AN U16s hockey team from Bromsgrove has missed out on a national final by the narrowest of margins after losing a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.

The team, from Bromsgrove School, was beaten with the very last shot of the penalty lottery in the final of the Midlands finals the weekend before last.

Representing Worcestershire, the side was held to a 0-0 draw after extra time by The Grove before losing out. It is the closest any U16s team from the Worcester Road school has come to reaching the national stages.

Despite missing key player Anna Perrott to an England golf masterclass, Bromsgrove won through their group by defeating Nottinghamshire, Shropshire and Herefordshire. They also drew with Staffordshire.

Nina White then scored the only goal late on to see them past Northampton High School in the semi-finals and set up the final with The Grove from Nottinghamshire, a team Bromsgrove beat in the group stages.

Coach Caroline Ralph said: "The girls played superbly all day and couldn't have done any more. I really thought that this was the team who could get us to U16s nationals for the first time and to lose on the last penalty stroke was gutting."