Great Britain made it three FIH Pro League matches unbeaten as David Ralph’s side drew 4-4 with China at Lee Valley on Wednesday.
China took a first-quarter lead through Ma Ning before two goals in three second quarter minutes from Izzy Petter, who scored the winning goal on Sunday against India, and then Sophie Hamilton turned the game on its head.
Alyson Annan’s equalised before the first half was over, though, with Tan Jinzhuang converting from a well-worked penalty corner variation but Ralph’s team re-took the lead with Sarah Robertson’s goal just 23 seconds into the final quarter.
With just under six minutes left on the clock, though, China were awarded a penalty stroke which was converted by Gu Bingfeng – the sides were level for less than a minute, though, with Grace Balsdon scoring a superb drag-flick with five minutes to play.
Gu Bingfeng was given another chance from the penalty spot, though, inside the last two-and-a-half minutes, against sending Amy Tennant the wrong way to level the scores once more.
The first chance of the match did come the way of the hosts as Hamilton looked to tee up Tess Howard after a lung-busting, skilful run but the East Grinstead forward’s touch took her to close to the goalkeeper to score.
The visitors then took the lead through Ma Ning, who finished brilliantly past Tennant after China’s high-press saw them steal the ball from Balsdon on the 23.
Howard and Hamilton almost combined again soon after as the former turned the latter’s reverse-stick cross goal bound, bu the Chinese defensive unit were able to deal with the close-range effort.
Great Britain also had a chance from a penalty corner before the end of the first period, Balsdon drag-flicking wide of the right-hand post.
The hosts were level within five minutes of the second quarter – Howard’s upright reverse was only deflected into a dangerous area, with Robertson then denied before Petter added her third goal in her last three Pro League appearances from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
Charlotte Watson, having scored a brace against India on Sunday, was the creator for the second, driving into the circle down the right-hand-side before cutting the ball back into a great area, this time Hamilton on the end of it to squeeze a shot into the bottom corner for GB to take the advantage.
Two China penalty corners in quick succession led to the equaliser for Annan’s side – the first saw a drag-flick deflected behind superbly before the second was slapped in by Tan Jinzhuang following a training-ground routine.
That left the two sides level at half-time with a goalless third quarter following, with both sides struggling to create too many chances.
The best of the action came from Great Britain, with Ellie Rayer doing brilliantly to win a penalty corner after good work from Lily Walker and then Laura Roper, the resulting set piece deflected up by Petter from Balsdon’s flick and leaving injector Lizzie Neal a little too much to do to touch in from high on the far post.
Rayer also had a reverse saved from a tight angle late on in the third quarter before the home side took just 23 final-quarter seconds to re-take the lead through Robertson.
Howard, again superb, teed up the Scot following a mazy run, with Robertson then beating the goalkeeper at the near post with a powerful reverse shot.
Bingfeng, however, made no mistake from the penalty spot when GB conceded a penalty stroke late on to level the score but they were level for less than a minute.
The hosts won a penalty corner when Hamilton’s cross was deflected into Hannah French’s face – the forward coming off with an injury before Balsdon scored a wonderful drag-flick, beating the goalkeeper with a finish into the top-right corner.
China withdrew their goalkeeper with both sides then reduced to 10 players through temporary suspensions in the final four-and-a-half minutes before Annan’s side won another stroke, with Gu Bingfeng once again converting from the spot.
GB had a late penalty corner with around 90 seconds remaining which was saved well to deny a powerful Amy Costello strike before Fiona Crackles was fouled to give the hosts a penalty stroke of their own.
Howard stepped up and hit the post before Hamilton and Robertson were both denied from good, open play chances in the final minute.
China survived the late pressure to set up a shootout after an enthralling encounter.
Great Britain went first with Howard stepping up and seeing her effort kept out by some strong goalkeeping.
Chen Yi went first for China and hit the post, leaving the score level at 0-0 after one effort apiece in the bonus-point battle.
Hamilton, arguably Great Britain’s best player on Wednesday, then stepped up and lifted over the bar with Zou Meirong scoring past Tennant for the visitors.
Surbiton’s Petter got GB off the mark with the third attempt to level at 1-1 before Li Hong re-established China’s advantage after some quick movement.
Crackles once again levelled things up to put the pressure on before Ma Ning missed her shootout to leave the score at 2-2 with four attempts each taken.
Costello went next and fired wide with a hit from just inside the circle, Chen Yang then denied by a great Tennant double-save to send the shootout to sudden death.
Zou Meirong stepped up first and was denied by an excellent Tennant save to give Crackles the chance to win the bonus-point for GB but her slap was saved before a second shot was off-target.
Up next for China was Li Hong, who was once again denied by some brilliant goalkeeping from Tennant, this time giving Petter the chance to score a second shootout and win the bonus point, but the wait went on for Great Britain as Petter missed.
Ma Ning, the first goalscorer in a topsy-turvy match, then gave China a 3-2 lead before Hamilton stepped up for the hosts, needing to score – she did just that just before the hooter to give the game another two shootout efforts.
Tennant once again saved to deny Chen Yi, with Howard then missing as Great Britain squandered a third opportunity to win the shootout.
Chen Yang managed to score after an initial good save from Tennant, once again putting the pressure on the hosts and Costello, who brilliantly worked the goalkeeper to open up the space and calmly finish, levelling the scores at 4-4 after 10 shootouts.
Crackles stepped up first as the order changed once more, scoring her second in three shootout attempts and ensuring that Zou Meirong had to score, which she did.
GB went next through Petter whose quick ball movement was enough to beat the goalkeeper, the shootout finally ending as Chen Yang was denied by Tennant with the rebound put onto the crossbar.
Great Britain therefore take two points from the match after a 4-4 draw and 6-5 shootout win from 12 attempts apiece, which sees Ralph’s side move above India in the Pro League table, up to seventh.
