Lee Valley — Relief was etched across players’ faces on Sunday as England women climbed off the foot of the FIH Pro League standings and left a scrap next weekend with India and Germany to avoid relegation for the first time.
England beat Spain 4-1 with Maddie Axford, who was one of a raft of new faces in February, scoring a brace of open play goals to offer a glimpse of the former University of Nottingham’s perennial goalscorer’s international potential.
Her soon-to-be Surbiton team-mate Georgie Gardens found a third from close range, while Izzy Petter rounded off a much-needed win with Spain chasing the game. It was a reversal from the opening half when both sides had plenty to offer in a tight two quarters.
“Our performance was more how we wanted to play,” said England coach David Ralph following their 1-0 defeat on Saturday.
“The first half was competitive from both sides but we were able to keep our intensity level and defensively had the intensity to keep them away from the danger areas. It allowed us to be more threatening on the ball.”
Defeat would have left England bottom and two points adrift of India ahead of their key trip to Berlin this week for the final two matches.
With Spain free from relegation worries and likely to express themselves, this game had the hallmarks of an open game such was England’s precarious position and the need for victory ahead of the Germany double headers.
Axford had opened the scoring three minutes in after a sustained spell of pressure, notably from the goalscorer after two circle efforts.
She directed in a slap pass with a fine angled stick and the goal was just desserts for dominant penetration.
This before the Spanish racked up six penalty corner routines and Paula Jimenez finally slotting home just before the quarter hooter with a flick beating Miriam Pritchard’s outstretched left boot.
Spain then, crucially for England, missed a penalty stroke to take a grip of the half when Jimenez’s push hit the outside of Pritchard’s left post.
The miss, coupled with Belgium taking the lead against fellow relegation strugglers India, set England up for more front-foot hockey in the third quarter.
They took the lead from a PC retake and Axford, set to join Surbiton next season, once again finding herself in the right place to flick home from a rebound.
England’s third was finished by Gardens after a superb baseline carry from Lottie Bingham. You could sense the tension being released.
With Spain finding possession, the final quarter was a tighter affair. That is until 90 seconds remaining when an England outlet led to a break up field and Petter slotting home into an empty net.
