READING Hockey Club and Team GB women's captain Kate Walsh insists they must up their game to stand any chance of reaching the Olympic final.

Team GB lost 2-1 to reigning Olympic champions Netherlands in their final group match yesterday at the Riverbank Arena.

They had already qualified for the semi-final stages for the first time in 16 years after Japan defeated Beijing silver medallists China 1-0 earlier in the day.

However, a win against the Dutch would have secured top spot in Pool A and an easier passage to the final.

Now, Walsh and her team-mates - many of whom play for Reading or Slough - will face Argentina in the last four tomorrow.

And she admitted: "You could see in the players' eyes after the match that we were unhappy because we didn't perform as well as we can.

"The Netherlands are a great side who control possession so when you do get the ball you need to cherish it and back yourselves, but we didn't do that.

"Looking forward, we know we have it in us to do better and I think it's a case of going out there and believing in our ability.

"I thought we started reasonably brightly and had some good periods of play, but it dropped off in the second half."

After being under pressure for much of the first half-hour, Great Britain took the lead.

Alex Danson, who looked lively down the right throughout the match, won a penalty corner which Crista Cullen converted to break the deadlock, much to the delight of the raucous home crowd.

The Netherlands equalised eight minutes after half-time through a well-worked penalty corner, which saw the ball directed to Naomi van As on the left to deflect home.

And while Great Britain battled hard and showed character to get back into the match, they found themselves 2-1 behind in the 52nd minute. Kitty van Male swept home after a prolonged period of pressure on the British 'D'.

Great Britain appeared deflated by the Netherlands' second goal and found themselves under attack as the visitors searched for a third, and it took two fine saves from goalkeeper Beth Storry to keep the score at 2-1.

Team GB head coach Danny Kerry said: "I'm pretty disappointed, I've spoken to the girls and been very straight with them and told them I expect much better than that because I know we are capable of much, much better than that."

He added: ""We were too passive in the second half and the equalising goal came because we weren't thinking clearly.

"Being too passive was unacceptable and if we're going to do well in the semi-final then people need to hear it straight."