Middleton shines in encouraging victory

Great Britain eventually overcame a rugged Egyptian sided to win their opening match in the Olympic tournament in Athens last night 3-1. In cool, windy conditions, Britain opened encouragingly taking the game to the Egyptians with Barry Middleton getting the first goalin the 18th minute. The 20-year-old dived spectacularly to score following an early ball from Jimmy Wallis.

Great Britain eventually overcame a rugged Egyptian sided to win their opening match in the Olympic tournament in Athens last night 3-1. In cool, windy conditions, Britain opened encouragingly taking the game to the Egyptians with Barry Middleton getting the first goalin the 18th minute. The 20-year-old dived spectacularly to score following an early ball from Jimmy Wallis.

Within two minutes of the restart, Britain were in trouble. Graham Dunlop conceded a penalty corner from which Sameh Mohamed equalised.

After a scrappy period of play, Guy Fordham took advantage of a lapse of concentration in the Egyptian defence to latch on to a loose ball and score from a narrow angle in the 53rd minute. Five minutes later Middleton's persistence won Britain's second penalty corner at which Ben Hawes made no mistake.

Great Britain: Mason; Bertram, Garrard (capt); Hawes, Moodie, Dunlop; Fordham, J Wallis; N Stott, D Hall, R Moore. Substitutes used: C Parnham, M Pearn, M Johnson & B Middleton.

Egypt: Hassanien; Kasbr; Mohamed, Metwalli, Ibrahim; Ibrahim, Ahmed, Mohamed (capt), Mohamed; Enaba, Mohamed. Substitutes used: A Ramadan, M El Sayed & S Hagag.

Umpires: H Ehlers (Den) & S Kumar (India).