Hockey: Johnson strikes to salvage a point

OLYMPIC GAMES

Great Britain 2 Spain 2

Great Britain's women missed a great opportunity in their fourth game in Atlanta to claim their second successive victory when they were held to a draw by Spain, the defending Olympic champions who, with a dogged display, won their first point of the competition.

Overnight rain and a 9am start gave the players the luxury of a spring- like day with a gentle breeze. The British players opened brightly before falling back into old habits of missing chances and giving away passes before a late rally brought the equaliser.

Scotland's Sue Fraser gave Britain the lead in the 17th minute at their second penalty corner with a low drive. Within five minutes Spain were on terms when their captain, Natalia Dorado, beat Hilary Rose with a similar shot from their second penalty corner.

After Kath Johnson had hit the upright with a powerful drive Spain, always looking dangerous on the break, won a penalty corner through Magore Gabellanes 20 minutes into the second half and although Rose saved well from Dorado, Gabellanes jabbed home in the ensuing scramble.

With the forwards unable to make much impression, it was left to Fraser, coming up from full-back, to win a penalty corner. Her initial shot was blocked by the goalkeeper, but the ball fell to Johnson to sink the equaliser with four minutes remaining.

GREAT BRITAIN: H Rose (Sutton Canada Life); J Atkins (Bradford, capt), S Fraser (Bonagrass Grove), K Brown (Slough), K Johnson (Balsam Leicester), P Robertson (Edinburgh), M Davies (Sutton Canada Life), T Miller (Clifton), J Sixsmith (Sutton Canada Life), R Simpson (Edinburgh), A Bennett (Slough). Substitutes used: M Nicholls (Slough), C Cook (Hightown), T Cullen (Hightown).

SPAIN: M Gonzalez; E Urkizu, S de Ignacio, M Telleria, C Gonzalez, N Dorado (capt), C Barea, B Larzabel, T Motos, S Barrio, M Feito. Substitutes used: N Gabellanes, L Lopez, S Manrique.

Umpires: R Chatas (US), Mi Ok Lee (Korea).