Goals from St Albans Hockey Club’s Hannah MacLeod and Ellie Watton were not enough to prevent GB slipping to defeat against Australia.

Herts Advertiser: GB's Maddie Hinch makes a save against Australia. Photo: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORGGB's Maddie Hinch makes a save against Australia. Photo: Daniel Carson | DCIMAGES.ORG (Image: © Daniel Carson)

The goals give GB a 2-1 lead over their hosts after 19 minutes but Australia fought back to gain a 4-3 success in the first of a six match series.

Kathryn Slattery got the first goal of the game from Ashleigh Nelson’s pass with a well-executed deflection, but GB responded a minute later when MacLeod’s deflection levelled the score at 1-1.

It wasn’t long before they added another, Watton sending the ball to the bottom corner of the goal.

But the game turned again before half-time.

Slattery added her second a minute later before Mariah Williams’ impressive back-stick handed Australia a 3-2 lead with 30 minutes to play.

Ashleigh Nelson then extended Australia’s lead but Great Britain came back firing when a stretching Sophie Bray pulled the visitors back to within a goal.

And while opportunities came and went for both teams in the final 15 minutes Great Britain couldn’t convert their chances, leaving Australia with the win.

The second match of the series will be played on Sunday at Bunbury Districts Hockey Stadium.

The matches with Australia are a pre-cursor to the Women’s Champions Trophy London 2016 where both teams will face each other shortly before the Rio Olympics, where Australia and Great Britain are in the same pool.