.

Despite France coming into the game more in the second quarter, the chances for Great Britain continued. Phil Roper on his 100th cap for GB had a good attempt with a reverse stick strike from the left of goal, but again the goalkeeper was able to get a pad on it.  Nick Park fired across the goal from the right hand side, just failing to find one of his team mates.  Late in the quarter, GB thought they had a penalty stroke when it was signalled on the pitch after Gareth Furlong’s drag flick hit the defender on the goal line. On referral it was overturned as shown to hit his glove on the stick.

Against the run of play and all this pressure it was France who opened the scoring. On thirty minutes a French counter attack saw the ball run to Clement on the left hand edge of the circle.  He span and pushed the ball toward goal, it took two wicked deflections first up off Williamson’s stick and then Draper’s before squeezing past Ollie Payne on his left hand post. 1-0 to France.

Buoyed by taking the lead, France started the third quarter brightly, creating a number of chances in the GB circle. At the other end GB’s first chance came from Lee Morton after he received an aerial pass into the circle, turned and shot on the reverse but blazed the ball high over the goal.  The GB pressure finally paid on 41 minutes when Wallace’s run toward the penalty spot, saw the ball come off a French stick into a defender’s body. From the penalty corner, Sam Ward’s drag flick was stopped from crossing the line hitting another defender and GB were awarded a penalty stroke.  Wallace stepped up to cooly place it low just inside the left hand post to make it 1-1.

The winner for Great Britain came in the fourth quarter, following a great run into the circle by Jack Waller, he passed the ball off on the reverse and James Albery was on hand with a first time sweep hit on goal.  The ball deflected up off the defender’s stick and past the keeper to make it 2-1 to GB.  

The drama however continued right up to the final few seconds as GB had to defend three penalty corners, before the final hooter went. 

GB men’s final pool match is on Friday against Germany at 19.15 am UK time.

Feeling inspired by the hockey in Paris? Get involved and pick up a stick this summer, there is plenty on offer for you.