COMMONWEALTH GAMES: England downed by Australia in semis

From Sportsbeat staff, in Delhi

 ENGLAND'S women's hopes of Commonwealth Games gold are over after the narrowest of defeats to Australia at Delhi 2010.

WINNER: Australia celebrate Madonna Blyth's winning goal as England crash out in the semi-finals in Delhi (Reuters)

In a cagey semi-final Madonna Blyth's strike from a penalty corner was enough to book Australia's place in the final with a 1-0 victory and ensure England must console themselves with a bronze medal play-off.

It proved once again to be a case of missed opportunities for England, who huffed and puffed but could find no way through a robust Hockeyroos defence.

England head coach Danny Kerry lamented his side's inability to rack up the goals in the group stages - and failing to find the net proved to be their downfall once again.

Crista Cullen, one who has been on the goal trail in Delhi, had England's best chance of the first half but her strike from a penalty corner was smothered before Australia cleared the danger.

Five minutes after the break, defending champions Australia were ahead when Blyth deflected home from a penalty corner with a shot that England stopper Beth Storry will be disappointed not to have kept out.

She made amends however, producing a fine double save to keep the deficit to one.

England poured forward in desperation to find a leveller but panic set in whenever they found themselves in the final third and there was to be no late salvo for Kerry's side.

It will be a bitter disappointment for England who had high hopes of gold having secured their first ever World Cup and Champions Trophy medals this season.

On both occasions England secured bronze while Australia fluffed their lines at the World Cup in Argentina and failed to get out of their group.

That gave England high hopes that victory and a place in the final was within their reach but Australia proved too canny for Kenny's side, who will now face South Africa while New Zealand will go for gold against their Antipodean rivals.

Follow all the action as it happens from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi