Sunday, September 24, 2000
Hockey News Online

Improved showing lifts spirits

Great Britain returned from a three-day break in the Hunter Valley to find a change in the weather but not their fortunes. A 1-1 draw with Canada left them winless from four matches, leaving them at the bottom of the men’s hockey pool A. But they did produce their most consistent performance of the Games so far.

Britain had re-grouped away from the Olympic venue, and tried some golf and swimming in an effort to breathe life into their doomed campaign. Within four minutes today they must have wondered whether their luck would ever improve. The ball ran loose in the circle and Ken Pereira’s shot on the turn evaded Simon Mason’s efforts to save. From that point, however, Britain steadily took control and their second-half equaliser from Danny Hall was well merited.

Barry Dancer, Britain's head coach, was satisfied with the performance, if not the result. "We didn’t create quite enough in the circle and missed some opportunities but I was quite pleased," he said. "We increased the tempo of the game and a good start to the second half gave us impetus."

With Jon Wyatt, the captain, composed at the back, Britain fed an increasing amount of possession to the lively Hall and Ben Sharpe up front. Hall was always a threat and forced several short corners while Sharpe seemed determined to take on the Canada defenders in numbers. He fought a series of running battles, receiving a yellow card for a last-minute flare-up with Rob Short, who was also temporarily suspended.

In a physical match, Mason dealt impressively with the few Canada attacks while Bill Waugh, enjoying his first start in the tournament, brought some stability to a defence that had conceded 14 goals in three matches. Britain’s reward came nine minutes after half-time, when Tom Bertram found Mark Pearn in space on the left of the Canada circle, and Hall knocked in his pass from close range.

Britain play Germany in the final pool match tomorrow. Dancer talked of "room for improvement" in Britain’s performances; they will need to find that against a Germany side who are emerging as favourites for gold.

David Chappell
The Times