[img_assist|nid=4943|title=On fire|desc=Ashley Jackson leaves Muhammad Irfan in his wake – hockeyimages.co.uk|link=node|align=right|width=220|height=146]LONDON, August 2 – It was the Ashley Jackson show at the Riverbank Arena as the GB midfielder put away two trademark penalty corner goals and generally wreaked havoc with the Pakistan defence in GB’s 4-1 win.
The result puts GB men’s Olympic Games hockey tournament back on track after an unexpected 2-2 draw with South Africa in their second round of pool games.
Any hangover from Wednesday’s match was quickly dispersed as James Tindall set GB on their way with a hard reverse strike in the fourth minute.
Jackson was in the thick of things for GB and had a corner deflected on the line by Rashid Mehmood (6mins). He then set up GB’s second in the 27th minute, finding Nick Catlin on the right baseline. Catlin cooly picked out Jonty Clarke who finished from a couple of metres.
Jackson chipped in with corner goals in the 50th and 67th minute, before Sohail Abbas scored a consoaltion corner for Pakistan at the death.
[img_assist|nid=4950|title=Celebration time|desc=(l-r) Matt Daly, Richard Smith, Jonty Clarke and Dan Fox – hockeyimages.co.uk|link=node|align=left|width=220|height=146]Clarke said: “I felt a little bit sorry for Pakistan today. We were so frustrated after the way we played in the last game, it was a bit of a backlash. We played a lot better today. There were a few things we need to work on – mainly just minor tactical things. But it was a major step forward from the last game.
“Ashley is a very special hockey player. It was good to see Tins [James Tindall] get a goal too – when he gets one he tends to get more,” said Clarke.
Coach Jason Lee said of Jackson: “He is a star. He loves the pressure – he thrives on it. And he is someone who will be scoring goals here and through the rest of his career.”
GB play Australia on Sunday at 7pm and Spain on Tuesday, August 7 at 7pm in their final two pool games. They are currently behind Australia at the top of pool A, on goal difference. The top two sides in each pool qualify for the semi-finals on Thursday, August 9.
