This was always going to be the big one, the home team in front of the home crowd.
Both teams started to feel their way into the match. England needed to assess how the refs would set the level and did not want to be sucked into Macau’s slow pace from which they can execute a couple of nifty moves that have scored goals against the other teams they have met.
Unfortunately for England, it was Macau who scored first after 10 minutes from a counter attack with Barker still on the deck after being brought down hard while on a run on goal.
After Macau took a time-out they resumed in full-on attack mode and pulled one of their tricks behind England’s goal to squeeze the ball in past Wells and Austin on the post. Whoops! two nil down and the crowd going bananas.
England then started to get their act together and Macau were having to give their Portuguese stars a rest. Taylor pushed the ball through a crowded Macau box past a completely unsighted ‘keeper. Waddingham then completed a piece of sheer determination to level the score for the interval.
After half-time England lost the ball immediately after our start and Macau scored their 3rd after just 9 seconds of the half. Waddingham levelled after 3 minutes. Lots of chances then came to England but we still could not get the right combination of positions until Taylor scored in the 9th minute. Hosking added another one minute later.
Barker came on for Waddingham, made an excellent pass to Hosking to take the score to 6 – 3 to England and effectively out of Macau’s reach. Barker then received a blue card and was off for the rest of the match. Macau’s direct free-hit was saved by Wells but the follow-up by “Bandana Man” hit the back of the net 6 – 4.
Pearce then took a penalty for England that was saved but Taylor came at full-speed across the rink to hit home the rebound. 7 – 4 up and England started playing the ball around to cat-calls and whistles with tired Macau not able to get any possession. Hosking then took an opportunity to pounce for England’s 8th.
More of the same until England got a penalty in the last minute and Hosking copied a Spanish penalty to score! 9 – 4 to England.
Roll on San Jose (oh! but we do intend to give Catalunya a match tonight!)
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Reporter: Aileen Barker
