It was heartbreak for the Team GB women's beach soccer team after they suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Spain in the gold medal match at the World Beach Games.
Despite an early goal from Molly Clark (Portsmouth), three goals from their Spanish opposition in the first period made it a tough ask for Team GB to come back.
With a scoreless second period, all was to play for in the third and final one. A Rebecca Barron (Gosport) strike with nine minutes left on the clock provided the team with a much needed lifeline.
Then with just 60 seconds left on the clock, Team GB narrowly missed out on an equaliser after Gemma Hillier (Gosport) failed to convert from a rebound. Sadly it wasn’t to be and the game finished 3-2 to Spain, with the side having to settle for the silver medal.
An emotional captain Sarah Kempson (Littlehampton) said; “We had two of the best teams in the world competing on the biggest stage tonight and I am super proud of both team’s today for putting on a great show.
“I am so proud of the girls, the effort they put in and for putting on a great show. We are obviously disappointed not to win the gold medal but credit to Spain, they are a talented team and a great bunch of girls.
“It was a whole squad effort and we have done ourselves proud today and we are going to continue to keep pushing for those top spots.
“I have been in the sport for seven years and it has grown hugely I that time. I really hope that we can now create a platform for younger girls to have the opportunity that I have had. "I have played all around the world and whilst I hope I continue to get those opportunities, I hope that girls watching have been inspired to come and give it a go, and one day take my spot and in ten year's time show me how it is done.”