Great Britain had to dig deep late into the third period, but they secured a 3-1 win over Spain in their Women’s World Championship Division 2A tournament on Tuesday night.

Team captain Saffron Allen was presented with her 50th cap before the game, but Spain threatened to spoil the occasion by opening the scoring.

Sofia Scilipoti got round the last defender and finished high on Nicole Jackson at 4.28 – the first goal past Jackson in 152:49 going back to the Slovenia game in Nottingham.

GB responded and dominated possession for long periods but found Spain’s goalie Alba Gonzalo in top form. Perseverance paid off though as Saffron Allen drove the net and following up Chamonix Jackson poked home the rebound for her first senior international goal (14.40).

A scoreless second period saw GB again control the scoring chances, without reward. Each side also had a lengthy five on three powerplay chance, as special teams came to the fore.

Seven more minor penalties followed in the final frame, four of them on Spain, but the penalty killers on both sides were working overtime and goalies were backing up with top drawer saves when required.

The decisive moment came just over three minutes from time, when the sides were icing four on four. Lucy Beal’s blast from the point was saved by Gonzalo but the puck came out to Louise Adams at the edge of the crease and the GB forward buried the rebound for the go-ahead goal.

Spain gambled and lifted Gonzalo inside the final minute, going 6 on 4 as GB’s Beth Hill was serving a hooking minor. After a scramble in the GB zone, Katie Marsden skated into space beside her own bench and fired the insurance marker from 150ft away to seal the 3-1 scoreline.

In Tuesday’s other game Latvia defeated Mexico 8-2.

The results mean GB are top of the group on six points from their two games ahead of Latvia (4), Chinese Taipei (3), Spain (2) and Mexico (0).

Mike Clancy, GB head coach, said after the game: “We knew it would be difficult against Spain but we ground it out and played to the very end and got our rewards.

“We had a lot of shots which weren’t directly on net so that’s something to work on but two wins from two is where we want to be.

“Chamonix [Jackson, first senior goal] deserves her goal, she works hard and does what is asked of her so well earned reward.”

Great Britain don’t play on Wednesday, they return to game action on Thursday against Mexico (4pm/3pm UK).