By Paul Osborne at the Scotstoun Sports Complex in Glasgow

It was an England one, two, three in the men's squash singles ©Getty ImagesNick Matthew led an English clean sweep in the men's squash Commonwealth Games singles today as Malaysia's Nicol David denied a double delight for the home nation with victory over Laura Massaro in the women's.

An English one, two was already a sure thing in the men's singles after both Matthew and James Willstrop progressed to today's final with victories in yesterday's semi-finals, but it was the Team England Flagbearer who took the gold with a tense 3-2 victory over his rival at the Scotstoun Sports Campus.

In the women's, world number one and defending Commonwealth champion David recovered from a slow start to get the better of British and world champion Massaro, in what proved a relatively comfortable victory for the Malaysian come the final few moments.

Matthew is also defending Commonwealth champion in this event, with his and David's victories marking the first time in Commonwealth Games history that the reigning men's and women's singles champions have defended their titles.

The Matthew, Willstrop final highlighted the incredible strength in depth of the English men's squash game, with Peter Barker's triumph in the bronze medal final against India's Saurav Ghosal highlighting this point wonderfully.

The men's squash singles was an incredibly tense affair with Nick Matthew edging team mate James Willstrop 3-2 ©Getty ImagesThe men's squash singles was an incredibly tense affair with Nick Matthew edging team mate James Willstrop 3-2 ©Getty Images



The final itself was an extremely topsy-turvy affair with neither player able to gain the necessary momentum to press clear of their opponent.

Matthew drew first blood in the final as he sealed a gruelling first game 11-9 despite being forced out of the court after a dislodged contact lens.

Willstrop hit back in the second, taking the game 11-8, with proceedings continuing in this vein across the third and fourth games; Matthew winning the third and Willstrop the fourth.

That left it down to the fifth and final game and Matthews' nerve seemed the better of the two as he battled through to take the game, the match and the gold medal.

"It's down to my physio, she deserves the medal," Matthew said after his win.

"I've been a physio's nightmare in the last five weeks.

"And it's just incredible to be here."

Nicol David proved too strong for Laura Massaro today as she strolled to a 3-0 victory in the women's singles ©Getty ImagesNicol David proved too strong for Laura Massaro today as she strolled to a 3-0 victory in the women's singles ©Getty Images


The women's final was a simpler affair as David survived an early scare at 3-7 down to battle back and take the opening game 12-10.

From there it was smooth sailing for the Malaysian as she secured the second game11-2 in just seven minutes before wrapping up proceedings 11-5 in the third.

"It is a great win - probably even more special being the Commonwealth Games gold medal," admitted David after the match.

"To actually win it for the second time round is such an amazing feat.

"Just to be out there, the crowd was amazing.

"It's such a high being at the Commonwealth Games.

"It's the pinnacle of any squash multi-sport games to be winning this gold.

"I am really pleased to win this one."

Team England came into today's women's finals with the possibility of picking up gold and bronze with Alison Waters set to face New Zealand's Joelle King in the bronze medal final.

As in the gold medal match, it was disappointment for the English, however, as Waters fell in straight games to the New Zealander.

There was better luck for Barker in the men's bronze medal match as he recorded a 3-1 win over India's Ghosal to make it and England one, two, three.

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