England win ten-goal thriller with South Africa in Delhi

RICHARD Mantell struck two penalty corners as England continued their perfect start to the Hockey World Cup in Delhi in a ten-goal thriller against South Africa.

ON TARGET: England & Reading international defender Richard Mantell celebrates scoring for England against South Africa at Hockey World Cup in Delhi (Grant Treeby Images/EHB)

The experienced Reading defender scored once in each half with Rob Moore, Ashley Jackson, Nick Caitlin and Iain Mackay also finding the net in a 6-4 win.

There was little to separate the two teams in the first half with the score tied at 2-2, but European champions England ran riot in the second period, looking dangerous every time they broke forward.

However, while England impressed going forward, they were uncharacteristically lax at the back with sloppy errors letting the South Africans in.

And manager Andy Halliday admitted they hadn't reached the heights of Sunday's opening day win.

"Overall we're a little disappointed with the performance," said Halliday. "But having said that there were some patches of good hockey played, especially early in the second half.

"The defensive strength that we displayed strength that we displayed on Sunday wasn't there today but it is two wins from two now so we've got to be pleased with that.

"We're especially pleased with Dan Fox's contribution today. Four days ago he was expecting to be teaching year seven pupils about plate tectonics and now he nearly scores inside 30 seconds of coming on for his first game at the World Cup."

Having beaten Australia for the first time in 25 years in their opening match, England were riding high on confidence and expecting a defensive display from world number 12 South Africa, who had lost 4-2 to Spain in their opener.

But South Africa attacked with gusto for the first 60 minutes, pinning England back at first but being caught on the counter-attack as England took control in the second half.

Marvin Harper handed South Africa the lead in the ninth minute, converting after Justin Reid-Ross' mazy run, before Mantell equalised with his first penalty corner five minutes later.

A mistake from South Africa captain Austin Smith let Moore in after 22 minutes and the Surbiton striker finished in style, hammering the ball into the bottom corner from the top of the circle.

But this time it was South Africa who equalised quickly as Lloyd Norris-Jones bundled the ball over the line with the England defence in chaos.

South Africa's Julian Hykes should have edged South Africa ahead early in the second half, missing from close range, before three goals in eight minutes put England in control.

Mantell and captain Barry Middleton combined for the fist goal, setting up World Hockey young player of the year Jackson who pushed home.

Caitlin scored England's fourth shortly after, chipping over on-rushing South Africa goalkeeper Erasmus Pieterse, before another counter-attack from the young Loughborough Students midfielder resulted in Mackay finishing for a 5-2 lead.

The goal-rush continued as Harper bagged his second of the game in the 53rd minute to pull South Africa two goals behind but Mantell restored England's three goal advantage two minutes later with another penalty corner.

Jackson and Mantell both missed penalty corners in the last ten minutes before another defensive error allowed Thornton McDade in for South Africa's fourth strike.

South Africa could have made it 6-5, wasting another penalty corner with a minute remaining, but England held on for the win to move temporarily to the top of Pool B.