Toman’s deliveries go unconverted as Netherlands sweep past England

By Max Hall

England 0 Netherlands 2

As the sun set over a Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre stadium which had seen Ireland’s women hockey players tonight continue their fairytale run to the World Cup semi-finals, England were unable to emulate their neighbours as they lost 2-0 to an all-conquering Netherlands side.

An England side featuring Wandsworth-born Sarah Haycroft and Wimbledon HC duo Anna Toman and Suzy Petty battled gamely but the competition favourites always looked in control and the hosts were indebted to an obdurate show of resistance in goal by Rio hero Maddie Hinch.

It was always likely to be a busy night for the England goalkeeper, who made her first big block after just eight minutes, one on one with Kelly Jonker as part of a double save following a loose pass from Grace Balsdon.

Three minutes later Caia van Maasakker crashed the ball against Hinch’s bar from the visitors’ first penalty corner. Hinch saved the rebound with her left instep but could do nothing three minutes later as Lidewij Welten swept home the opening goal from a raking Xan de Waard drive to cap a sweeping move.

The England keeper was at her brilliant best nine minutes into the second quarter plunging to save with a boot after De Waard had got past Balsdon too easily and then thrusting out a glove in the ensuing scramble to keep the hosts’ hopes alive.

Two minutes on Laura Nunnink went through the England defence like smoke but Hinch was there again and the number one stood firm once more two minutes from half time as the Dutch threatened to overrun their opponents.

A minute into the second-half an uncharacteristic error from Giselle Ansley at the back gifted possession to Welten just outside the circle, she found Frederique Matla to her right and as an exposed Hinch dashed off her line, the Dutch player swept the ball left for an unmarked Laurien Leurink to fire into an unguarded net.

There was a roar from the crowd as Lily Owsley turned Eva de Goede to the right of goal and fired in a cross that went begging after a move started by a typically barnstorming run down the same flank by Toman two minutes into the final period.

England tried to take the game to the Dutch as Rio legend Alex Danson tried to bend the match to her will but found too many orange shirts crowding her out as the clock ticked down and another cross driven in low by Toman from the right 70 seconds from the hooter went unconverted.

The third ‘goal’, slid in by Kitty van Male after rounding kicking back goalkeeper Ansley came a second after the hooter but was unnecessary, as the Netherlands continued their seemingly unstoppable charge to the title.