27th September 2006 - ENGLAND 3 China 2 YIPEEEEE!!

Hi All,

Many thanks for you comments, just read them all and both Al and I got very excited with each comment.

We are soooo happy a great start to the tournament. But as we were reminded quite rightly straight after the game we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and make sure we get ourselves fully recovered over the next day before taking on the Dutch on Friday.

Al (Alex Danson my roomie.) woke up this morning with a good feeling. I will listen to her in the future! We were both hyper first thing this morning and from after breakfast we just couldn't wait to get on the pitch. We had our team meeting at 10.30am by the time this finished we were all well and truly prepared to take on the CHinese. We'd been preparing for this for months. Lunch was early at 11.30am and from lunch till the time we left the tunes were turned up, the hair straightening irons were heated and water bottles were prepared. We weren't going to let anything be amiss before we started this game.

We finally left the hotel at 1pm and arrived at the ground at 1.30pm. The weather was sunny sunny sunny, nice and warm which is always a good omen we play well in heat. As soon as we got to the ground we were into the changing rooms and weighing in (check our hydration!) then immediately out and into the warm up. Having completed the running warm up we were then onto the stick and ball. I have to say this was a little lax, i think the nerves and apprehension of the build up was getting to us all. Danny asked if we were all ok - but i think collectively we knew, we knew we just needed to get into the game and hear the first whistle go to start.

Finally the time came. The whistle went, and we were off, harrying, closing down the CHinese as quickly as possible. We knew from stats that they start games hard and fast and we were determined to match this. We did and imposed oursevles on the Chinese from the off. The game was fairly end to end but with not so many chances in either 'D'. In the 12th minute we finally broke through their defence from a long corner that Crista Cullen (Leicester) powered into the 'D'. The Chinese defence miss trapped the ball and left it sitting up nicely for Al to slam home. The Chinese responded after another 8 minutes or so with a penalty corner which their PC specialist flung into the goal with a drag flick. The game got a little frantic for a few minutes but once it settled we again broke through and Chloe Rogers found herself free on the right hand side of the 'D' she calmly placed the ball across the goal for Lucilla Wright (Olton) to put into the empty net. The ball seemed to cross the line in slow motion. We finsihed the first half two one.

During half time Danny & Karen ensured that we maintained concentration, gave us a few tiny details to our play and then sent us out on a highly emotional 'COME ON'. It was great to see the emotion within him and all of us responded brilliantly from this. We started the second half just as well as the first, at a pace to match the Chinese despite our start it was the Chinese who found the back of the goal first from a free hit outside the 'D'. They hit the ball in and the CHinese girl took a deflection in the middle which wrong footed Beth Storry (Holland club team!). The game stood at 2-2 until about the 57th minute when Crista Cullen scored a slip left drag flick at a penalty corner won by Chloe Rogers. It was a great moment. The last 13 minutes seemed to fly by thankfully although i'm sure that wasn't the case for the supporters on the sideline! The last 3 minutes we kept it on the right hand side in our attacking 25yrd to play time down. It worked and we won 3-2!

A really solid performance from all and a well deserved win.

As i said before we can't get carried away we have to perform as well if not better on Wednesday against Holland and between now and then we have to do everything to ensure we get the best recovery - rest, nutrition, hydration, active recovery etc!

Thanks for all those who have passed on their positive thoughts.

I have to make special recognition of Bam & Jem from Al, its great that you are reading the site and not from CHelm hockey club or my family. Lets hope more follow your lead!

Thanks to all my family for their thoughts and vibes and all those from Team Chelm.

Love to all back home.

Over and Out
Lisa
xxx