Britain peak too late

Great Britain at last had something to celebrate in a packed Olympic hockey stadium yesterday with a 2-0 victory by the women's team over Spain, the 1992 Olympic champions. It came too late to make much difference but it did suggest what might have been.

It was a dead match for Spain. Earlier in the day Korea had lost to Australia, which ensured the Spanish qualified from Britain's group along with Australia and Argentina. The Netherlands came through in the other group to join China and New Zealand in the top-six round.

Britain's coach Jon Royce lamented that his team had saved their best form until it was too late. "If we had come out and played like that we might have only lost two and won three matches," he said.

"Our youngsters have learned that you have to play right from the start and not take three halves to get going. It was always going to be tough here but we failed to cope with the pressure.

"I'm sorry we didn't achieve more after 12 months of training, excellent preparation and with the players full-time, but now we have to win our last two games."

Britain were already doomed to contest the seventh-10th-place play-offs but at least did not finish bottom of their group. They will meet South Africa, bottom of the other group, on Monday with the winner playing Germany or South Korea for seventh place.

With the pressure off and Spain possibly only going through the motions, Britain produced their best hockey of the tournament. Scotland's Pauline Stott, the captain, was far more influential, driving Britain forward on the right. Jane Sixsmith, Mel Clewlow, Kate Walsh and Mandy Nicholson all played important roles.

Though Spain did not offer a lot in attack, their defence, which had conceded only one goal in their three previous matches, was not prepared to give anything away.

Britain failed to score in open play but came through with two corner goals. Clewlow hit a peach of a shot after 48 minutes and Tina Cullen added the second five minutes from time after Spain had parried two shots in succession.

If Britain's men's team can find the same spirit and resolve against Canada tomorrow, they could still salvage something from their tournament. A men's victory would greatly improve their chances of making the fifth-eighth-place play-offs.