England 2 v China 1

What a game! If you ever wanted to watch a good game of hockey that was it. Very exciting end to end consistently over the whole match. Our line up started with Carolyn Reid in goal, then from left to the right at the back - Jennie Bimson, Mel Clewlow, Crista Cullen, Me, then Hels Richardson in at Centre half, Rachel Walker inside left forward and Lucilla Wright Inside right forward, Cath Gilliat Smith left forward, Helen Grant centre forward and Becky Herbert right forward.

The game started at a ferocious pace and we were on our back foot for the first ten minutes, they scored from a free hit taken outside the 'D' and deflected it into the goal on the back post, but we grinded away and gradually got back into the game and dominated for long periods, they hit us on a few counter attacks. We scored from a penalty corner that we'd been working on in training leading up to this tournament which was a good feeling for coach and players alike.

Danny's, Karen and Mag's tactics were spot on and we applied some great pressure. They hated it, what a good feeling. So we went into the break at 1-1. A few slight adjustments and it was more of the same in the second half. We knew they would come out again at terrific pace after a good telling off at half time from their coach so we had to match and better their pace, passion and velocity. We did. They played a very expansive game leaving numbers up in attack making our risk management and organisation at the back crucial. We dealt with a number of their attacks as they dealt with ours. Reidy made a fine save at a penalty corner and they made a couple of saves off the line albeit with their arm - penalty ref!!!!! they gave a silly penalty corner away with a minute or so left on the clock which we Hels Richardson scored from. Fantastic! Twelve seconds on the clock we knew we just had to win the ball back, we did and with four seconds to go we belted the ball off to see the time quickly sink and the hooter sound. What a good feeling.

Whilst it was an exuberant feeling we have the rest of the games to go and we have to approach these with the correct mental attitude, it is vitally important we do a professional job from now on it including rest days.

Must dash got to get changed and ready to go out to dinner.
Bye