Clark praises Team GB's character after Spanish draw

ASSSISTANT coach Nick Clark praised the character of his young side after Team GB battled back to earn a creditable 2-2 draw against Spain.

FIGHTING SPIRIT: GB refused to give in as Spanish trilogy continues

GB lost Tuesday's opening match 3-1 and despite Carys Hopkins giving them an early lead yesterday would have feared the worst when Spain recovered to take a one-goal lead in to the interval.

But Clark's troops refused to throw in the towel and a side featuring just one of their Beijing Olympians - Chloe Rogers - hit back with Holly Cram firing home following an excellent pass from Rogers. 

Clark said "We played with energy and shape in the second half and our positive approach resulted in a good come back"

GB - who are in Spain for three unofficial internationals - started well and took the lead when Hopkins latched onto an interception and shot high into the Spanish net in the 17^th minute. 

The hosts dominated the rest of the half forcing six penalty corners, the first four of which were well-saved by Becky Duggan in the GB goal.

But Spain scored a well-worked deflection to equalise in the 25^th minute and soon after a penalty corner was well saved by Chloe Strong on the line, before the Spanish volleyed in the rebound to go 2-1 up. 

GB came back strongly in the second half negating Spanish pressure and producing some good forward flowing moves.  They were rewarded in the 61^st minute when Cram shot into the corner following an excellent pass from Rogers. 

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RELATED: GB lose opener 3-1 in Spain

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REMAINING SCHEDULE, GB v SPAIN

16 January 2009, 1100 hrs (local), 1000 hrs (GMT) v Spain (w)

SQUAD

The 16 players below all participated in the match

Ashleigh Ball (Slough & England)

Hayley Brown (FC Junior Barcelona & England)

Holly Cram (Glasgow Western & Scotland)

Harriet Cunningham (Pinoke & England)

Gemma Darrington (Leicester & England)

Becky Duggan (GK) (Trojans & England)

Beckie Herbert (Kampong & England)

Cary Hopkins (Clifton & Wales)

Nikki Kidd (Bonagrass Grove & Scotland)

Emily Maguire (Kelburne & Scotland)

Louise Munn (Bonagrass Grove & Scotland)

Chloe Rogers (Leicester & England)

Natalie Seymour (Canterbury & England)

Chloe Strong (Pinoke & England)

Sally Walton (Bowdon Hightown & England)

Kerry Williams (Leicester & England)

 

DID NOT PLAY

Kirsty Mackay (GK) (Bowdon Hightown & England)

Anne Panter (Leicester & England)