Women's World Championship

Credit: Karl Denham

Women's World Championship


Great Britain had to dig deep late in the third period but they secured a 3-1 win over Spain in their Women’s World Championship Division II Group A in Jaca,

Captain Saffron Allen was presented with her 50th cap before the game, but Spain threatened to spoil the occasion by opening the scoring.

Sofia Scilipoti got round the last defender and finished high on Nicole Jackson at 4:28 – the first goal past Jackson in nearly 153 minutes going back to the Slovenia game in Nottingham.

GB responded and dominated possession for long periods but found Spain’s goalie Alba Gonzalo in top form. Perseverance paid off though as Allen drove the net and following up, Chamonix Jackson poked home the rebound for her first senior international goal (14:40).

A scoreless second period saw GB again control the chances without reward. Each side also had a lengthy five-on-three powerplay chance as special teams came to the fore.

The decisive moment came just over three minutes from time when the sides were icing four-on-four. Lucy Beal’s blast from the point was saved by Gonzalo, but the puck came out to Louise Adams at the edge of the crease and the GB forward buried the rebound for the go-ahead goal.

Spain gambled and lifted Gonzalo inside the final minute, going six-on-four as GB’s Beth Hill was serving a hooking minor. After a scramble in the GB zone, Katie Marsden skated into space beside her own bench and fired the insurance marker from 150ft away to seal the 3-1 scoreline.

In Tuesday’s other game Latvia defeated Mexico 8-2.

The results mean GB are top of the group on six points from their two games ahead of Latvia (4), Chinese Taipei (3), Spain (2) and Mexico (0).

Mike Clancy, GB Head Coach, said: “We knew it would be difficult against Spain, but we ground it out and played to the very end and got our rewards.

“We had a lot of shots which weren’t directly on net, so that’s something to work on but two wins from two is where we want to be.

“Chamonix [Jackson, first senior goal] deserves her goal. She works hard and does what is asked of her.”

Great Britain don’t play on Wednesday and return to game action on Thursday against Mexico (3pm UK time).