Hockey: England sign off with win after Pearn's late strike

Two goals from Danny Hall and a winner from Mark Pearn with just two minutes remaining here last night gave England a 3-2 victory over Malaysia and a seventh-place finish in the World Cup, one place lower than at the last World Cup in Utrecht.

Two tired teams playing their ninth game in 13 days before a small but noisy crowd found it difficult in high temperatures and unforced errors resulted in goals for both sides.

A mis-trap at the top of the English circle gave Malaysia their opening goal in the 16th minute when Boon Chua shot past Simon Mason. Urged on by defender Jon Wyatt England enjoyed their best period before the suspension of David Mathews for dissent put England back on the defensive.

With Mathews back just before the interval England moved forward again and a penetrating pass from Wyatt sent Guy Fordham bursting through before Hall scored at the far post. Three minutes after the break England were in the lead as Hall scored with a reverse-stick shot after a corner.

Within four minutes Malaysia were level, Chairal Anwar taking advantage of a defensive error. There were chances at both ends before, at the death, Wyatt's free-hit evaded a packed circle to reach Pearn who beat the goalkeeper at the far post.

England: S Mason; B Garrard, J Wyatt, T Bertram, C Parnham (capt); J Goudie, M Johnson, J Wallis; B Sharpe, D Hall, M Pearn. Substitutes used: B Waugh, D Mathews, G Fordham, A Humphrey, M Jones, R Todd.

Malaysia: R Jamaluddin; N Bakar; Maninderjit Singh, S Shanmugam, T Rosli; B Chua, K Shaanmuganathan, M Nor; M Nawawi (capt), K Raj, C Anwar. Substitutes used: R Radzi, L Raj, S Rahman, F Ramly.

Umpires: H Ehlers (Den) and J McCracken (NZ).