Defeat sees GB finish sixth

Great Britain's women lost 2-0 to Australia in their fifth-place play-off in Beijing on Friday.

Defeat meant their winless run against Australia continued - it stretches back to 2000 and they have won only four of the last 34 encounters against the Hockeyroos.

Danny Kerry's side held their own in the first half but conceded six minutes before the interval.

Slough defender Kate Walsh cleared but when the ball was played back into the circle Madonna Blyth swept home.

Great Britain thought they had equalised in the 46th minute - ironically after they fluffed a penalty corner. The ball rebounded off a defender to Sarah Thomas who smashed home a shot which went in off the keeper's stick and the post but it was ruled out for being too high after a lengthy video replay debate.

The Hockeyroos also had two 'goals' chalked off before sealing victory.

GB had sacrificed keeper Beth Storry in a bid to find an equaliser and force extra time, but in the closing minutes Hope Munro capitalised on some poor defending to find the empty net and clinch fifth place for her side.

Penetration

Afterwards, GB head coach Kerry felt missed chances were to blame for the loss.

"Overall I'm pleased with how we tried to set about our game and our application, especially in the heat,'' he said.

"I felt we still didn't penetrate enough considering where we got to. At 1-0 we were very much in the game with some good momentum.''

On the disallowed penalty goal he added: "We had other chances which we didn't tuck away.

"We had enough penetration and corners and if we had executed them then these things would have taken care of themselves.

"I couldn't see from the video replay why it was disallowed but equally it wasn't a great piece of TV work either.''

Crista Cullen, who was given the responsibility of keeping the goal intact once Storry had departed, felt she should have done better in the lead up to the second goal.

"I shouldn't have played the ball, I should have trapped it like I would have been had I been a normal defender and it would still have been 1-0,'' she said.

"When Munro was winding up for the shot I was thinking 'get in front of it' - it is a kind of do-or-die situation.

"It is good we were willing to attack and take our keeper off and put everything on the line to get that fifth spot.''