East Grinstead’s Ashley Jackson scored the winning penalty stroke as England’s hockey men won bronze at the Commonwealth Games.
Clubmates David Condon and Mark Gleghorne were also in the side that beat New Zealand in a shootout.
Jackson scored twice as the match finished 3-3 and then converted his attempt in the shootout.
With England 3-2 ahead, Simon Mantell was impeded as he tried to score the winner and a penalty stroke was awarded which Jackson coolly converted.
It was a wonderful moment for England’s men who have too often had to settle for fourth place in recent years. They missed out in the bronze medal match in the last two Commonwealth Games, they finished fourth at the 2012 London Olympics and had to settle for the same position in the recent World Cup in The Hague.
An exciting match finished 3-3, Alastair Brogdon cancelling out Simon Child’s opener for New Zealand before Jackson put England ahead from a short corner.
Andy Hayward levelled for New Zealand before half-time but Jackson restored England’s advantage with another expert finish from a short corner.
However, Child’s second for New Zealand forced a shootout.
Bronze medals for East Grinstead trio Jackson, Condon and Gleghorne completed a memorable weekend for England and Sussex hockey. Fellow Grinstead player Sophie Bray and Lucy Wood, from Horsham, won silver in the women's competition on Saturday evening.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article