Britain allow Nicholls' goal to be wasted

Great Britain 1 Argentina

Great Britain were beaten by Argentina in the first of their two-match series at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre yesterday.

Britain took the lead within five minutes when Mandy Nicholls, winning her 100th cap, put them ahead. The Argentinians equalised in the 14th minute, Jorgelina Rimoldi slamming the ball home after good work by their captain, Gabriela Sanchez. The game then settled into a midfield battle but, with five minutes remaining, an unnecessary foul gave the visitors their second penalty corner. Sofia Mackenzie's initial shot was smothered by Hilary Rose only for Vanino Oneto to drag it out and push home for the decider.

GREAT BRITAIN: H Rose (Sutton Canada Life); J Atkins (Bradford Swithenbank, capt); S Fraser (Grove), K Johnson (Balsam Leicester), J Mould (Balsam Leicester); P Robertson (Grove), M Davies (Sutton Canada Life), C Cook (Hightown); M Nicholls (Slough), R Simpson (Edinburgh), T Cullen ( Hightown). Substitutes used: J Sixsmith (Sutton Canada Life), L Culliford and C Merrett (both Clifton).

Argentina: V Artica; S Mackenzie; S Corvalon, M Aicega, J Castellan; G Sanchez (capt), A Gambero, J Rimoldi; K Masotta, V Oneto, G Pando. Substitutes used: M-P Castelli and L-I Aymar.

Umpires: L Millar (Eng) and L Crespo) (Arg).