England secure memorable win over Australia for first ever Commonwealth Games Gold

England created hockey history by winning a first Commonwealth Games gold after a sensational 2-1 victory over Australia.

Well taken second quarter goals from Holly Hunt and Tess Howard, combined with a disciplined defensive performance, ensured they reached the top of the podium on home soil.

In front of a buzzing Birmingham crowd, England delivered a gold medal that had been 24 years in the making, banishing the ghosts of final defeats in 1998, 2002 and 2014.

Australia had won both previous meetings between the two nations in Commonwealth finals but were second best from the word go.

The Kookaburras did at least make it a nervy finish when Rosie Malone scored with 19 seconds still to play. But it would prove nothing more than a consolation.

This was England’s day and after surviving the final moments the entire squad poured onto the pitch at the full time hooter, before celebrating in front of a raucous grandstand, who had become the 12^th woman over a gripping 60 minutes at the University of Birmingham Hockey & Squash Centre.

England: Hinch, Unsworth, Toman, Martin, Rayer, Petter, Ansley, Pearne-Webb, Crackles, Owsley, Peel.

Subs: Hunt, Walker, Howard, Hamilton, McCallin, Heesh, Balsdon.

England started strongly and had the four-time champions on the back foot from the outset.

In an electric atmosphere, the host nation were quicker to close down their opponents and nearly opened the scoring in the first quarter.

A trademark Ellie Rayer run saw Hannah Martin get a glimpse of goal, with the ball hitting an Aussie foot to give England the first penalty corner of the final.

Although Grace Balsdon proved unable to beat Aleisha Power in the Australian goal, it was an early statement of intent.

The second quarter provided the breakthrough thanks to an intelligent piece of play from Hunt.

She found Flora Peel, who breezed down the right before providing a cross for Hunt to collect at the top of the circle. 

The Stockport native still had a lot to do, but a superb trap gave her the chance to fire past Power and send the England supporters into dreamland.

And the perfect start continued when Peel’s goal bound shot was deflected into the net by Howard for her third goal at the Games only four minutes later.

Australia did belatedly win their first penalty corner just before half time but it was expertly defended by England’s runners to ensure a two-goal lead at the interval.

The Hockeyroos did force the issue more in the second half, making three circle entries inside just four minutes at the start of quarter three.

But England defended resolutely, with Hinch barely troubled.

They were desperately unlucky not to extend their lead when Anna Toman’s slapshot from a penalty corner came back off the post, via a deflection from Hannah Martin, with Australia starting to look shell-shocked.

The influential Rayer also went close with a flick from a tight angle only for Power to keep Aussie hopes alive.

The final quarter saw England have to stay resolute in the face of a sustained period of pressure from the Kookaburras.

However, Hinch who played such a huge part in England getting to the final, refused to be beaten when called upon.

The home crowd were proudly declaring that hockey was coming home before a late penalty corner led to Malone giving the Kookaburras a glimmer of hope, her goal awarded following a lengthy video review by the officials.

But in the end it didn’t matter as England saw out the remaining seconds to ensure that 7^th August 2022 will go down as a momentous day in this country’s hockey history.

Feeling inspired to pick up a stick? Follow this link to find out what's happening near you: www.englandhockey.co.uk/play/pickupastick 

Looking to watch some more international action after the Commonwealth Games? Tickets for England women’s Euro qualifiers at Durham 25-28 August are on sale now.