GB ICE HOCKEY: Robert Dowd scored a hat-trick as Great Britain secured a dramatic overtime 4-3 victory against Ukraine in the World Championship in Slovenia.

Ukraine had the better of the opening session, outshooting GB 16-4, and they took the lead on 13 minutes after good stick work by Olexander Pobyedonostsev in the slot.

Dowd levelled with a penalty shot at 23:05 as the Belfast Giants forward was hauled down when clean through on goal, and scored his first goal of the tournament with a neat finish into the top of the net.

Four goals then followed in a five-minute spell as Great Britain first had a two-goal lead only to be pegged back to 3-3.

Nottingham Panthers forward Matthew Myers put GB ahead shorthanded on 30 minutes with a fantastic individual goal. With Owen Fussey in the penalty box, Myers used his strength to come away from two Ukraine defencemen on the left boards and fire past Mykhailo Balaban.

Just over two minutes later Dowd scored his second of the game, reacting first to a loose puck in the crease, with assists going to Colin Shields and Corey Nelson.

Serge Klymentyev's one-time blast from right point on the powerplay closed the gap on 35 minutes and Olexander Pobyedonostsev's deflected shot from the slot drew Ukraine level 44 seconds later.

After a scoreless third period the game went to overtime and Dowd completed his hat-trick with a wrist shot on 61:46, assisted by Myers, to give GB the victory.

It moves Great Britain into fourth in the table on two points from three matches.

Head coach Tony Hand said: "I am so proud of the guys in the way they battled. We played well but were up against it the first period and came back superbly.

"There were huge goals from Dowd and Myers. The team effort and the way we stuck to the plan was brilliant.

"I could not have asked for anything more. The team was fantastic. Right now we will regroup and get ready for tomorrow. I still think we can win a medal here."

GB return to action tomorrow (Thursday) when they face Japan and will finish the tournament on Saturday against Hungary.