Great Britain recovered from back-to-back FIH Pro League defeats to beat India 3-2 at Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre.
Charlotte Watson got the hosts off to a dream start when she scored past Savita inside the opening two-and-a-half minutes but Lalremsiami equalised at the end of the first quarter before Harendra Singh’s side hit the front midway through the second 15, Navneet Kaur scoring from close range.
David Ralph’s side equalised with less than five minutes remaining, a low Grace Balsdon drag-flick finding the corner – the late show continuing soon after when Balsdon netted from another set piece via a deflection from a defender’s stick in front of the goalkeeper.
Watson’s goal, a calm finish across the goalkeeper, came after great work from Tess Howard, teeing up Watson at the top of the circle – she recovered from a slight mis-trap to then turn and put the ball into the bottom-right corner.
GB came close to doubling their lead from back-to-back penalty corners with Amy Costello’s flick being cleared off the line at the second but the rest of the quarter was largely dominated by the visitors.
Jess Buchanan – making just her second Great Britain appearance – saved well from a tight angle before Lalremsiami deflected Khan Mumtaz’s strike across goal in to level the scores 14 minutes in.
India could have gone in front from a penalty corner before the quarter was out, too, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke turning to volley just wide after the ball deflected up from a block on the initial shot.
More Indian penalty corners followed early on in the second quarter, with Izzy Petter brilliantly blocking one drag-flick before Buchanan made another save to keep the scores level soon after.
Singh’s side were not to be denied for too long – Kaur then deflected a reverse-stick shot past Buchanan from close range, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Great Britain looked to push before half-time but were met with strong Indian resistance and struggled to create any clear-cut chances, their sole penalty corner being deflected wide after some good first phase defending.
A low-key third quarter followed with just one real chance at either end, Buchanan saving well again to keep the deficit to just one before Howard could only deflect wide from a superb Sophie Hamilton pass across goal.
India did give Great Britain occasional chances to launch fast attacks in the final period, giving the ball away deep inside their own territory but Ralph’s side were unable to capitalise, pass execution or decision-making costing the hosts more chances at scoring an equaliser.
Great individual work from Lily Owsley, though, opened up some space for a reverse shot which was dangerously lifted from a defender’s stick for a penalty corner, but Costello’s flick was charged down well by the first runner.
Buchanan was withdrawn with just over four-and-a-half minutes remaining on the clock as GB looked to make use of having an extra outfield player, winning a penalty corner immediately after following good work from Sarah Jones.
Balsdon drag-flicked into the bottom corner to equalise for Great Britain, with Buchanan brought back on having spent just 10 seconds of game-time off the pitch.
With three minutes remaining, GB won another corner which was deflected in by a defender from Balsdon’s long drag, completing a late turnaround to earn Ralph’s side their first win since last Sunday, also against India by the same scoreline.
India soon withdrew their goalkeeper to press forward but to no avail as Great Britain held on for a first win in four.
The victory makes it three wins and a draw in six matches of the London leg for the hosts, taking them to 12 points in seventh, seven behind Belgium with two games-in-hand.
