London 2012 Olympics: GB men restore pride but fail to land hockey bronze

Great Britain’s men’s hockey team finished their Olympic campaign empty-handed after losing the bronze medal play-off against world No.1 ranked Australia.

Scorers: Great Britain 1 - Lewers; Australia 3 - Orchard; Dwyer, Govers

Great Britain 1-3 Australia

Defensive errors cost them in their own circle while a failure to properly test goalkeeper Nathan Burgers at the other end meant they came up short in their medal quest.

While they could not match the feat of the women, they did at least restore some pride.

Australia scored with virtually their first shot on goal and it will not be one James Fair will want to see again. Simon Orchard’s shot from the top of circle was powerful but the goalkeeper got a hand to it yet failed to keep it out.

More confusion in the home defence presented Kieran Govers with two chances to shoot after breaking to the right of the D but he fluffed both his attempts.

Six minutes from the interval GB drew level with 19-year-old Harry Martin, who has had a good tournament, driving at the Kookaburras’ defence and winning a penalty corner. Instead of shooting, Ashley Jackson slipped the ball back and defender Iain Lewers swept home only his second international goal.

Glenn Turner somehow got off a shot while prone on the floor which resulted in a penalty corner late in the half but Chris Ciriello flicked wide. The Australia forward drew a close-range save from Fair early on after the break while Matt Daly did the same at the other end to Burgers.

GB lost Ali Wilson to the sin-bin for five minutes for preventing Australia breaking through on goal by illegally stopping the aerial pass above his shoulder. While he was off Australia re-took the lead when Govers’ deflected penalty corner found Jamie Dwyer and although Fair saved his first shot he could not keep out the rebound.

Fair came to his side’s rescue again with a reaction save to palm away Russell Ford’s snap-shot but when he could only bat Dwyer’s shot into the air Govers volleyed home a third from close range.

GB withdrew Fair with five minutes to go to put on an extra outfield player but they could not fashion a breakthrough.