England's women had to settle for silver medals after coming
frustratingly close to winning a dramatic final against Germany in the
TriFinance EuroHockey Championship.
The Germans prevailed in a penalty shoot-out 2-0 after Susie Gilbert scored a 66th minute equaliser for 4-4.
The
first half produced a rush of goals for both sides as the lead
regularly alternated before the Germans took a 4-3 lead at the break.
Georgie
Twigg gave England a third minute lead, banging in the rebound from a
Kate Walsh penalty corner strike. but a minute later Eileen
Hoffmann levelled at her side's second corner.
Walsh restored
England's lead on eight minutes with a direct corner strike before Tina
Bachmann moved Germany ahead with penalty corner and stroke goals.
Helen
Richardson restored parity on the half hour after intercepting a
wayward defensive pass but Hannah Kruger put her side ahead again from a
fifth corner, one minute before the interval
The intensity of
the first 35 minutes was not continued after the break and neither
side made much headway until England equalised again until Gilbert's
late leveller.
England could not repeat their shoot-out
success of the semi-final with their first quartet - Walsh, Alex Danson,
Laura Unsworth and Twigg - failing to beat Kim Platten while Maike
Stockel and Jana Teschke were successful against Maddie Hinch, who had
the consolation of being voted the goalkeeper of the tournament.
Netherlands beat Belgium 3-1 for the bronze medal.
