Great Britain's Men's Hockey team has finished ninth in the Olympic Hockey tournament after winning a penalty stroke competition 4-3 against South Africa at the Olympic Hockey centre.

The match went the distance in the morning heat after the match had ended 1-1 in normal time and no team could score a golden goal despite both having good chances to win it.

It was an even first half dominated by the battle for possession and territory rather than goal chances. South Africa had the better of the opening stages however, with Greg NICOL (RSA) having two snap shots that were both saved comfortably by Simon MASON (GBR).

Despite youngsters Barry MIDDLETON and Niall STOTT looking sharp in attack, Great Britain's best opportunity of the half, didn't come until the closing moments of it, when it had a series of penalty corners. It failed to convert any of the chances, leaving the score 0-0 at the break.

At the start of the second half, Guy FORDHAM (GBR) enjoyed a couple of probing runs before he made his way in to the South Africa circle in the 42nd minute. He drove between defenders and when his initial shot was saved by the goalkeeper, he stabbed home the rebound to give Great Britain a 1-0 lead.

South Africa replied immediately when Iain EVANS (RSA) worked hard to get the ball in to the Great Britain circle from the left, NICOL (RSA) got on the end of it, turned Tom BERTRAM (GBR), and fired the ball home at MASON's near post to level the score at 1-1.

The best chance in the rest of the half, for either team, came when Mike JOHNSON (GBR) drove in to the South Africa circle from the left and his cutback found STOTT (GBR), whose flick was superbly saved by goalkeeper David STANIFORTH (RSA).

With the score 1-1 at full time, the match moved in to golden goal extra time and Great Britain seized the initiative in the first period with good chances from a BERTRAM (GBR) penalty corner and another fine run in to the circle and shot from FORDHAM (GBR).

With no goals to show for its efforts, Great Britain had to defend mostly for the second period as South Africa enjoyed some of its own good chances to score. Denzil DOLLEY (RSA) just missed getting on the end of a NICOL cross from the left and Craig FULTON (RSA) saw a neat flick palmed away by MASON.

With the score locked at 1-1, the match was to be decided in the drama of a penalty stroke competition.

Ben HAWES, Graham MOODIE and Brett GARRARD all scored for Great Britain, while STOTT had his saved; and Ian SYMONS, Gregg CLARK and NICOL all scored for South Africa, while Wayne DENNE fired his high over the bar to leave it 3-3 and all poised on the last two strokes.

Danny HALL fired his home for Great Britain to give them the advantage and when FULTON saw his effort blocked by MASON, it was all over.

Great Britain's ninth place finish is its worst since coming 12th (out of 16) at Mexico in 1968, while South Africa with 10th place matched its previous Olympic Games best, when it finished 10th at Atlanta in 1996.