Team GB’s men’s hockey team failed to overturn the odds and beat Australia in the bronze medal clash at a packed Riverbank Arena in Olympic park.
It was tough from the start for GB who, earlier in the week, had managed to scrap to a 3-3 draw against the same team.
Despite breaking numerous times early in the first-half GB failed to take their chances.
In a few weeks the blue and electric pink pitch, which has played host to the world’s best hockey teams, will be rolled up like a giant Subbuteo matt and moved to a new home. Nothing is wasted at London 2012.
Australia's Fergus Kavanagh , left, and Britain's Jonty Clarke vie for the ball in the men's field hockey bronze medal match
And so, with a soundtrack of the Beatles on the PA and a brass band banging out ‘I love you, baby’ and the theme to Jaws, GB’s men’s team set about their task.
But it wasn’t long before they were punished for lacking the killer touch.
A 17min long-range effort from Australia’s Simon Orchard pushed them into the lead and forced GB into chasing the game.
When a well-worked penalty corner in the 30min was converted by Iain Lewers, sending the very partisan crowd into huge cheers, things looked more positive for GB.
James Tindall (left) and Dan Fox tussle with Ausralia's Simon Orchard (centre)
And with less than a minute of the first-half remaining Australia won their own penalty corner, but it was tipped wide. It remained deadlocked at one each into the break.
Pushed on the back foot from the start of the second half, GB managed to defend well, including blocking a penalty corner in the 46min.
But a couple of moments later Australia got in front with another penalty corner, which was scored by Jamie Dwyer.
There were then boos as yet another penalty corner was given less than a minute later – but no goal resulted.
Boos continued as the crowd felt the decisions constantly went against them, and by the 57min Australia were leading 3-1 by a Kieran Govers goal.
And that’s how it finished. The band played on, but GB’s hopes of getting some metal around their necks ran out of puff.