England tood good for Canada
Hat-trick hero Stott stars as England race to 11-6
win...
England lead Canada 6-2 at half-time after a disciplined first-half
performance in the last of their matches in Pool A here at
the World Championship.
Ailsa Stott led the way with two goals, while Katy Bennett,
Rachel Kirchheimer, Felicity Hermsen and Sarah Butt were all
on target for the national side, who raced into a 5-0 lead.
Bennett was first on the target after just 1min 11secs, before
Butt saw two shots well-saved by Canada keeper Jennifer Cassidy.
England, though, didn't have to wait long for their next goals.
Stott netted and then Kirchheimer latched on to a Butt assist
to make it 3-0.
It was soon 4-0 when Butt, playing her fifth World Cup, scored
herself and then Hermsen was on target to make it 5-0. England
were flying.
Canada changed their goalkeeper and Kristen Haldeman replaced
Cassidy between the posts, but at the other end they kept
plugging away and Kylee Reade reduced the deficit with her
first goal of the World Cup.
However, England restored their their five-goal cushion with
Stott on the scoresheet for the second time in the match.
Brooke McKenzie scored with 4min 55secs remaining, before
Stott saw swviel shot saved close to half-time.
England deserved their lead, looked hungry for ground balls
and dominated posession. It was a professional first-half
performance.
And the second-half was much of the same from Lois Richardson's
team they struck twice to make it 8-2.
Emily Garvey combined well and slotted hom after an assist
from Sophie Gapper, minutes earlier the supplier having hit
the post.
It was nearly 8-2 but England had a goal disallowed when Canadian
defender Deborah Mendel slipped and injury her right ankle.
The 23-year-old had to stretchered off the field of play on
an ambulance cart and played no further part in the match
after just 5min 42secs of the second-half.
However, it was soon 8-2 when Garvey found the back of the
net. Attacker Crysti Foote hit back with a goal for Canada,
but England extended their advantage again.
Sott was again on the mark, her third of the game, before
Hermsen also scored to make it 10-3.
Garvey shot wide for England before Canada saw Jennifer Johnson
on the scoresheet.
Then an inspired burst of speed, after a superb turnover from
Sarah Kirchheimer, saw Lucy Lynch race to goal and supply
Bennett for her second goal of the game.
England goalkeeper Rachana Shetty also starred for the national
team with a string of good saves, one of which came moments
after Bennett's second goal.
The England shot-stopper denied Jessica Brownridge, having
earlier denied Reade who had unleashed a powerful shot on
the turn.
Bennett and Reade clashed with under 3min 45secs remaining,
both players suffering from blows to the head.
But in a physical game, where England out-muscled and out-thought
their opponents, there was only won winner.
Canada scored late consolations through Foote and McKenzise,
both their second of the game, but by then the damage had
been done.
England took the second half 5-4 and the match 11-5 to earn
a showdown with Germany, tomorrow, in the play-offs to reach
this year's quarter-finals.
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