Costello crackers sees UHC get top marks in Hamburg

Women’s EHL Ranking Cup

UHC Hamburg 2 (A Costello 2) Surbiton 0

Amy Costello’s penalty corner double earned UHC Hamburg victory over Surbiton and, with it, fifth place at the women’s ABN AMRO EHL Ranking Cup in Hamburg with the English side settling for sixth.

It was a cracking encounter with the Scottish woman’s precision proving the difference in an evenly-matched contest.

UHC were first to go on the offensive, a long overhead chased down by Lisa Musci who crossed but just beyond the touch of Yara Mandel. Surbiton stormed back, earning a corner which Darcy Bourne fired goalward.

The deadlock was broken in the 11th minute from UHC’s first corner, Costello powering her shot through the defences of Sabbie Heesh.

Meg Dowthwaite – with one of her first touches after coming on – saw her sweep at goal deflected over by Costellon while another Bourne corner shot was parried away.

Chances kept flowing with Amelie Wortmann denied in spectacular style by a diving Heesh, keeping the gap at 1-0 at half-time.

Into the second half, skipper Sarah Evans had a rasping drive slip just wide but while they could not make full use of their corner chances, UHC nailed their second goal with Costello ripping one down the glove side for 2-0.

Musci almost put the game out of sight before Surbiton stormed back. A really high and aggressive press created lots of danger with Maddie Long stealing and shooting inside the circle.

Noelle Rother was equal to it and she also kept out Long’s sharp near post deflection from a Bourne cross as UHC held on for the victory to boost Germany’s Ranking Table coefficient.

Umpires: L Baljon (NED), M Sergeant (BEL)

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