The game started with Wales showing dominance, keeping possession in their favour. Eloise Laity won Wales their first short corner, but unfortunately, the drag flick from Livvy Hoskins was deflected just wide of the far post. Wales continued their momentum with a long corner. A promising run that started from the back through Sarah Jones to Phoebe Richards ended with a shot just outside the D. However, Wales displayed solid defending in the right-hand channel, thanks to Becca Daniel and Beth Bing. In the 12th minute of the first quarter, Wales earned their second penalty corner, but Xenna Hughes’ drag flick was saved.
Quarter 2 sees Rebecca Daniels showcase quick hands as she entered the D, but Wales couldn’t convert the chance into a goal. There were some inconsistencies in ball handling around the back, and Wales needed to tighten up those loose connections. Nevertheless, Livvy Hoskins managed to score a drag flick, putting Wales in the lead. She didn’t stop there, scoring another goal from a penalty corner just a minute later. Hannah Cozens and Betsan also combined well to secure another goal for Wales, with the final touch from Livvy Hoskins, completing her hat-trick in just three minutes. However, Sarah Jones received a green card in the final minute of the half, causing Wales to play with one player down.
Quarter 3 saw Meg Lewis-Williams win Wales their 7th penalty corner of the game, but they couldn’t find the back of the net despite several attempts. Both teams received green cards, reducing them to 10 players each. Xenna scored Wales’ fourth goal of the game with a fantastic strike! Shortly after Sarah Jones fought hard and won a penalty corner in the 40th minute, but the shot from Livvy Hoskins narrowly missed the goal. However, Phoebe Richards made a diving deflection, adding another goal to Wales’ tally.
Quarter 4 lead to Wales continuing their strong performance, capitalising on Lithuania’s mistakes and leading 5-0. Lithuania received a yellow card in the 4th quarter. Wales continued to threaten the goal, with Sarah Jones taking a shot that resulted in a scramble in front of the net. Holly Munro won Wales their first penalty corner in the 4th quarter, but they couldn’t convert it into a goal. Nevertheless, Wales kept pushing forward, and Emily Drysdale’s excellent ball nearly led to their sixth goal.
In the end, it was a convincing victory for Wales against Lithuania, showcasing their dominance in possession, efficient penalty corner execution by Livvy Hoskins, and excellent team coordination. Lithuania struggled to match Wales’ pace and precision, leading to Wales’ decisive 5-0 triumph.
Kevin Johnson, Head Coach Comment “I’m really pleased we were patient with both our principles and our process today and delivered both the result and the performance. We feel we are capable of getting even better though and are therefore relishing the challenge that awaits us in the semi-final on Friday.”
Catch Wales in the Semi Final on August 4th 4pm BST live on EuroHockeytv
Photo is from CzechFieldHockey
By Hockey Wales
