Hockey bronze for GB

Team GB make up for the disappointment of losing their semi-final

Last Updated: August 10, 2012 11:26pm

Team GB do a lap of honour after their victory

Great Britain's women secured only their second ever Olympic hockey bronze medal with a 3-1 win over New Zealand at the Riverbank Arena.

Reading striker Alex Danson opened the scoring with a penalty corner deflection in the 45th-minute which reflected the hosts' dominance of play.

With 11 minutes remaining Leicester defender Crista Cullen flicked home a set-piece and even later Wales international Sarah Thomas diverted in another corner before Stacey Michelsen's consolation.

The result provided some compensation after missing out on gold with Wednesday's semi-final defeat to Argentina.

Bronze equalled the feat of the team from 1992 in Barcelona and was the minimum target prior to the Olympics.

Great Britain coach Danny Kerry paid tribute to his players for bouncing back from their semi-final heartbreak.

"That is seven and a half years of my life so there is just a deep contentment," he said.

"I thought the girls were incredibly thorough and professional today as I asked them to play in a particular way which does not suit us much but it was the best way to play against New Zealand.

"They were deserving winners."