England took on Germany in the final of the EuroHockey Nations Championship in Amsterdam and in a thrilling match came out on top by 5-3.
England started brightly and had an early shot through captain Barry Middleton. A minute later and England won their only corner of the first half which was put low into the back of the net by Ashley Jackson. 1-0.
From the restart Germany pushed forward and two minutes later were level when Christopher Zeller put the ball low to the left of James Fair from their first penalty corner.
The ball was quickly moving around the pitch again and when Middleton got the ball on the left he ran into the circle and his reverse stick shot beat several players, ending up through the keeper's legs for England to take the lead again.
England then had several chances when first Tindall turned and shot and then Middleton ran into the circle and along the back line before the ball was turned out by the German keeper and shortly afterwards Jackson had a reverse stick which went wide.
On 26 minutes Germany won another corner and Zeller made no mistake again despite valiant efforts by Fair. 2-2 A short while later and Richard Mantell dived to keep out a cross which was heading for the German attacker waiting behind him. But three minutes later Jan-Marco Montag dived in to deflect the ball past Fair who had no chance. 3-2 down at half time.
Germany started the second half well and Richard Mantell made a crucial tackle to keep the score just one behind and when the Germans won a corner Fair came to the rescue again. England then started to push forward and Matt Daly had a great chance to level but put the ball wide when he perhaps should have scored. However, Daly then won two penalty corners in quick succession. With Jackson off the pitch, Mantell stepped up to the strike and put both chances in the net low to the keeper's right. 4-3 to England.
The Germans had two more corners before Simon Mantell won a penalty stroke and Jackson stepped up to convert. But there was still time for Richard Smith to stop the ball on the line after the forward had rounded Fair. 5-3 to England and the European Championships.
In the bronze medal match the Netherlands took on Spain and looked back to their best when they won 6-1.
In the awards ceremony at the end, the Netherlands won the Fair Play title, the Goalkeeper of the tournament went to James Fair, Top Scorer was shared by Taeke Taekema of the Netherlands and Jerome Dekeyser of Belgium (9 goals), Most Promising Player to Spain's Xavier Lleonart Blanco and Player of the Tournament to Ashley Jackson.
CHRIS MOORE SALVER
The Hockey Writer's Club members present in Amsterdam voted for the UK Player of the Tournament. The Chris Moore Salver was presented to Ashley Jackson.
