England stayed with it’s successful starting five (Daniel Barton (captain), Joe Wheatley, Darrel Pearce, Mark Waddingham & James Taylor) to begin the match against Macau, after a brief from Coach Carlos Amaral to play a restricted man to man defence and for either of the Pearce brothers to pay close attention to Macau Coach and playmaker Lisboa.
England started the match nervously but soon settled and after 3 minutes when 17 year old Taylor again opened the scoring with a backhand shot into the top left corner which lead to England playing some good passing Hockey.
Six minutes in Waddingham (sponsored by the University of Teesside) scored his 1st goal of the tournament through a nice dribble and flick, and then with 7 minutes of the half remaining Wheatley opened his account with a sharp, close in finish.
After a number of substitutions England feel into playing end to end Hockey and Coach Amaral promptly called a time out to slow his players down and to focus them on retaining greater possession, which outstandingly as England followed their instructions to the letter .
In the last minute of the half the goalkeeper, Barton, pulled off a great save to maintain his clean sheet and to take England to the break 3-0 up after having had 70% possession and put 21 shots on target to Macau’s 5.
The second half started with the substitution from the starting 5 of Waddingham with Shawn Pearce and 3 minutes in Taylor scored his second of the match with a good dribble and flick shot into the top left of the goal and 6 minutes in Shawn Pearce scored through a great backhand.
With 11 minutes of the match remaining Nigel Allen replaced Darrel Pearce and a minute later Taylor put another goal into the Macau net to earn his second hat trick of the tournament (a great statement to his critics), bringing his tournament total to 8 goals.
With Macau tiring and losing motivation fast as a result of a dominating England performance goals start coming fast in the last phase of the match and Shawn Pearce (9:00 to go) and Waddingham (8:00 to go) also earned hat trick s that they should be proud of!
With 6:00 to go and after a fantastic match (and tournament) goalkeeper, and England Captain, Dan Barton was subbed by David Beeson (sponsored by the University of Southampton) and soon after Coach Amaral replaces Taylor and Pearce (D) with Fone and I’Anson.
Towards the final minutes of the match I’Anson was awarded a direct free hit which the Macau keeper parried directly at a quick Robbie Fone following up in support who deftly knocked in his second goal of the tournament.
England played a great match to earn their place in the Semi’s, which the team and supporters should all be proud of, with the final Score England 11–0 Macau with 16 shots to their 10 in the second half and 65% of the possession.
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Reporter: Kos Galtos
